1000 gecs

Last updated
1000 gecs
1000 gec album.jpg
Studio album by
100 gecs
ReleasedMay 31, 2019 (2019-05-31)
Recorded2018–2019
Genre
Length23:07
Label Dog Show
Producer
100 gecs chronology
100 gecs
(2016)		1000 gecs
(2019)		 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues
(2020)
Singles from 1000 gecs
  1. "Money Machine"
    Released: May 29, 2019

1000 gecs is the debut studio album by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs, released on May 31, 2019 through Dog Show Records. It was preceded by the release of lead single "Money Machine" two days earlier.

Contents

Featuring an experimental sound that combined several genres, 1000 gecs was well-received by critics. It placed on several publications' lists of the best albums of 2019. Remixed and reworked versions of songs from 1000 gecs were later released as part of the follow-up remix album 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (2020). [1]

Background and release

Dylan Brady and Laura Les first met in 2012. [2] They started making music together in the winter of 2015, when Brady met Les in Chicago. There, they officially formed 100 gecs [3] and worked on their eponymous EP, [2] [4] [5] released the next year. [3] For a time, they both continued to work on their solo releases while also producing for others. [2] In January 2019, they were invited to collaborate on a shared performance at the second edition of the Minecraft Fire Festival, a virtual music festival where Minecraft users gather on a specific server to experience live DJ performances. Brady and Les created several new songs for this set, and the enjoyable experience prompted them to intermittently collaborate throughout the year, eventually accumulating enough material for what later became 1000 gecs. [5] With Brady being in Los Angeles and Les in Chicago, they stated that around 80 percent of the album was done via email, [5] with they sending Logic Pro X files between them. [2] [4] Due to this production method, they were called an extremely online act. [5] [6] According to Brady, they "didn't really talk about what [they] wanted to do"; they would just send files between them, with Brady and Les adding a new element every time. [4] The work on vocals and production was split evenly between the two. [5]

Brady and Les are against labeling the album with a genre as, according to Brady, 1000 gecs is similar to a compilation album: "We're both just fans of music, so that's just what we put on it". Both cited YouTube, Cannibal Corpse, John Zorn and "nightcore as a concept" as some of their strongest influences. [2] In another interview, Brady mentioned that he enjoyed ska and dubstep and cited influences such as Duck Duck Goose, Soulja Boy, Devil Wears Prada, Chiodos, and Paramore. [4] Les recorded her vocals in her closet. [5] Her vocals are exclusively pitched-up, "nightcore style", due to her gender dysphoria, since she couldn't listen to her own voice. [4]

The song "Money Machine" was released as a single from the album on May 29, 2019, [7] with a visualizer for the song posted to YouTube. [8] The song quickly became the duo's most successful and well known song to date, and on June 13, 2019, an official music video for the song was released. [9] In June 2019, the band released official merchandise for the album on the Dog Show Records website. [10] An official music video for the song "800dB Cloud" was released on July 25, 2019. [11] Over a year later, an official music video for "Hand Crushed by a Mallet" was released on October 9, 2020. In August 2019, 100 Gecs released the album's instrumentals, stems, and a cappella vocals for free download. [12]

Composition

1000 gecs is a genre-hopping album, generally described by Pitchfork as experimental pop [13] and by Sputnik as bubblegum bass. [14] According to Will Pritchard of The Independent , the album helped to consolidate the eclectic 2010s "hyperpop" style by taking the genre "to its most extreme, and extremely catchy, conclusions: stadium-sized trap beats processed and distorted to near-destruction, overwrought emo vocals and cascades of ravey arpeggios." [15] Some genres used to describe certain songs or parts of the album include post-dubstep, [16] indie pop, [13] pop punk, [13] trance, [13] chiptune, [13] happy hardcore, [14] hip hop, [14] synth-pop, [14] ska, [17] and Europop. [17] The song "xXXi_wud_nvrstøp_ÜXXx" contains an interpolation of "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" by Soulja Boy. The cover art for the album features the 100 gecs Tree. [18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [19]
Paste 7.9/10 [17]
Pitchfork 7.4/10 [13]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5 [14]
Consumer Guide A− [20]

