Indie-rock power trio Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus have returned to making music as boygenius with the band’s brilliant new release “the record.”
On March 31st, 2023, boygenius’ debut album “the record” made waves in the music industry. The 12-track release is a phenomenal 42 minutes of heightened emotions unleashed through powerful lyrics and production. Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus spend their time harmonizing about the trials and tribulations of life. If you can’t listen to the whole thing, definitely check out “Not Strong Enough,” “Cool About It,” and “Leonard Cohen.” But if you do have the time and want to know more about the innovative album, then keep reading.
Starting off “the record” is “Without You Without Them,” a hauntingly beautiful and timeless-sounding acapella folk song. The bold track really sets the tone for the rest of the truly disruptive work. Followed up by “$20” and “Emily I’m Sorry,” boygenius is clearly not afraid to change up their sound with each song. “$20” is an indie-rock anthem true to Baker’s personal style of music. What makes this album so great is that each singer was able reimagine their own sound to create something unique to boygenius.
Track 4 is titled “True Blue.” This is a hard hitter emotionally. The song was written by Dacus and definitely shows the phenomenal songwriting skills she flaunts in her solo career. “Cool About It” is next, keeping it slow but adding a more folk sound. The trio blends into stunning harmony that really demonstrates the chemistry they have as a band. Rounding out the first half of the album is “Not Strong Enough.” This track is without a doubt the catchiest song off “the record” and will be on all of my playlists for at least the next few months.
Coming in strong to start off the second half of “the record” is “Revolution 0.” The song follows the experience of falling in love online, something Bridgers may or may not have done over the pandemic lockdown (FYI – Bridgers and her online beau broke up.) Then there is “Leonard Cohen,” a phenomenal song that subverts the normal standard single; it is a song with no chorus. Creating a track with no chorus will either go really well, or really bad. Boygenius did it really well. If you’re looking for a song about deep friendships, this one is for you.
“Satanist” is track 9, and if you know the band members, you know this is one of Baker’s contributions. The strong electric guitar riffs and production style are some to be envied. Track 10 is “We’re In Love.” Plucking lyrics from Taylor Swift’s “This Love,” Dacus crones with tenderness not many other singers are capable of.
Closing out the album are tracks “Anti-Curse” and “Letter To An Old Poet.” The first is a striking song about inevitability of death. To close out the work, boygenius created an ode to one of the first songs they created together. “Me & My Dog” is off the bands self titled 6-song EP from 2018, and “Letter To An Old Poet” is essentially a letter to the people they were five years ago. In my opinion, it’s the perfect track to close out “the record”
Each ‘boy genius’ may have separate artistic aims, but their talents blend to hit you right where it hurts. They bring out the best abilities of each other and truly show their astounding musical talent.