After releasing their debut album “the record” earlier this year, the supergroup known as boygenius is taking the world by storm. Now releasing a four-track accompanying EP titled “the rest,” boygenius is sure to win you over.
Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus – AKA boygenius are the biggest indie-music sensations of 2024. Garnering 6 Grammy nominations, the trio have had the greatest years of each of their careers. “the rest” leans into the indie side of the band’s typical indie-rock sound. The lyrics are absolutely bewitching and make for four very intimate-sounding tracks. The EP is made up of a more acoustic production style, making the lyrics stand out.
“And I don’t mean to make it all about me / But I used to believe no one could love you like I do” from the song Voyager is sung softly by Bridgers alone, with her bandmates providing backing vocals. The song takes inspiration from “Pale Blue Dot” by Carl Sagan, drawing on the aspect of the moon itself, which is relied on heavily in Bridger’s solo work. Voyager demonstrates loneliness and feeling as small as the pale blue dot like no other words I’ve come across. The song combines isolation with a sense of hope, sung sweetly by the entire group.
Afraid of Heights is the song led by Dacus on this EP. Perhaps my favorite voice of the trio, her voice truly tugs at heartstrings. The lyrics “I never rode a motorcycle / I’ve never smoked a cigarette / I wanna live a vibrant life / But I wanna die a boring death” provide commentary on the fear of missing out on life. This is one thing so great about boygenius – no matter who you are, you can probably relate to their work on some level. The relatability of their songs surely adds to their success.
The EP showcases various narrative perspectives, exemplified by the statement, “I’ve never smoked a cigarette,” (Dacus, Afraid of Heights) contrasting with Baker’s lyrics in Black Hole, where she mentions, “sucking a dart down on the back porch.” Despite the collaboration, the band members maintain their individuality through the expression of each artist’s unique experiences.
‘Black hole ’ is a lyric taken from the Grammy-nominated song Not Strong Enough from “the record.” This song essentially describes the “Black hole opened in the kitchen” from Not Strong Enough. Black Hole, the opening track of the EP is the only one that does not have one member as the front-runner, instead having all three share the spotlight. The collaborative foundation of the band shines in this song, providing a beautiful mix of their individual talents.
The final track of the project is Powers. Spearheaded by Baker, the song is reminiscent of the same feeling of being small in the world. Like the rest of the EP, space imagery serves to juxtapose the reality of an individual’s insignificance and lack of control. Baker articulates navigating her existence “on a crooked little trajectory” akin to “a body in orbit or a roach on his way to the gutter” in the acoustic ballad. The idea of the black hole is brought back up with “the destruction of matter / there’s no object to be seen in the supercollider.” But unlike a lot of the bands’ work, the song ends with a seemingly optimistic note; a potential for creation within destruction, mirroring the birth of stars from a black hole.
Through numerous references to their own music, boygenius serves as a reminder that a song is not meant to exist in isolation – proving the point their lyrics convey. Each song is threaded through another, imparting their discographies with an unmistakable identity.
The band is able to intertwine their individual work with one another and produce something masterful, which I why I think their music is so enthralling. If you have 12 minutes and 6 seconds, give “the rest” a listen. If you’re interested in reading more about the band, check out a review for “the record” here!