Boygenius vulnerable, angsty on “The Record”

Boygenius’ debut album “The Record” was released on Friday, March 31. The band itself, deemed a “supergroup,” was formed in 2018 by musical artists Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. With the holy trinity of alternative and indie rock influence, “The Record” has something to offer to all listeners. 

The album starts off with a beautiful acoustic track, as “Without You Without Them” gives Baker, Bridgers and Dacus an opportunity to show off both their individual vocals and harmonies. The blending of vocals continues on “$20,” with the indie rock sound on full display. 

“Emily I’m Sorry” and “True Blue” follow, which were the highlight of the entire album for me. “Emily I’m Sorry” captures the alternative sound you would expect from these artists’ individual discographies, specifically Bridgers’, and I’m hard pressed to find a song with better lyrics on the album than “True Blue.” The chorus lingers in the mind as the artists sing out, “And it feels good to be known so well. I can’t hide from you like I hide from myself.” It’s one of the most vulnerable moments on the album, focusing on the loyalty and strength that true love and relationships provide, ending with the lyric, “Your love is tough, your love is tried and true blue.”

Track six, “Not Strong Enough,” continues the theme of strong lyrics on the album, with the bridge building energy with the repetition of the lyric, “Always an angel, never a god.” The religious references continue with “Satanist.” This track leans more into the indie rock influence, with an edgy guitar riff accompanying the bold question, “Will you be an anarchist with me?”

The album ends with the uniquely titled “Letters To An Old Poet,” bringing the narrative to a close with a song that deals with a toxic relationship. Bridgers leads the vocals on this track, as she declares, “You make me feel like an equal, but I’m better than you.”

Overall, “The Record” is a wonderful blend of what each solo artist has to offer, combining the best production and lyrics to produce this 12-track album. “The Record” is currently available to stream on all music platforms.