1000 Gecs received generally positive reviews from critics. Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork gave the album a rating of 7.4 out of 10, calling it "one of the year's most fascinating, exhilarating experimental pop albums". [13] Similarly, Fred Thomas at AllMusic described it as being "jittery, ridiculous, and perpetually short-circuiting" but also "a fine-tuned and controlled pop product." [19]

In December 2019, New York Times music critics Jon Caramanica and Jon Pareles rated 1000 Gecs #1 and #10 respectively in their "Best Albums of 2019" article. [21] 1000 gecs is considered the first mainstream hyperpop album, [22] being responsible for the genre's popularity. [23]

Accolades

PublicationListRank
Crack Magazine The Top 50 Albums of the Year25 [24]
Jon Caramanica for The New York Times Best Albums of 20191 [25]
Jon Pareles for The New York Times Best Albums of 201910 [26]
Noisey The 100 Best Albums of 20191 [27]
Paper Top 20 Albums of 20196 [28]
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 201942 [29]
PopMatters The 70 Best Albums of 201950 [30]
Rolling Stone The 50 Best Albums of 201919 [31]
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 201927 [32]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dylan Brady and Laura Les

No.TitleLength
1."745 Sticky"2:21
2."Money Machine"1:54
3."800db Cloud"2:20
4."I Need Help Immediately"1:22
5."Stupid Horse"2:02
6."xXXi_wud_nvrstøp_üXXx"2:55
7."Ringtone"2:24
8."GecGecGec"2:24
9."Hand Crushed by a Mallet"2:07
10."Gec 2 Ü"3:18
Total length:23:07

Personnel

100 Gecs

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2019–20)Peak
position
US Top Current Albums (Billboard) [33] 94
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [34] 7
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [35] 36

Related Research Articles

Ska punk is a fusion genre that mixes ska music and punk rock music. Ska punk tends to feature brass instruments, especially horns such as trumpets, trombones and woodwind instruments like saxophones, making the genre distinct from other forms of punk rock. It is closely tied to third wave ska which reached its zenith in the mid-1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Heart Can't Tell You No</span>

"My Heart Can't Tell You No" is a song written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan. It was first recorded and released by British pop-rock artist Rod Stewart on his 1988 album Out of Order. Originally intended as a song for country artist Barbara Mandrell, Stewart ultimately claimed the song for himself. It was later covered in 2011 by American country artist Sara Evans and released as the second single from her sixth studio album, Stronger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. G. Cook</span> British music producer (born 1990)

Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, EASYFUN, Danny L Harle and felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".

Emo rap is a fusion genre of hip hop and emo music. Originating in the SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s, the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as beats and rapping, with the lyrical themes, instrumentals, and vocals commonly found in emo music. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld are some of the most notable musicians in the genre.

EDM trap is a fusion genre of hip hop, rave music and EDM, that originated in the early 2010s on peaking popularity of big room house and trap music genres. It blends elements of trap, which is an offshoot of Southern hip hop, with elements of electronic dance music like build-ups, drops, productions with dynamic rave synthesizers, sound designs and breakdowns. As it was popularized, it increasingly began incorporating more pop elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 gecs</span> American musical duo

100 gecs is an American musical duo formed in 2015 that consists of Dylan Brady and Laura Les. They self-released their debut album, 1000 gecs, in 2019 to positive reviews, followed by a companion remix album, 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues, in 2020. They released their second studio album, 10,000 gecs, in 2023. Their music has been noted for its often chaotic yet catchy mixture of various styles, and has been described as helping to define the 2010s genre hyperpop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money Machine (song)</span> 2019 single by 100 gecs

"Money Machine" is the debut single by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs, released on May 29, 2019 as the only single from their debut studio album, 1000 Gecs (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 gecs discography</span>

The discography of 100 gecs, an American hyperpop duo, includes two studio albums, two extended plays (EPs) and one remix album. Formed in 2015, the band consists of Dylan Brady and Laura Les. They self-released their debut studio album, 1000 gecs, in 2019 to positive reviews, followed by a companion remix album, 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues, in 2020. They released their second studio album, 10,000 gecs, in 2023.

