100 gecs released their newest album “10,000 gecs” Friday, March 17, featuring all the digital commotion and experimental silliness 100 gecs fans know and love.
For some listeners, “10,000 gecs” will be nothing more than total nonsense that remains obnoxious for the sake of it. For others, it is a body of work that explores the boundaries of what a song can be when it does not take itself too seriously. That ambiguity between gaudiness and authenticity is at the core of 100 gecs’ appeal, and it is on full display in their latest album.
The album was originally planned to release in early 2022, according to a 100 gecs’ tweet, but the release was delayed for a year. Despite the setbacks, Laura Les and Dylan Brady created a dynamic nine track long journey through digitally exaggerated hyperpop and aggressively abrasive rock.
The album’s lyrical themes range from the disturbing to the positively wacky, supported by catchy hooks throughout. Every element of production, from the digitally manipulated vocals to the distorted bass, contributes to the chaos. The emotions and experimental sounds are so exaggerated it feels almost satirical, reflecting the absurd and melodramatic humor that is characteristic of Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012).
“10,000 gecs” plays with the traditional elements of songs by pushing them to extremes, sometimes in comedic ways. For example, “Doritos and Fritos” experiments with rhymes, with Brady singing lines like “Cheetos, Doritos and Fritos, mosquitos. I’m eating burritos with Danny Devito.”
“One Million Dollars” takes the experimentation a step further. The song is a collision of contrasting digital sounds, instruments and samples with no real structure, which is reminiscent of songs like “I Need Help Immediately” from the band’s previous album “1000 gecs.”
100 gecs also leans into their status as a meme on songs like “I Got My Tooth Removed,” which starts as a ballad lamenting dental problems before careening into a chorus with lively horns. Meanwhile, “Frog on the Floor” is about exactly what the title implies.
“Give him some space, he’s still working it out,” Les sings about the frog.
On the other end of the spectrum, “10,000 gecs” embraces extremes in grislier ways. The album reaches its most intense and abrasive point yet on the outro of “Billy Knows Jamie” as Les screams over deafening levels of distortion. “Billy Knows Jamie” and “The Most Wanted Person In The United States” feature violent, ominous lyrics, although 100 gecs’ humor makes the songs feel more like dark comedy than actual horror.
Overall, the album somersaults through different styles of music while still featuring attractive melodies and pushing the envelope in classic 100 gecs fashion.
“10,000 gecs” is available across popular streaming services including Spotifyand Apple Music. More information about 100 gecs can be found on the band’s website.
