Album Review: 10,000 Gecs -100 Gecs

 Overall rating: 9/10

    It is hard to explain 100 Gecs' music, with their many genres mixed into one, their absurd lyricism, and overall style, their newest album 10,000 Gecs is no different from this. In less than 30 minutes, they sing songs talking about a frog at a party, a song about Doritos and Fritos, to a song about tooth removal; no album has been more 100 Gecs than 10,000 Gecs since their debut album 1,000 Gecs. 

    Consisting of Laura Les and Dylan Brady, this duo is able to bring their own knowledge of producing and singing-songwriting to create a conglomerate that is so unique to them. 100 Gecs is seen as the godfather to the Hyperpop genre, but you honestly cannot put the band into a box no matter how broad and obscure you make it, which makes for some amazing carefree songs. 

    The album starts with a sample of the iconic THX sound effect in "Dumbest Girl Alive" that then moves to a more rock-sounding beat that honestly goes hard. As for the lyrics... I cannot for the life of me make a proper interpretation of this specific song, the lyrics sound aggressive and mad, but I don't know what to make of it. It is the fun part of 100 Gecs, in my opinion; some songs could have more meaning, and others are just pointless fun, either way, that doesn't matter, just listen and have fun.

    No other song shows that more than "Frog on the Floor", which is a story about a frog... on the floor, who no one knows where he came from. But he is doing keg stands and having a blast at the party! Until he has a little too much fun and starts chasing flies. This song is honestly so perfect, the number of frog croaks throughout with the ska beat playing for almost the entire song, this amalgamation of noise has become one of my favorite songs of the year. 

    "I Got My Tooth Removed" is another 100 Gecs classic. It starts somber with Dylan Brady singing about someone, or something, that has just been awful to him, so he has to leave them. Then it goes straight to ska baby! The first time I went onto Genius to see what this song was about, which honestly the fact I did not get it by the title says a lot about me. The summary said something about this either being about a tooth needing to get removed, or it's an allegory to suicidal idealization. Again, you can never really know with 100 Gecs, but that comment has stuck with me since I first saw it, and cannot hear the song differently even though it is such a stretch. 

    But honestly, that is the fun of 100 Gecs and this album, it is amazing production, music mixing, and lyricism mixed to make the most stupid and enjoyable music. They are pioneers in making the absurd a somewhat mainstream thing to listen to and I am sure they will continue to do so until there are no more Gecs to give.
~Limon 

10 New and Upcoming Artist to Listen to:

Magazine Beach 

 

    We are living in one of the greatest eras for music making. Many free resources are available to create and with platforms such as SoundCloud making it easy to drop music, there are so many new artists to choose from and listen to. This list is in no particular order, nor specific to any genre, though I will try my best to categorize each artist. Give them a listen, give them support, and comment on artists you think deserve some love. 

Artists:

• Magazine Beach
• Genre: Punk/Rock/Emo
• Favorite Song: Summer Hits
• Quinn
• Genre: Hyperpop/Glitchcore
• Favorite Song: i don't want that many friends in the first place
• The 1-800s
• Genre: Alt Rock/Alt Punk
• Favorite Song: Gawty
• Motel Breakfast
• Genre: Indie Rock/Folk Rock
• Favorite Song: MB (as in Modern Baseball)
• Palo Sopraño
• Genre: Indie Rock/Garage Rock
• Favorite Song: Something Sweet
• Tiny Kingdom
• Genre: Pop Rock/Pop Punk
• Favorite Song: If We Were Alone
• Amber Ais
• Genre: Indie Pop
• Favorite Song: Pity Party
• The Tracies
• Genre: Rock
• Favorite Song: Stargaze
• Ash Tuesday
• Genre: Indie Pop/Bubblegrunge
• Favorite Song: Calypso
• Evenson
• Genre: Space Pop/Indie R&B/Indie Pop
• Favorite Song: IF I EVER FEEL BETTER
  

    

    Hopefully, this list is not too confusing to go through. I will most likely do a list like this every Monday, if you have any suggestions on how to set this up better, artists to add to next week's list, or anything else, comment below!

