Album Review: the record - boygenius

One of the most fascinating phenomena in all of music is what has been colloquially coined the “supergroup.” Many of these ultimate collaborations work well on paper, consisting of likeminded and sonically-similar artists coming together to create projects larger than the sum of their parts. In some instances, however, the culmination of superstars can lead to a “too many cooks in the kitchen” effect that actually detracts from the individual elements that brought each artist to stardom in the first place. boygenius, made up of heartfelt singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus, moody and confessional singer Julien Baker, and indie sweetheart and heartbreaker Phoebe Bridgers, is the latest attempt at an alternative collaboration that is natural both because of the members’ friendship and their similar sounds & subject matters. the record is the long-awaited debut album from the group following their critically-acclaimed 2018 self-titled EP.

The new project opens with a harrowing and contemplative a cappella track “Without You Without Them” that demonstrates the trio’s natural harmony with one another. On this track, the supergroup ponders the difficulties of life if they did not have one another — an uplifting track to kick things off. The following three tracks, “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry”, and “True Blue”, were released as a pack of singles months before the album’s release and continue to serve as highlights now that the record has arrived in full. Each artist gets to shine on this three-track run; Baker’s punky lead vocals define the electric “$20”, Bridgers’ plucky acoustics and ethereal vocal effects pair incredibly well with the vulnerable subject matter of “Emily I’m Sorry”, and Dacus’s incredibly-written exploration of unwavering and unconditional love defines “True Blue”.

“Cool About It” depicts a deteriorating relationship over a country-inspired acoustic backing guitar reminiscent of Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah”, but lacks the staying power of some of the other tracks here. “Not Strong Enough” served as the fourth and final single leading up to the project’s release, and remains my favorite on the album, with thought-provoking and devastatingly relatable lyricism that culminates in the entire group harmonizing effortlessly. “Revolution 0” has a difficult act to follow, but unfortunately it doesn’t seize that opportunity as well as I would like, coming off more as a Punisher B-side leftover that left me scratching my head.

“Leonard Cohen” is one of the highest-potential tracks on the album from the title alone, but with a runtime under two minutes, this sounds more like the idea of a great hit than the execution of one. I enjoy what this song could’ve been had it not been so underbaked. Luckily, the following “Satanist” makes up for its shortcomings, serving as another major highlight and standout. Evocative lyricism regarding satanism, anarchism, and nihilism paired with a sick electric guitar riff and memorable lyrical contributions from each member, define and demonstrate what this group does best — rock the fuck out together. In the opposite vein, however, “We’re In Love” is the most heartfelt song on the album, with Dacus baring her soul with lyrics like “You could absolutely break my heart / That’s how I know that we’re in love.”

“Anti-Curse” is another mini-highlight, with Baker recounting and reflecting on a very real near-death experience she had at a public beach, and as impressive as this three-track run is, it feels more like a compilation than a proper album because of its lack of thematic cohesion and progression. We close with “Letter To An Old Poet”, a piano-backed ballad that serves as a rewarding final track that contains reference to one of the group’s most popular songs “Me & My Dog” that will likely bring many to tears.

the record is boygenius's attempt at achieving supergroup stardom, and it exceeds expectations in many ways. The group’s chemistry is undeniable, but each individual member’s contributions are both unique and essential to form a sonic aesthetic that hasn’t been achieved before. While some of the songs feel underbaked and don’t stick the landing for me here, the standout highlights are some of the best tracks released so far in 2023, and leave me hoping for a bright future for these three immensely-talented artists.

Favorite tracks: “Without You Without Them”, “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry”, “True Blue”, “Not Strong Enough”, “Satanist”, “Anti-Curse”, “Letter To An Old Poet”

SCORE: 7/10