Courtesy of Interscope Records
The biggest thing happening in indie alternative music right now is the return of the band Boygenius. For those who have been living under a rock, Boygenius is a female trio of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Back in 2018, the women expressed their mutual respect and interest in one anothers music, and created their band. Their first EP “Boygenius” was popular, but shortly after the artists took off as solo acts. Now the band has reunited and dropped their new album “The Record.” When I listen to songs, being brought up in a musical family, I prefer lyrics that tell a story and melodies that move me with unique compositions or multiple instruments and unconventional chords. “The Record” has it all.
Reuniting caused tons of anticipation with the women catching the attention from their individual fan bases and combined one. The women teased their new album by releasing four singles and appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The singles released were “$20” an eccentric rock song, “Emily I’m Sorry” a slow ballad with a unique chorus riff, “True Blue”combining vocals and phenomenal lyrics and “Not Strong Enough” featuring a beautiful major minor harmony from all three singers.
Unlike most musical groups Boygenius is equal parts of each member switching lead vocals each song, sometimes each verse with four of the 12 songs featuring lead vocals by all three members. Because they each have their own unique styles as individuals there is an eclectic mix of speeds, rhythms and melodies with underlying themes woven throughout to make a cohesive album.
The opening track of the album is “Without You Without Them,” a short acapella opening with astonishing harmonies. Keeping you on your toes, the tracks ebb and flow through quite falsetto harmonies and crashing cymbals and bass.
Their song “Cool About it” begins with one folk melody on the guitar as Julien Baker sings, but as the song progresses the lead singers change and the song begins to become more complex. As Lucy Dacus sings and the two harmonize, while staccato notes begin to layer the original guitar. Finally, Phoebe Bridgers finishes the song with the introduction of another guitar and all three vocal harmonies. The progression of the song and the airy tone of the singers is intriguing and everytime I listen I find some nuance I had not heard before.
“Revolution 0,” has some haunting lyrics about fear and insecurity in life and love. A slower ballad on the album with lead vocals from Phoebe Bridgers, the outro has beautiful harmonies and an orchestra featuring a violin solo that serenades the audience and a trumpet, an instrument frequently featured in Bridgers solo music.
There are many references and inspirations from other artists and music on this album, but one of the more obvious ones is “Leonard Cohen.” This song was the only song on the album co-written with Leonard Cohen and HoJun Yu. Featuring Lucy Dacus on lead vocals, the song references Leonard Cohen’s words “There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” This song is short and goes with the flow like life.
Dacus also leads on the song “We’re in love.” Her melancholy tone mixed with the heart wrenching lyrics about the vulnerability of lasting feelings of love and heartbreak leaving a lasting impression.
“Letter To An Old Poet,” is the last song on the album and my personal favorite. For any fan of the band the melody might sound familiar because it is the same as one of the most famous songs on their first album “Me & My Dog.” The women take it further as they reference the original in one of their last lines “Remember my dog when I see the full moon.” When listening to both songs the newest one sounds like a continuation of the original fitting together lyrically and musically.
This album is truly a work of art. The attention to detail, vocal ability and overall creativity is astonishing, and for that reason I rate this album 5/5 stars.
