The Nerdy Dozen: 12 Must-Hear Songs of 2011

Kirby Krackle – “Booty Do Math (feat. Adam WarRock)”
Amazon – Bandcamp – iTunes
There are songs about math and then there are songs that command the listener to shake his/her moneymaker, and never the twain shall meet. Well, okay, maybe just this once. Kirby Krackle’s Super Powered Love takes a break from its overarching theme of life in a comic book world to unleash what is likely the most perfect piece of pop songwriting heard in 2011. Suggestive but never dirty and funny but never unintelligent, it’s a new musical high point from the already revered songwriting team of Kyle Stevens and Jim Demonakos.

melodysheep – “The Science Rap”
Bandcamp
Though the DJ is often revered as the epitome of dance club cool, mash-up and cut-up artists are, by simple nature of their craft, pretty damn geeky. Making songs from carefully recycled material is a peculiar form of digital collaging that requires patience, dedication and, above all else, intelligence. Nowhere is this clearer than in the work of John Boswell, the musician and producer behind the Symphony of Science. In 2009 his “A Glorious Dawn” gave Carl Sagan’s trademark poetic language new musical life, and this year’s “The Science Rap” continued to spread the good word of science through the unlikely words of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G under the guise of John’s other moniker, melodysheep.

Sci-Fried – “Geek Rock”
Amazon – iTunes
For those who wonder what exactly constitutes “geek rock,” the fine fellows of Florida’s Sci-Fried have at last provided an answer. Blending the pop sensibility of their early parody work with the band’s dark and aggressive heavy metal heart, it does an excellent job of highlighting the true strength of this eclectic and unlikely assemblage of nerd musicians. It also offers a rare glimpse of the crew’s live energy in a single studio track, with Dr. Vern’s crushing vocals playing well off Chuck Silver’s blistering guitar lead.

Mega Ran – “Lookin’ Up”
Amazon – Bandcamp
Fans who think that Black Materia is the be-all end-all of Random albums have likely not yet heard Mega Ran 10. Announced as the swan song of the Mega Ran persona, it’s a hodge-podge of new and re-released material that somehow still maintains proper thematic and musical cohesion. It also boasts “Lookin’ Up,” the ultimate Mega Ran joint. It combines skillful chiptune backing with Random’s boundless lyrical positivity and even tosses in an infectious soul-pop hook for good measure.

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