In liu of an actual update…
Posted on July 31st, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 7:32 pm
A Crunk Beat I made for a couple other nerdcore rappers who will rapping about Poke Balls IIRC. Should be amusing.
Oh yeah, if you didn’t know, I’m back in Seattle, atleast until Anime Evolution. However, that won’t really stop me from being busy, but atleast I don’t have to be on my feet to review the 4 DVDs (more like 5) in my backlog, the three advance screenings I caught and the interview I have to transcribe. Oh, at the dating sim and related TV series I need to review as well. At least all of my awesome reporting at Comic Con resulted in my reports getting linked by Anime News Network, Anime on DVD, ICv2, some Japanese site I’ve never even heard of and probably more. I’m pretty darn happy about all that, even if SDCC was a bit of fiasco otherwise (I won’t go into details here.)
Oh yeah, I’m also putting together a website with Misu for a friend of mine in LA that if it works will be awesome, and if it doesn’t will still have atleast shown me how to use cart software, so I can set up a more professional interface to the business side of this website. Speaking of which, I have a CD I should send out to tomarrow.
Anyway, if you want to hear more about my LA/San Diego adventures, you’ll probably just have to talk to me. Any writing I do in the next month is probably going to be about DVDs, shows and movies coming to DVD, games or manga related to shows on DVD, interviews in relations to movies coming to DVD and contact info that I need to transcribe so that in the long term I get more DVDs to review, so it’ll be similar to last month, but a different side of the press thing.
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“Probably the coolest guy we met through the whole Expo” – chibi-tokyo.net
Posted on July 14th, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 3:11 pm
So, Slashdot finally talked about the RhymeTorrents compilation. I guess that’s +1 to my nerd HP or something like that. Hopefully, I’m one of the few that ended up in CmdrTaco’s ultimate playlist. On the opposite end of the exposure scale, I was interviewed by these cool dudes from chibi-tokyo.net for their podcast. If you just want to hear me, check in around the hour and 47 minute mark of their AX podcast. I guess they saved me for last. They put together a very good show though, and you should check out their other podcasts – they’re great.
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Temporary Reprieve / Imminent Reprise
Posted on July 13th, 2006
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 4:40 pm
So, I’m back from LA for a bit, and that time there was fun: I met a lot great people; I hung out with people who I’d previously only known via the internet; I made connections with some old friends who I hadn’t really seen in about a decade; I saw the inner workings of a real animation studio; I ate lunch at said studio; I came back the next day and interviewed two brilliant directors at said studio; I ended up with piles of free DVDs, manga, games and other stuff between touring a studio and the Anime Expo convention; I walked along the Walk of Fame; I watched a couple of great movies; I did some thrifty shopping for both clothes and music; I had breakfast with a legend in the animation industry and I ate a lot of excellent food at various restaurants. By the way, that list isn’t necessarily in order, but as you can see, I was happily busy.
However, I’m happy to be home in the clean, cool, moist air where I can wear jeans rather than shorts and long sleeve sweaters rather than short sleeve shirts. Further still, while being treated all the time to nice food is wonderful, and it was easy on the wallet, I can’t help but feel like a bit of a charity case in the same stroke. Sure, sometimes I was able to help in some capacity, be that via typical household chores or by completely rebuilding a computer. But to be frank, I guess I’ve always viewed myself as someone who helps, not someone who needs to be helped. Of course, without the charity of others, I’d either still be in LA, spending money on a hotel or putting more people out, or I’d be at home with no Comicon in my future. Instead, I’m at home at in Kirkland getting a chance to do a laundry and generally catch up before Comicon. I’ve ended up with what in my view is a near-perfect situation (though the absense of confirmation from Comicon about press stuff is worrisome.)
I guess all I can say at the end of the day to everyone in the LA area who has helped me over the past couple weeks and to everyone in general who has made this trip possible is “Thank You.” I might have been able to do make it work on my own, but not to the extent that I did in this case. So really, I thank you all.
I am lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.
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An evening of pure rock.
Posted on June 25th, 2006
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 12:46 pm
So, I saw the Pillows at the Crocodile Cafe yesterday, and that was pretty cool by itself, but I definitely didn’t go alone either. See, I not only went with people from Anime Kingdom, I not only went with people from BCC, I had a number of people from both those groups plus a friend from the internet and a fan (of Rai and I) (though I knew her previously I didn’t realize that she’d become a nerdcore fan because, of well, me) both of whom I ran into after the show (well, I saw Ferquin earlier but we couldn’t hang out until later.) Thus, inspite of the fact that it was insanely miserably hot inside of the club (the words “finnish sauna” were spoken by the drummer about the situation,) it was just an outstanding experience. I mean, seeing a great rock concert is awesome – it can be a pretty amazing experience by itself, but to do that with tons of friends from pretty much everything I’m involved in, shoot – normally I don’t get that kind of awesome until PAX, if then.
Granted, I was kind hoping to get everyone together for bubble tea post-show, and though that didn’t quite pan out, I think on the whole it’s not too much of a thing – to everyone who I couldn’t hang out with last night, I’ll make it up to you within the summer. That’s a promise, because you’re all awesome, even if it means some forming an uberposse of people at PAX. I mean with Anime Kingdom friends, BCC friends, nerdcore friends/fans, fellow nerdcore artists, various people from various internet forums and maybe a couple camera crews too? Sounds like quite a party to me. Or full-out insanity. Either way, it’ll rock. Still, maybe hanging out in smaller groups would be more advisable. Oh well, whatever happens, happens. 😀
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Thinkin of a master plan…
Posted on June 20th, 2006
Filed under: General — Karl Olson @ 8:54 pm
“Cuz ain’t nuthin but sweat inside my hand
So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent
So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint
So I start my mission- leave my residence
Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents”
-Eric B and Rakim, “Paid in Full.”
