The complicated love song is the bread and butter of Radio Free Hipster. This is what, like, the fourth time I’ve done a show centered around romance and heartbreak?!
Still, you can’t discount the importance of the lovesick ballad within the echelons of geeky music.
This time around I elected to focus more and singer-songwriters than rappers and DJs. Sure, you get some nerdcore and some mash-ups (and even a chiptune), but the vast majority of these tracks are firmly rooted in the guitar rock, folk, and, of course, tears.
Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 39: Last of the Crush Note Troubadours (hosting provided by Antisocial) Size: 46.3 MB Running Time: 50:35
Intro: Baddd Spellah – “Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)”
I love those boys like Joanie loves Chachi.
Track 1: Jonathon Coulton – “The Future Soon (Live)”
This version of “The Future Soon” was recorded live in Second Life.
Z’s 1st interlude: “Flirting and miscommunication and missed opportunities.”
After you’ve done, essentially, the same show three or four times, you start looking for variations on a theme.
Track 2: The Fine Print – “English”
This was very nearly a sad affair. You see, “English” was my fourth and final Fine Print track. Thankfully, I found another couple of songs on their MySpace. Crisis averted.
Track 3: Roonil Wazlib – “Green Eyes”
Historically, my podcast selections tend to skew heavily toward male artists so this time around I made it a point to include some great tracks by females. This is one such song.
Track 4: Nullsleep – “Her Lazer Light Eyes”
I’ve had people tell me they think of chiptunes as being sterile and devoid of character. I disagree, and I think this song is just as lively and organic and relatable as any more traditionally composed track.
Track 5: DJ Paul V. – “Tequila Lip Gloss (Lil Mama vs. The Champs)”
Another jewel from Mashup Town’s Best of 2007 comp.
Track 6: The Cure – “Boys Don’t Cry”
Geeks love The Cure.
Track 7: mc chris – “Boys Don’t Cry”
Wait. Why didn’t I save these for my same-name-different-song podcast? Shit!
Track 8: How Airplanes Fly – “Forget the Girl”
Some more excellent Wrock. This one was a special request from my pal Church.
Z’s 2nd interlude: “Romantic troubadour pathos.”
Sometimes even I can’t believe the shit I come up with.
Track 9: Glenn Case – “Wedding Song”
The first of two Glenn Case songs in this episode. This is the sad one.
Track 10: Mary Prankster – “The World is Full of Bastards”
Sure, Mary’s “Valentine” would’ve been a more appropriate choice, but I like this one better. 
Track 11: Party Ben – “Tender Umbrella”
Mash-ups are a convenient way for me to get non-nerdy acts (like General Public) into the podcast!
Track 12: RiddleTM – “Ballad of Ron and Hermione”
The Wrock scene has become home to many amazing musicians. RiddleTM are another example of that.
Track 13: Ultraklystron – “Gleam”
Any song from Karl’s Romance Language album would’ve sufficed, but I really love the groove of “Gleam.”
Z’s final interlude: “Love can and does work out… even for us dorks.”
That’s your Valentine’s card right there.
Track 14: Glenn Case and Rachael Layne – “Need Stilts”
Glenn tells me he and Rachael are rerecording this one. I can’t wait to hear it!
And there you are, friends, more music for the lovelorn.
I guess you’re probably wondering if, with this installment, I’ve finally gotten this love songs songs/hate songs thing out of my system. The answer: not at all.
Awkward, heartbreaking, and very often ill effective love songs are at the heart of nerdy music, and each time I encounter a new song about, say, trying to romance a woman through World of Warcraft, I can’t help but start thinking of putting together another show in this interminable sequence. But I try to temper all these sweaty palms and tear-stationed cheeks with some tales of successful romance. Because, as Tom Petty once said, even the losers get lucky sometime.
Did you love this ep? Hate it? Come away with a sense of profound indifference? Either way, let me know. I always appreciate your comments.
I had next episode pegged for a mixtape, but I may put that off until March (also known as New Baby Month.) Hopefully, if we’ve all been living right, the next edition of RFH will coincide with the release of my newest compilation album. Only time will tell.
