Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus—both together as Boygenius and apart as solo artists—already command fervent love from fans who have bordered on frenzied in the past. Their music is deserving of such respect, but when approaching their first full length as a group it’s easy to wonder what they might be able to offer to surpass what has come before.
From top to bottom, ‘The Record’ dispels any fears. Known for their lyrical directness and masterful melodies, Boygenius dive into increasingly opaque recesses here. Many of the tracks feel like they were sketched out with a Sharpie on a blackboard, only revealing their true beauty when the light hits just right.
But this only adds to their allure. Revolution 0 and Satanist require their full four plus minute run times to unfurl completely. And even the straight up rockers $20 and Anti-Curse have an undercurrent of darkness that requires the scrutiny of a magnifying glass.
The 12 tracks here cover an often overlooked subject, and find three friends writing primarily about the bonds between them.
The topic provides as deep a pool to draw from and to hear Baker, Bridgers and Dacus sing of the love, joy, pain and betrayal that can be contained within all relationships is both breathtaking and devastating.
The protective, simmering rage that accompanies the line, “I just want to know / who broke your nose / figure out where they live / so I can kick their teeth in” speaks to a special type of link many will relate to, even if they’d never act on the sentiment.
For three supremely talented musicians, this is another impressive step while also managing to break new ground. The hits might not be as instant, but having to work that little bit harder to unpackage them makes these songs all the more rewarding, and their tales of friendship will linger long after 'The Record' fades.
Boygenius Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun August 20 2023 - LONDON Gunnersbury Park
Tue August 22 2023 - HALIFAX Piece Hall
Wed August 23 2023 - HALIFAX Piece Hall
Thu August 24 2023 - LONDON Pryzm
Mon August 28 2023 - DUBLIN Royal Hospital Kilmainham
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