boygenius is back with “the record”
Indie-rock band boygenius returned from a five-year hiatus to release three new songs and announce a new studio album set to debut later this year.
The three new songs released in January build upon the group’s previous discography but also play with a new sound. “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry” and “True Blue” were released in anticipation of their new album to come. Throughout the songs, there are aspects that represent each artist’s personal style. For example, “$20” is overall slow and soulful, with Baker’s expressive lyrics and Bridgers’ woeful sound, but the undertone of guitar can be dedicated to Dacus’s style of rock.
“the record” is set to release on March 31 of this year. According to Rolling Stone, boygenius is already planning tour dates for after the album’s launch.
After releasing the band’s first and only EP in 2018, the trio consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus chose to pursue their solo careers. However, after the success each musician has had over the last few years, the band is back together for a long-awaited album.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the band decided on their name in reference to “overconfident men who are praised for their every thought,” and their desire to be viewed as any regular rock band.
Out of the three, Phoebe Bridgers has had the most mainstream success as a solo artist with four Grammy nominations under her belt, including Best New Artist in 2021. Not only has she created a large fan base through two solo albums — “Stranger in the Alps” and “Punisher” — but she has also been featured on albums by Taylor Swift, The 1975 and SZA. Bridgers’ music features songs about heartbreak, abandonment, an identifiable melancholic beat and wistful lyrics.
Julien Baker’s sound gives off an ethereal undertone with a focus on vocals. Her music exposes the raw and unfiltered emotions of her lyrics that resemble those of Elliott Smith. Baker’s most recent album, “Little Oblivions,” was released in 2021 with leading song “Faith Healer.” Introducing the album gained the musician a massive cult following. The band Wild Pink has also featured Baker on their single “Hold My Hand” from their latest album “ILYSM.”
Lucy Dacus’s music can be described as a blend of indie and slow rock, because her soft vocals are often accompanied by fast-paced rhythms of the electric guitar. After her first album, “No Burden,” released in 2016, Dacus immediately gained traction in the music industry. In the same year, she played at the festival Lollapalooza, performed on CBS This Morning, recorded a Tiny Desk concert and performed at Amsterdam’s London Calling festival.
Make no mistake — this group is a band of equals with no frontwoman or lead. Individually and together, these three musicians have the power to take over the entire alternative genre.