This article describes trends in popular music in the 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ringtone (remix)</span> 2020 single by 100 Gecs featuring Charli XCX, Rico Nasty and Kero Kero Bonito

"Ringtone (remix)" is a song by American experimental musical duo 100 gecs, composed of Dylan Brady and Laura Les, from their remix album 1000 Gecs and the Tree of Clues (2020). The song features vocals from British singer Charli XCX, American rapper Rico Nasty, and British singer Sarah Bonito of the indie pop band Kero Kero Bonito. The song is a remix of "Ringtone" from 100 Gecs' debut studio album 1000 Gecs (2019). The song's production is glitchy with "80's video game-inspired blips" and uses heavy bass and Auto-Tune.

<i>1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues</i> 2020 remix album by 100 Gecs

1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues is the debut remix album by American experimental music duo 100 gecs, released on July 10, 2020, by Dog Show Records, Big Beat Records and Atlantic Records. It features remixed and reworked versions of songs from their debut studio album 1000 gecs (2019), as well as live performances and previously unreleased songs which were played at their Mine Gala 2019 set. The album features collaborations with numerous acts, such as Charli XCX, Kero Kero Bonito, Rico Nasty, Fall Out Boy, Tommy Cash, Hannah Diamond, Black Dresses and Dorian Electra. The album debuted at number 198 on the US Billboard 200, making it their first entry on the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Brady</span> American musician (born 1993)

Dylan Marshall Brady is an American music producer, singer, and songwriter, best known for being one half of experimental electronic music duo 100 gecs, alongside Laura Les.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty (Taylor Swift song)</span> 2020 single by Taylor Swift

"Betty" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). It was written by Swift and Joe Alwyn, and the former produced the track with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. MCA Nashville and Republic Records released the song to US country radio on August 17, 2020. "Betty" is an Americana-inspired song combining country, folk rock, and guitar pop. Its production consists of a harmonica, a pedal steel, guitars, and a key change after the bridge.

iPhone (song) 2020 single by Rico Nasty

"iPhone" is a song by American rapper Rico Nasty. Released on August 13, 2020 through her own Sugar Trap label, it served as the lead single off of her debut studio album Nightmare Vacation (2020). Produced by Dylan Brady of the experimental duo 100 gecs, the song is their second collaboration since "Ringtone (remix)". The song also paved the way for several more Brady-produced tracks which feature on Nightmare Vacation, such as "OHFR?" and "Can't Look Down". "iPhone" was named one of the best songs of 2020 by both Pitchfork and NME.

Hyperpop is a loosely defined electronic music movement and microgenre that predominantly originated in the United Kingdom during the early 2010s. It is characterised by a maximalist or exaggerated take on popular music, and artists within the microgenre typically integrate pop and avant-garde sensibilities while drawing on elements commonly found in electronic, hip hop, and dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Les</span> American musician (born 1994)

Laura Les, previously known under the moniker osno1, is an American music producer, singer and songwriter best known as one half of experimental electronic duo 100 gecs, alongside Dylan Brady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glaive (musician)</span> American musician (born 2005)

Ash Blue Gutierrez, known professionally as Glaive, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. After posting a string of hyperpop songs to SoundCloud during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that earned him a cult following, he signed a record deal with Interscope Records and released his debut extended play, Cypress Grove, in 2020. His debut album, I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All, was released on July 14, 2023.

<i>10,000 gecs</i> 2023 studio album by 100 gecs

10,000 gecs is the second studio album by American hyperpop duo 100 gecs. It was released on March 17, 2023, through Dog Show and Atlantic Records following numerous delays and a 2021 promotional tour. The album is a follow-up to their debut album 1000 gecs (2019) and the remix album 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (2020). It was supported by the pre-release of three singles: "MeMeMe", "Doritos & Fritos", and "Hollywood Baby".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underscores (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter and producer

April Harper Grey, known professionally as Underscores, is an American singer-songwriter and producer. She grew up listening to artists like Jack White, Beck, and Madonna, becoming interested in filmmaking and composing music at a young age. Grey began releasing dubstep music on SoundCloud at the age of 13, eventually incorporating other genres. After releasing three extended plays (EPs) from 2018 to 2020, she rose to prominence with her debut album Fishmonger in March 2021. She released its companion EP and opened for 100 gecs on tour later that year. Grey performed her first headlining tour in early 2022 and concluded the "Fishmonger era" with a pop song in early 2023. She released her second album Wallsocket in September 2023 on the Mom + Pop record label. It was promoted with four singles, an alternate reality game, and a tour of North America and Europe.

