Anthony Nicholas Fantano is an American music critic and internet personality who runs TheNeedleDrop, a YouTube channel with a tie-in website and Twitch streaming channel. Self-appointed as "The Internet's Busiest Music Nerd", Fantano discusses and reviews music from a variety of genres online. He has a presence on X, where he discusses music.
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".
Guerilla Toss is an American rock band, formed in Boston in 2011. Now based in New York City, the group currently consists of singer Kassie Carlson, drummer Peter Negroponte, guitarist Arian Shafiee, keyboardist Jake Lichter, and bassist Zach Lewellyn. Guerilla Toss has released five studio albums, seven EPs, and three remix albums, on various underground labels, DFA Records and more recently on Sub Pop. They were listed in Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "10 Great Modern Punk Bands" and Henry Rollins has called them "one of the first great bands of the new century".
Emo rap is a subgenre of hip hop with influence from emo. Originating in the SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s, the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as trap-style beats with vocals that are usually sung. The most prominent artists in the genre were Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld.
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.
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.
Black Dresses was a Canadian noise pop duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion, formed in 2017. Their debut album, Wasteisolation, was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, Thank You (2019), Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches (2019), and Peaceful as Hell (2020), before breaking up in 2020 in response to harassment received by McCallion. Despite maintaining their declaration of disbandment in 2020, Black Dresses released three additional albums, Forever in Your Heart (2021), Forget Your Own Face (2022), and Laughingfish (2024). Upon releasing Laughingfish, the band announced that it would be their final album.
Slide is the second studio album by American electronic musician George Clanton, released on August 17, 2018 by his independent record label 100% Electronica.
Peaceful as Hell is the fourth studio album by Canadian noise pop duo Black Dresses. It was released on April 13, 2020, the two-year anniversary of their first studio album Wasteisolation, under Blacksquares Records. It was preceded by the lead single of the album "Creep U" which was released on April 7. The album was the duo's last album before their announced disbandment in May 2020 due to harassment of the band following their unexpected success on platforms such as TikTok. Despite this, they released a follow-up record, Forever in Your Heart, the following year.
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 typically integrates pop and avant-garde sensibilities while drawing on elements commonly found in electronic, hip hop, and dance music.
Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches is the third studio album by Canadian noise pop duo Black Dresses. Released on August 1, 2019, the album was their third in two years following Wasteisolation (2018) and Thank You (2019).
Wasteisolation is the debut studio album by Canadian noise pop duo Black Dresses, released on April 13, 2018.
Forever in Your Heart is the fifth studio album by Canadian noise pop duo Black Dresses. Released on February 14, 2021 by Blacksquares Records, it was their first album since the band broke up in May 2020 just weeks after the release of their previous album Peaceful as Hell in April 2020. The duo cited harassment directed towards band member Devi McCallion by fans as the reason for the disbandment. The album was announced via a tweet in which the duo clarified that they were still disbanded, saying "We’re no longer a band unfortunately. Regardless, we’ve decided to keep putting out music." The album consists of songs recorded in 2020, but it was not revealed whether it was recorded before or after the breakup of the band.
Frailty is the debut studio album by the American musician Jane Remover, released through DeadAir Records on November 12, 2021, under her former stage name, Dltzk. The album was supported by the release of three singles: "How to Lie", "Pretender", and "Search Party". A hyperpop, EDM, and emo record, Frailty was recorded within six to seven months in Remover's childhood bedroom using FL Studio and an acoustic guitar. Many of the experiences brought up in the album reference Remover's issues with her mental and physical health. The album was positively received by critics.
World Wide Pop is the second album by London-based indie pop band Superorganism, released on 15 July 2022 by Domino Recording Company. The album features guest appearances from musicians Chai, Pi Ja Ma, Stephen Malkmus, Dylan Cartlidge, Boa Constrictors, and Gen Hoshino. The album is the group's first since the exit of members Ruby, Robert Strange, and Emily, the latter of whom was caught in controversy in 2019 after filing restraining orders against two women who spoke out against him. The album was followed by an EP of remixes by artists including Lewis OfMan, DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ, and the band themselves, released by Domino 28 October 2022.
The First Glass Beach Album is the debut studio album by Seattle–based indie band Glass Beach, which comprises "Classic" J McClendon on vocals, William White on drums, Jonas Newhouse on bass, and Layne Smith on lead guitar. The album was self-released by Glass Beach on 18 May 2019, and re-released on 24 January 2020 upon the band being signed with Run for Cover Records.
"Easy on Your Own?" is a single by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on August 10, 2022 via Polyvinyl. The song is the second single and second track from Blue Rev (2022).
Frost Children is an American pop duo from St. Louis, Missouri, now residing near Ridgewood in New York City. The duo consists of siblings Angel and Lulu Prost.
Crest is a collaborative studio album by Swedish musicians Bladee and Ecco2K, released on 17 March 2022 through Year0001. It was recorded in Sweden with producer Whitearmor, close to the recording location of the film The Seventh Seal (1957). Crest is a progressive pop album featuring Auto-Tune vocals with lyrics addressing themes of love and friendship, and multiple references to Christianity and heaven. The track "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was released as a single in 2020. Crest was considered one of the best albums of the year by The Fader and Anthony Fantano and one of the best progressive pop albums of the year by Pitchfork.
Wallsocket is the second studio album by the American musician Underscores. It was released by Mom + Pop Music on September 22, 2023. After rising to prominence with her debut album Fishmonger in March 2021, Underscores began recording Wallsocket in January 2022. A higher budget allowed her to focus on immersion. The album's fictional Wallsocket, Michigan, setting was inspired by the Idaho home of her grandparents, social commentary on the upper middle class in slasher films, and rural American horror films. Across the album's characters, she eventually convinced herself to discuss transgender identity and the horseshoe theory. The songs were written acoustically first and inspired by country and blues sonics, as well as 2010s pop. The album features appearances from Gabby Start, Henhouse!, and Jane Remover.
