The Genius of boygenius

Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus of boygenius. Credit: FUV Public Radio via Flickr

Whoever had the idea to take three of the biggest names in indie today and put them together to write music for a generation of sad folks is a genius. Boygenius.

The supergroup of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus released a new album, “The Record,” on March 31. Since then, the album has earned the top spot on the U.K. album charts, according to Billboard — Dacus and Rogers’ first appearance on U.K. charts. Moreover, it was a new high for Bridgers after her 2020 album “Punisher” peaked at No. 6. 

The 48-minute, 12-song album explores many highs and lows lyrically and sonically. The release of the EP consisting of “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry” and “True Blue” gave listeners a sneak peek into what “The Record” would be in its entirety. Part of the songwriting expertise that went into this project comes from some of the concepts on their self-titled album released in 2018 and their personal repertoires that listeners have zeroed in on.

“$20” is a creation of Baker’s that formed outside of boygenius but calls back to her main song in the self-titled record “Souvenir.” Lyrics like “Dreamcatcher in the rearview mirror/Hasn’t caught a thing yet/$20 dollars in souvenirs/Anythings worth trying” that the song “$20” calls back to with its title and contents.

“Revolution 0” is a track spearheaded by Bridgers on the album that sonically speaks to the melody in her song “Punisher.” Dacus contributes to this trend in “The Record” with “We’re In Love,” a quiet, melodic selection in the whole work. The lyrics reflect loving someone while feeling insecure, which is shown both on the boygenius track and “Please Stay” on Dacus’ 2021 album, “Home Video.” The lyric, “If you rewrite your life, may I still play apart?” from “We’re In Love,” aligns with the bridge in “Please Stay,” where Dacus details a new life for the person in question.

The most obvious of these callbacks, however, is from the last song on “The Record” called “Letter To An Old Poet,” which takes lyrics and harmony from “Me and My Dog” from the self-titled boygenius album and adds a new, hopeful tone. The song is about standing up to oneself in a toxic relationship and the reclamation of happiness that the last part of the song encapsulates. The new lyrics, “I wanna be happy/I’m ready to walk into a room without lookin’ for you/I’ll go up to the top of our building/And remember my dog when I see the full moon,” are hopeful compared to the same verse in “Me and my Dog.” It is a powerful way to end the record on a note that reflects on the past with a new, hopeful outlook that good will come.

The continued reflection and nostalgia as a theme on this album over past work from boygenius and the individual members is powerful. It is genius in itself to produce music with contributions from each member to tell a story of where they are now compared to where they were. Even the lyrics that don’t tie back to any sort of specific boygenius or individual repertoire are brilliant, and some of the best writing from Bridgers, Baker and Dacus.

“The Record” is strong for so many reasons and it deserves the praise that it has received from fans and music critics. The album tells a story of many feelings and moments that the trio expresses in poignant ways. It offers both the happiness and sadness that only a nostalgic moment can. These key takeaways from “The Record” provide some insight into the genius of boygenius, and a full, uninterrupted listen is needed to take in the beauty of “The Record.” It is sure to be one of the standout albums of 2023 and affirms Bridgers, Baker and Dacus as some of the best songwriters this generation has.