Adam WarRock

Adam WarRock is a prolific nerdcore rapper who almost always has a new track out on a variety of nerdy hot topics, but often with an emphasis on comic books. His follow-up to last year's successful sophomore album How Dare You Call That Thing Human?!? features comic book raps "Sinestrocore," "Mutant Massacre" and first single "B.S.F.X." (short for "Batman sound effects"), but The Middle of Nowhere also demonstrates a wider range of topics. WarRock raps about everything from high school alienation as a young Korean growing up in Memphis, TN ("High School Reunion"), online romance ("Internet Crush") and name calling ("Sticks & Stones"). A number of producers contribute to the album, providing a varied sound that includes sped-up soul samples on "That Kid, Icarus," slow piano tunes ("Shoulda Beens"), glitchy electronica ("J.A.R.V.I.S.") and a few tracks heavily featuring rock guitars. Then there's "Nuclear Family," which opens with a melancholy beat of piano, violin and wood block for percussion, but as the intensity increases, guitar bleeds into the song. The cheesy alt-rock singing here and elsewhere could be dropped, and the intro story is long enough that it's worth skipping, but Adam WarRock has otherwise released another stellar nerdcore album.