"Hand Crushed by a Mallet (remix)" is a song by American experimental musical duo 100 gecs from their remix album 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues (2020). The song features vocals from American singer Patrick Stump of the rock band Fall Out Boy, American musician Craig Owens, and Canadian-American singer Nicole Dollanganger. After the album's release on July 10, the song was released as the album's sixth single on August 20, 2020. The song is a remix of "Hand Crushed by a Mallet" from 100 Gecs' debut studio album 1000 gecs (2019).

References

  1. ↑ "100 Gecs: "People think we've staked our entire career on being ironic"". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2020-07-10. Archived from the original on 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The brilliant pop anarchy of 100 gecs". The Fader. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  3. 1 2 "100 gecs: "We started out doing the goofiest shit… and we're still just two friends having fun"". Kerrang!. 2023-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Hyun Kim, Michelle (2020-01-16). "Meet 100 gecs, the Absurdist Pop Duo Inspired By Everything on the Internet". Them. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Enis, Eli. "The batshit album that explains how 2019 feels". The Outline. Archived from the original on 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  6. ↑ Pappademas, Alex (2020-06-01). "Into the Void with 100 Gecs". GQ. Archived from the original on 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  7. ↑ "money machine - Single by 100 gecs". Music.apple.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  8. ↑ "100 gecs - money machine (VISUALIZER)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "100 Gecs bring their track "money machine" to life in a new video". Elevatormag.com. June 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "1000gecs - Dogshow Records". Dogshowrecords.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "Watch 100 gecs' unnervingly voyeuristic "800db cloud" video". Thefader.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Flex Your Producer Skills With This Pack Of Stems From LA Avant-Pop Group 100 gecs". Electronic Beats. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 27, 2019). "100 gecs: 1000 gecs". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 8, 2019). "Review: 100 gecs - 1000 gecs". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  15. ↑ Pritchard, Will (17 December 2020). "Hyperpop or overhyped? The rise of 2020's most maximal sound" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "REVIEW: 100 gecs - 1000 gecs". Kvrx.org. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Bote, Joshua (December 13, 2019). "No Album Left Behind: 100 gecs' 1000 gecs". Paste . Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ Sturm, Verity (August 10, 2020). "A Hyperpop Pilgrimage: This tree in Des Plaines is a 'very spiritual experience' for 100 gecs fans". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Thomas, Fred (May 31, 2019). "1000 Gecs - 100 gecs | Songs, Reviews Credits". AllMusic . Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  20. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2020-02-12). "Consumer Guide: February 2020". And It Don't Stop. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  21. ↑ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (2019-12-05). "Best Albums of 2019". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2019-12-11.
  22. ↑ "'All journalists like Lana Del Rey': 100 gecs on fame and their divisive new album". The Independent. 2023-04-04. Archived from the original on 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  23. ↑ Ross, Alex Robert (2023-03-17). "100 gecs, seriously". The Fader. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  24. ↑ "The Top 50 Albums of the Year". Crack Magazine . December 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  25. ↑ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (December 11, 2019). "Best Albums of 2019". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  26. ↑ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon (December 11, 2019). "Best Albums of 2019". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  27. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of 2019". Noisey . December 13, 2019. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Top 20 Albums Of 2019". Paper . December 18, 2019. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2019". Pitchfork . December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  30. ↑ "The 70 Best Albums of 2019". PopMatters . December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  31. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2019". Rolling Stone . December 5, 2019. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  32. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2019". Stereogum . December 3, 2019. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Trixie Mattel Chart History: Top Current Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  34. ↑ "100 gecs Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  35. ↑ "100 gecs Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.