Nathaniel Clark – A&E Editor

nuc5002@psu.edu

“the record” is boygenius’ first full outing and a powerful display of their musical potential.

Boygenius [stylized in all lowercase] is an American musical supergroup. The group consists of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker: three of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of this generation. 

Their first showing as a trio came in 2018 with their self-titled EP. Recorded in just four days at  Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, this six-track EP received rapturous acclaim from fans and critics alike. Many noted how well the singer-songwriter’s lyrical stylings blended. This blending worked in spades on the EP as the musicians exchanged lyrical passages from one track to another. Songs like “Bite the Hand” and “Me & My Dog” instantly became classics in their respective discographies. 

After this fantastic EP, many in the music community wondered if the supergroup would ever reunite for another project. From 2019-2022, very little of anything was mentioned about the possibility of a return. However, this did not mean the musicians were not working together. The group reunited on various occasions for backing vocals on each other’s solo projects: Bridgers’ Grammy-nominated “Punisher,” Baker’s “Little Oblivions,” and Dacus’s “Home Video” all have multiple tracks where boygenius reunites. Additionally, the trio was featured on “Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris,” a song off of the “Petals for Armor” album by Paramore frontman Hayley Williams. 

In mid-January, reports on boygenius activity came out on all cylinders. Word on a new website, tour, and album was first leaked and then formally announced by the band. Their debut album, titled “the record,” would consist of 12 tracks, doubling the length of their EP. 

Coinciding with this announcement was three-track sampling from the album, “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry,” and “True Blue.” An additional single, “Not Strong Enough,” was released on March 1, a month before the album’s release. 

“the record” opens with “Without You Without Them.” In a 90-second reintroduction of the trio, the musicians are recorded in a lo-fi manner. Sounding like a vocal warm-up, the singers perform a harmonious a capella track stylistically picking where the 2018 EP left off. 

Suddenly, the listener is dropped into “$20” and the group’s new genre pastiche. Rather than the sounds of folk from their EP, “the record” is more in-line with modern indie rock. While this sound does suit the three musicians well, “$20” was the wrong step forward. Likely the weakest track on the whole album, the guitars and drums sound repetitive and inexperienced. Blaring into the track with no lack of subtlety, the instrumentation is overbearing and covers Baker’s vocals. The song felt like a demo version and needed to be reworked.

Luckily, the album got back onto the right track with “Emily I’m Sorry.” A Bridgers’ focused song with Baker and Dacus backing vocals, many have noted the connection to Emily Bannon, Bridgers’ former significant other. Detailing a fight between the two figures, Bridgers begs for forgiveness from her partner, hoping they can continue.

“True Blue” is led by Dacus and explores themes similar to her “Home Video” album. Relating to ideas of moving away from home, finding oneself, trust, and unconditional love, the musicians came together perfectly. 

“Cool About It” introduces one of the strongest musical elements of boygenius: exchanging vocal duties. Each verse is led by another singer with all of them convening on the chorus. Tracks “Not Strong Enough” and “Satanist” follow a similar pattern and single above the majority of the tracklist. 

“Not Strong Enough” is probably the hardest-hitting song on the whole album. The exchanging vocal duties are set under powerful instrumental backing. The acoustic guitars and banging drums build beautifully from one lyrical section to the next. 

“Leonard Cohen” and “We’re in Love” are interesting tracks on “the record.” Focusing on Dacus only, these solo songs feel the most akin to the group’s 2018 EP. “We’re in Love” is an album highlight with Dacus singing about the passion between herself and this faceless partner. Looking toward their next lives, Dacus sets various ways for the figures to find one another. In an interview with Coup de Main Magazine, the group revealed Lucy first sang “We’re In Love” a cappella to Phoebe, in Phoebe’s bed, on New Year’s Day in 2022. They were holding each other’s faces: a function of “totally legal” drugs. Lucy was weeping and did not blink.

“the record” closes with “Letter To An Old Poet.” Condemning the individuals which put them down as musicians and creatives, the song closes with an interesting lyrical allusion. As Phoebe delivers the final blow to this character’s ego, the singer interpolates “Me & My Dog,” a previous boygenius track from their 2018 EP. 

After almost five years of waiting, boygenius has finally delivered its debut album. While not as consistently excellent as their EP, Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker’s first album-length collection is a success on various levels. Receiving critical acclaim, “the record” was also a commercial success. At the time of writing this article, “the record” holds the number one spot on the UK Albums Chart, the first time for any of these musicians to top the charts. While their solo records may let their songwriting excel, boygenius allows the trio to craft indie rock to dismantle their peers.