The GeekDads

As we creep slowly toward our landmark 100th episode (not to mention this year’s 12 Days of Geekmas), Ken and I take a moment to catch up on three new and notable releases.

Sit back and enjoy:

“Kiss My Bits (ComputeHer Mix)” by 8 Bit Weapon

8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer recently put together a compilation spanning 14 years of chiptune magic. The 8 Bit Weapon Collection 1998-2012 weighs in at an impressive 56 tracks, and it’s available for download now via Bandcamp.

“Act I – To Live is to Love” by Adam WarRock

Last month Adam WarRock worked with Opera Memphis to shrink the four acts of Puccini’s La Boheme down to at tight four track hip-hop EP. High culture and pop culture collide in this fascinating display of narrative lyricism.

“Sunny Days Again” by Shnabubula

Shnabubula’s Fading Light consists of 10 improvised piano pieces that the artist recorded during a very trying personal period. Though originally intended as little more than disparate exercises, they actually fit together into a truly moving musical arc.

Ken, Jonathan, and Matt chat about the Apple announcements, Wreck-it Ralph, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

In this edition of GeekDad HipTrax we take a break from our regularly scheduled Halloween merrymaking to talk with a very special guest, musician-comedian Mike Phirman!

We also rock out to:

"Chicken Monkey Duck" by Mike Phirman

From Mike's own The Very Last Songs I Will Ever Record (Part 1)comes a slice of barnyard funk suitable for your next rural social function.

"Moose Lodge" by Hard 'n Phirm

Hard 'n Phirm, the comedy duo consisting of Phirman and his pal Chris Hardwick, does not exactly create what we would consider family-friendly music. And yet I was able to find a cut from their release Horses and Grasseswith only one minor swear! #gome

Ken, James, and Chuck chat about the Curiosity Rover, the Dragon space craft, home automation, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Halloween comes early on this edition of GeekDad HipTrax!

Receive ample tricks and/or treats from:

“Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance – Successor of Fate” by Videogame Orchestra

“King of Brains” by Zombie Lou

“Fear of the Dark” by Sam Haynes

Ken and Matt chat about the iPhone 5, The Hobbit, and more. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

Some podcasts are content to simply take over the world, but here at HipTrax we have grander designs; we are gunning for the entire universe!

Reach for the heavens with:

“Birds, Stars, Pigs and Quasars” by The OneUps

The OneUps latest, Intergalactic Continuum, is a funk-fueled journey through the stratosphere with stops in Hyrule and Funkotron. It’s available now at Bandcamp for a cool 10 bones, or you can check out the band’s official merch store for the physical version.

“Space Dojo 1 (Double Dragon 1 – Mission 2)” by Jake Kaufman

Jake Kaufman is likely better known in VGM circles as virt – or, if you prefer, “that guy who composes the soundtracks for all my favorite games.” Recently he added the Double Dragon Neon OST to his already impressive discography, alongside such fan favorites as Contra 4 and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge. It’s also available now via Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want release.

“The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z” by Tribe One

Last weekend I caught Tribe One (along with tourmates Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Jesse Dangerously) in nearby Charlotte, NC. Tribe’s set was phenomenal, but this track in particular was a true standout.

Ken, Matt, and Jonathan chat about PAX Prime, Thor 2 casting rumors, and make a few Apple announcement predictions. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.

With PAX Prime and Dragon*Con now behind us, we can finally get back to… whatever it was we were doing. I mean, I’m sure it was important. Or something.

Memorialize the bygone con season with:

“Be My Stalker” by The Doubleclicks

“Theme from Star Trek” by Andrew Allen

“Back To Me” by Dual Core

Ken, Matt, and John Jonathan chat about the loss of Neil Armstrong, the Apple/Samsung verdict, and our excitement about the new Joss Whedon TV announcement. Enjoy!

GeekDad.com is the parenting blog at Wired.com, edited by Ken Denmead, Matt Blum, Jonathan Liu, Z and Chris Anderson. It is a community of like-minded geeky parents writing about our experiences raising our kids in the digital age, and about our obsessions with technology, family-friendly projects, and pop-culture. The GeekDads podcast is a biweekly discussion of anything and everything that impacts us as geeks and parents.