Indie rock supergroup boygenius announce debut album ‘the record’, release three tracks
Following individual successes and their 2018 EP, the trio — consisting of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers — is ready to release their debut album.
Image: Harrison Whitford
The time has finally come. boygenius, the indie rock band comprised of musical powerhouses Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker, have announced their debut record. Aptly titled the record, the LP will be released on the 31st of March.
Prior to their reunion, each band member had released their own solo material and embarked on individual tours. Their self-titled debut EP was released in 2018, before a COVID world and each member’s individual success. Fast-forward a few years later, the members share a few performances and a slot on this year’s Coachella lineup. Rumours of a new project from the group circulated online, and an unofficial leak to boot.
Then January 18th came around. The group unveiled the title and release date of their debut album, along with the release of three songs from the first half of the record. $20, Emily I’m Sorry, and True Blue are a trio of songs showcasing each member in a beautiful display. $20, led by Julien Baker, is an ode to bad ideas and making it work when everything is falling apart. Baker’s vocals are accompanied by Dacus and Bridgers (with her signature screaming at the end) to make a punky, guitar-driven re-introduction. Emily I’m Sorry is a tragic open letter to lost love pioneered by Bridgers that has sonic elements akin to Punisher, but with a boygenius twist. True Blue, piloted by Dacus, is a love song about someone who knows you better than you know yourself to the point that coming back to them is unavoidable. Full of lively percussion, soft electric guitar riffs, and arguably the most artistic usage of the popular modern saying “Fuck around and find out”, it’s a standout.
Going four years without a record is not a big move in today’s fast-paced, “get it before it’s gone” music scene. Combining what brought them together in the first place; an admiration for each other’s artistry and the deep friendship that followed, boygenius makes another splash in the world of indie and alternative with just a taste of their first full-length. If there’s a testament to how talented the supergroup is, it shows in the anticipation after a long-awaited follow-up. If there’s a listener-based answer to Bridger’s Rolling Stone confession of a text to Dacus and Baker asking “Can we be a band again?”, it’s absolutely.
the record tracklist:
Without You Without Them
$20
Emily I’m Sorry
True Blue
Cool About It
Not Strong Enough
Revolution 0
Leonard Cohen
Satanist
We’re in Love
Anti-Curse
Letter to an Old Poet
the record is out on March 31st via Interscope Records