The Record by Boygenius Review
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Boygenius is a band that is made up of the musical artists Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers. Back in 2018, the band released their first, self-titled EP which consisted of six songs and they reunited again for their release of their debut album the record this year. Individually, the three singer-songwriters have had wonderful careers but they have been able to create something truly spectacular with their combined talent on this most recent album.
The record is everything we love about Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers. Each one of their styles are highlighted throughout the album in a way that allows each artist to really shine. The indie rock elements of Julien Baker’s music are present in songs like “Anti-Curse” and “$20”. Lucy Dacus’ songwriting ability is exhibited in the songs “We Are in Love” and “Leonard Cohen”. Phoebe Bridgers indie folk style music accompanied with gut wrenching lyricism is present in songs like “Emily I’m Sorry”.
Opening with “Without You Without Them”, the record’s message immediately becomes known through the first song. The song is entirely acapella, a testament to the three singers’ ability to harmonize and blend with each other's voices. There is definitely a sense of familiarity heard as the voices meld together in the first track; a hint to the long standing friendship between the three bandmates behind the scenes. The song explores an intense relationship as Dacus, Bridgers, and Baker sing about a person whom they find to be all consuming. They want anything that this person is willing to offer them and they go so far as to thank the people responsible for this person’s creation. Expressing how they would give up themselves to this person in every way, there are a couple ways the song can be interpreted. I see it as a way for them to express how much they want to be known by someone and how they can get lost in the intensity of their emotions.
The album had four singles that were put out prior to the album’s release: “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry”, “True Blue”, and “Not Strong Enough”. Each of these singles were able to display each of the artist's styles.
With the first single “$20”, Julien Baker’s voice and style takes the forefront. The song emanates a nostalgic element as Baker sings about “all night” drives and playing with fire without considering the consequences. There is a reckless element explored in the song as Baker sings about being depleted of resources, whether that’s literal or metaphorical, and doing anything to keep pushing forth despite that. At the end of the song, Phoebe’s iconic scream can be heard in the background which is reminiscent of her song “I Know the End”. We can hear her asking over and over, nearly begging, for just twenty dollars. It is the only thing she asks for yet she is still denied her request.
There is a significant tone shift when approaching the next single “Emily I’m Sorry”. Phoebe Bridgers is the primary voice of this song and the song is speculated to be about a real relationship she went through in her life. The song definitely has a melancholy edge which is familiar with Bridgers style. Bridgers sings to Emily, desperately asking her to forgive her for the ways in which she is flawed as a person. Singing, “I can feel myself becoming someone only you could want”, Bridgers seems to express that though Emily is aware of her flaws, she still won’t let go. The lyrics are etched in regret and self-reflection as Bridgers communicates how she feels like she’s lost herself and she doesn’t want to be that person anymore.
The third single “True Blue” is where Lucy Dacus really gets to shine. In “True Blue” Dacus examines a perfectly imperfect relationship between two people who know each other to their core. A good example from the song that explores this relationship is when Dacus sings, “It feels good to be known so well, I can’t hide from you like I hide from myself”. Dacus is able to show this flawed person whom she cares for deeply and she can never really stay mad at. Their relationship goes deeper than hurt feelings and petty arguments so even though they get mad at each other at times, they are always able to move on from it. Dacus describes this saying “Your love is tough, your love is tried and true blue.” In that sense it is almost as if the two are fighting for each other and their hearts are strong enough to take the pressure that comes from that.
Finally, the last single of the album is “Not Strong Enough” which is a culmination of each of the three artists and how they work together. Though the song takes an upbeat melody with the driving beat of the drums and the strum of the guitar as well as electronic elements in the production, the lyrics tell a different story. The song is about someone who is struggling with their mental health and they feel like they are “not strong enough” to handle life or be with someone. They don’t understand why they are struggling the way they are and they feel like they can’t be the person their partner needs them to be. Then in the bridge, the singers repeat over and over, “always an angel, never a god.” It’s almost as if they feel like they will always be second best no matter how hard they try.
I thoroughly enjoy all of the singles and I feel like they were great selections to represent the album before it was released. Bridgers, Baker, and Dacus each get their moment in these songs but more importantly, they exhibit their talent as a band. This album has been long awaited due to the fact that the three artists haven’t collaborated for nearly 5 years. There are many references to their EP within the record which makes the album feel like they picked up right where they left off. Most prominently, in the last song of the album, “Letter To an Old Poet”, they reference their previous song “Me and My Dog”. However, they expand on the song by using the original melody but showing how much they’ve changed since its launch through new lyrics. “Me and My Dog” conveys a relationship that the singers cannot let go of and feel almost destroyed by. Contrarily, in “Letter to an Old Poet” the singers indicate that they are ready to move on and they are now on the path to being happy again.
The record explores a multitude of subjects as the album progresses, it works in a way that makes sense together. The production elements are masterfully thought out as the album demonstrates significant tone shifts from one song to the next depending on what message they are trying to convey. No two songs on the album sound quite the same because they all tell their own story. I don’t feel as though the album is disjointed though because even as they touch on different themes, the focal voice of the record remains consistent. They stay true to themselves and it is very obviously an equal, conjoined effort from the singers. Though the record has many great songs, my favorites so far have been Cool About it, Not Strong Enough, and Letter to an Old Poet.
