100 gecs - 10,000 gecs Review
100 gecs is back with 100 times the gecs.
Following up from their 2019 release, 1000 gecs, the duo of Dylan Brady and Laura Les have returned with new musical experimentations on pop culture, the world of Hollywood, and frogs? 10,000 gecs is their second studio album, and their first since reaching big-time exposure. Building from singles from the past two years, this album is a culmination of introspection and experience. What is strange and out of place fits perfectly into the world of 100 gecs and this albums asks the listener if they too can see within the complexities of each track.
10,000 gecs opens with “Dumbest Girl Alive,” which begins quiet, from the dark, and without sound, but soon, the unmistakable drone from the iconic THX opening brings us forth. Only to be quickly ripped with the scratch of a record, shots fired, and we are thrown into 100 gecs’ new Hollywood world. With stomping drums and punching guitars, the song transitions at its first introduction to lyrics. Gecs goes SICKO MODE with their thumping bass as Brady breaks into a braggadocious and introspective oxymoronic rap. After a short acoustic breakdown, the energy kicks back into gear and leads into the next track.
“757” is gecs at their hyperpop best. With auto-tuned vocals carrying the melody and the simplistic drums behind, the song embodies a fun poopy groove. “Hollywood Baby”, on the other hand, relies on the punky guitar riffs and stomping drums akin to the opening track. Laura takes the lead vocals for the first time on the album as she begins her criticisms of Hollywood divas. This track has a radio-ready, blockbuster movie soundtrack energy to it that could bring the duo even more exposure if given the chance. Just as the influences of the previous tracks have been strung together from all forms of media and life, so too does the strange intermission to the rock that is “Frog On The Floor.” What a strange and whimsical track it is. Brady and Les’s natural voices and harmonies decorate the track in such a beautiful and silly way. With slappy bass and a synthetic croaking breakdown, the track ends with a chill psychedelic melody. All that can be said is everyone deserves a frog friend.
“Doritos & Fritos” kicks the slapping bass to the front of the groove, along with more punk influences to the drums and spastic electric guitar chords. Decorated with catchy choruses and almost nonsensical Dr. Suess-esque rhyming, the lyrics to this track are about as meaningful as the sustenance that one could get from a bag of chips. But who is looking for that in chips? People want flavor and people want fun. “Doritos & Fritos” delivers that in spades.
“Billy Knows Jamie” takes the aggression and musical motifs from bands like Limp Bizkit to describe the story of another strange duo. Is Billy Killing Jamie? Vice Versa? Oh no, it is just the ugliest screamo, industrial, deathcore breakdown you have ever heard. This track turns so suddenly into actual explosions that your mother would turn it off without hesitation. Contemporaries be damned.
"One Million Dollars" takes the energy from the previous track, and combines it with the most famous voices you’ve ever heard. No, not esteemed orators, but instead Stephen Hawking, the speaker in all of Benny Benassi’s tracks, and even the Tik-Tok narrator. Slapped over distorted chords, a twisted Primus-like bassline, and heavy dub-step wubs, this track is like nothing you’ve heard before.
"The Most Wanted Person In The United States" keeps the goofiness going with a deep and funky bassline. Adorned with classic hip-hop additions, and other wacky inclusions, the duo lists off weird and empty fantasies. From killing others to fellatio from Anthony Kiedis, the deranged acts can only be born behind the superficial veil of Hollywood. Positively perturbing, the track is one of the tamest and most digestible from the duo. Then, from within the discordance, comes another zany song that could only come from a group as experimental as 100 gecs. From a ballad about a dying tooth to a jamming ska chorus upon its removal, "I Got My Tooth Removed" is humorous and genuinely fun to listen to.
The album closes with “mememe,” a single from back in late 2021. With a similar ska, off-beat groove, the hyperpop rulers end on a bang. With heavy rock riffs and introspective lyrics, this track is fun and empowering in its isolation. It is surprisingly mixed well with how loud everything is, including all the video game-like additions.
With 10 times as many gecs as their previous album, 100 gecs has continued their artistic expressions without compromise. Their composition comes from all corners; their melodies from the multiverse. The world of music is changing fast, and 100 gecs are up to match the pace.