Being gainfully unemployed is convenient when you have classes, because it ensures you have the focus to make the grade – no exhaustion or distraction because of work. It also makes it easy to go some place for a vacation because you don’t have to clear the time with anyone; you just go. However, it also makes it hard to go some place for a vacation because of one small thing: no money. So, in a sad and likely futile attempt to get some scratch so I’m not living off of animation studios lunch/dinner meetings and ramen while I’m in LA, I’m selling some old stuff of mine on EBay. At the moment it’s just anime DVDs, but I should have some old programming books and text books up soon enough too.
Ce la vie.
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Z O M G Torrents.
Posted on June 7th, 2006
Filed under: Music News,Reviews — Karl Olson @ 10:02 am
Rhyme Torrents that is, as in the first disc of that compilation is now up online as a torrent. And it’s fairly awesome. It’s by no means perfect, but pretty much everyone raises their game when they aren’t in fact delivering for the first time, though the debut tracks on this CD are fantastic. Particular favorites are as follows:
Nursehella – Nursehellamentary – Absolutely off the hook. With lines like “I’m super evil dead / so won’t you hail to the queen,” combined with her ODB meets Mia delivery and Baddd Spellah’s intensionally raw but excellent production, and it’s got indie radio classic written all over it. It just explodes with personality, and it’s one heck of a track to step on the scene with.
Beefy – Tub of Tabasco – Easily the best rapper in all of Pasco. On a more serious note, he leveled up his game yet again, and the result is just awesome. Funny, energetic and generally great in a party rap way, though there is certainly plenty of wit in their as well.
Monzy – Kill Dash Nine – If you get the reference in the title, you’re already pretty darn nerdy, and after the smart alek 50 cent reference at the very opening of the song (“G STUDENT”,) from there it’s a non-stop barrage of computer references, all in the context of furthering the CS geeksta feud between Monzy and MC Plus+, and with lines like “You thought the seven-layer model /referred to a burrito,” I think there will continue to be “drama in the Ph.D.”
Lil Nix – Off the Markov – Speaking of Comp Sci feuds, Lil Nix swoops in and makes her own claim to be the best Comp Sci mc. The production is a bit plain, but her delightfully jazzy and ambient flow combined with lines like “Homeboy couldn’t program a TI-82,” and “I dream in assembly” result in pretty cool little track.
MC Frontalot vs. Baddd Spellah – Nerdcore Hip Hop 2006 – Absolutely sick. The word “crunk” even applies here – I’m almost expecting Lil Jon to pop out at any minute and be like “NEEEEEEERDCOOOOOOOOORE.” Baddd Spellah just recontextualizes the song excellently, and the additional elements recorded for this new mix are awesome (“In the dos double O six! Uhhh, that’s what year it is, currently.”)
Shael Riley feat Beefy – Miss Information – Filthy, smart alek and insane, but the flows are excellent and the misinformation on various nerdcore mcs is witty and sharp (their jab at me “What’s the problem my son? It seems that you met my friend Ultraklystron! He’s a werewolf, by gum / and he can’t stand Japanese Animation.” The production is pretty pretty solid too.
Oh yeah, my contribution and Rai’s track are the best. Totally 😉
/yes, I will be doing this for each disc as they are released.
//or not.
Comments (7)
Original Content.
Posted on June 1st, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 12:58 am
This is the beginning of revolution, maybe. 😉
At the very least, I’d like to make it an EP’s worth of content – 5-8 songs. If only because it gives me the excuse to do something other than wait for things to get to a point where releasing OpenSource Lyricist is viable/sensible. Besides, Rai’s fun to work with.
PS: The Nerdcore compilation is apparently looking like it’s going to be out 6/06/2006, so instead of seeing The Omen, check out all 4 discs that’ll be hitting for free on the internet that day. It’ll rock your socks with some 40+ artists IIRC.
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Open-Mic Canceled
Posted on May 30th, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 11:49 pm
But atleast I have my data in for the Wired thing and I have my tracks in for the compilation. Rai’s stuff is pretty much squared way too on those points too.
For those interested, the nerdcore article in Wired will be out in August IIRC. Yay!
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Now you can insult me on “the internets.”
Posted on May 25th, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 6:49 am
Or rather you can do it much easier now because I have my own forum courtesy of RhymeTorrents.com
Meanwhile, why am I up at 6:48am? Homework! Isn’t stats class just delicious?
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Open Mics are Gigs Too, right?
Posted on May 24th, 2006
Filed under: Music News — Karl Olson @ 11:19 pm
And certainly ones at Bellevue Community College are valid gigs, right? No? Really? Well, I signed up for their Open Mic show anyway, and it’s happening on the 30th of May from 11:30am-1:30pm. I’ll probably only get to do a couple songs (maybe more if not many other acts show,) and I’m sure that no matter what it’ll be insanely lame either way, but hey, if you want some delicious, otakutastic nerdcore in a vaguely live scenario, that’s the place to be. I encourage everyone who can turn out to turn out with the usual gear – pitchforks, flaming torches and 18th century colonial slander. 😉