    ~Limon☆

Album Review: Preacher’s Daughter - Ethel Cain

Silken Weinberg

Overall review: 8/10

    This is another one of those albums and artists I wish I would have found before this year but I am glad I inevitably did. Preacher’s Daughter is a story following Ethel Cain, a character and the moniker created by singer-songwriter Hayden Silas Anhedönia. The album is explicit and touches on many hard topics such as sexual assault and abuse, so a warning before listening.

    Throughout the album, we learn about Ethel, her upbringing, hardships, relationships, and heartbreaking death at the hands of an abusive lover. The genres are boundary-breaking, going from Americana to slowcore, rock to ethereal, the album is able to depict the fantasy and dark reality of the American Dream. While the story and character of Ethel Cain are fictional, the concepts come from real-life experiences that take form through the "what ifs" in artist Ethel's life. 

    The first full song “American Teenager” is one of the only upbeat songs in the album, finding success on TikTok and bringing the album to the limelight. Its 80s-style pop beat is contrasted by its lyricism. Depicting everything a teenager brought up at the time is taught to thrive for, and the disappointment that comes from realizing it is almost always unattainable. The lines "The neighbor's brother came home in a box / But he wanted to go, so maybe it was his fault / another red heart taken by the American dream." in the first verse takes you to the morbid reality of it all, and the fault placed onto the American kids almost to say death is a price for freedom and individualism. 

    The rest of the album follows a more bleak, slow tone such as "House in Nebraska" which depicts the heartbreak and longing of an ex-lover; or "Hard Times" which reflects on the sexual abuse Ethel endured at the hands of her father. Another, more grueling listen is "Ptolomea" which shows the end of an abusive relationship, where Ethel desperately screams for it to stop. The last is followed by two instrumentals almost as a cool down to reflect on everything the past 55 minutes have put you through mentally, while in the storyline Ethel is killed by her abusive partner, and ascends to Heaven.

    The last two songs are honestly some of my favorites in the album. "Sunbleached Flies" is a reflection of the entire story of Ethel so far singing "What I wouldn't give to be in Church this Sunday / Listening to the choir, so heartfelt, all singing / God loves you, but not enough to save you" looking back at what Ethel was taught back in "American Teenager". Ethel also calls back to "House in Nebraska" remembering her first love, and almost faulting herself for what she was never able to attend. 

    The last song, "Strangers" feels like a letter to the abusive partner, who according to the storyline cannibalizes her after killing her. The lines "I tried to be good / Am I no good?" and "If I'm turning in your stomach and I'm making you feel sick / Am I making you feel sick?" makes my stomach turn with just the amount of emotion and desperation sang by Ethel, the last few moments asking where she went wrong and if she could get the last laugh from any guilt her partner might have. She ends the song directed toward her mother, consoling her from Heaven and telling her not to worry; telling her she loves her, and she will see her soon.

    Overall this album was an experience to listen to it, and like the last album I have played it on a loop for the past month, making me tear up every now and again. I understand this album is not for everyone, whether it's the slow pacing, long songs; or the hard-to-hear topics that it tackles. Still, I feel like, if it's possible, everyone should listen to it once. It was life-changing for me. Ethel Cain as an artist has some incredible songs outside of this album including the album "Inbred" which follows a similar style. Ethel Cain is one of those artists I will keep an eye on all year to see her growth as she already has such an amazing discography under her and she is just starting. Preacher's Daughter is one of three albums that will come out of this "Ethel Cain" project. Again, an amazing album to come out of 2022, and one of my favorite albums to have listened to this year!

Listen on Spotify

    ~Limon☆

Album Review: Stick Season - Noah Kahan

Patrick McCormack

Overall Review: 9/10

    Stick Season could have easily been my favorite album last year if I had listened to it when it debuted. Indie Folk artist Noah Kahan can wrap up the overwhelming relentlessness of growing up, growing out of relationships, and familial and personal issues, all in less than an hour. 

    Kahan wrote this album in his hometown, Stratford, in his mother's home during the pandemic which radiates throughout as each song feels like a bittersweet homage to the New England small town. While the album makes it specific to where it is, anyone who lived in suburban or smaller towns can relate to the feelings told in the album. Whether you stayed back and watch everyone go, or you left and came back for a few days. Angry at the stagnation, angry at the change, this weird in-between, those emotions are made clear by Kahan perfectly not just through the lyricism, but the emotions, beats, and dynamics. 

    "Northern Attitude", the album's opener, starts as a catch-up to all that has been happening. Seeing friends and family grow as the mundane of everyday life engulfs this feeling of yearning for more but having to settle for less. Putting the blame on where and how he grew up, Kahan sings "If I get too close/ and I'm not how you hoped/ Forgive my northern attitude/ Oh, I was raised out in the cold." with a Kahan pleading, while a folk rock style plays.

    The album's single, "Stick Season" is a bit more mellow and acoustic in its tune. While super catchy, the lyrics reflect on an old relationship, one that felt like it would be forever, now only a distant memory. The added scenery of Kahan's hometown adds to the somberness of "And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks/ and I saw your mom but she forgot that I existed" expressing the grief that comes from heartbreak, staying stuck in all the memories while everyone moves on. 

    My personal favorite from the album "Orange Juice" focuses on a friend's sobriety, the change that comes from it, and the perspective of it all from both parties. Kahan's perspective of just wanting to see and hear from that person again, while their friend struggles to feel the same way because of all they have gone through. Neither of them is to blame, such things make it hard to stay together like they used to, a situation that feels all too common. 

    Overall, the album has a lot of range in emotions and style, while staying close to its roots. While I personally hadn't heard of Kahan until this album, listening to previous tracks, it is clear to see the growth and maturity in this album. It can encapsulate such confusing feelings into easy listens and somber tunes. I had this album on loop for the early parts of this year, as I went back to college after winter break seeing so much of my hometown change. Its folky style feels almost nostalgic, but easy to listen to if you have never dipped your toes into the genre. Genuinely one of my favorite albums to come out of 2022, and one of my favorite albums heard this year!

Listen on Spotify

    ~Limon☆

Welcome to my Blog

    

    Hello! This is my very first blog post on my very first blog! There will be many exclamation marks used in this I am sorry, I am excited! I honestly don't know how blogs work, but there is no better way to start something than to start it, so that is what I am going to do!

About Me:

    My name is Limon [lee-mon], I am a 20-year-old college student who loves music a little too much. I have been on the search to listen to as much music since 2018, and since then I have made many different playlists from many different genres and languages I am ready to share with you all. Like I said I listen to many different genres, I mean it when I say I will listen to it all! I also try to listen to as many languages as possible. Music is a universal language, and I believe it really can bring you closer to others through its medium. 

What This Blog Will Be About:

    I want this blog to just be a conglomerate of all the things I enjoy about music. I will share new playlists, albums, and artists. Just about anything having to do with new music, if I find out about it you all will be the first to hear from me. I also wanna do reviews on older content as well, talk about artists and bands in detail, etc. I have a lot of admiration for music but there really is not an outlet for me to express that so this will be the one-way place, while still making it fun and accessible for you all to understand. 

    I will also take recommendations; I do not know if there is a comment feature on this, and if there is one, how to set it up. At least not yet. Once I do I will take recommendations and listen to whatever when I can. 

    I honestly just want to have lots of fun with this blog, especially right now during the summer when I have more time. I do not want this to feel like a chore, so I may not be constant with posting. All in all, I just hope you guys enjoy this as much as I do!

                ~ Limon☆