This album contains explicit language.
Boygenius is an indie folk-rock band that was formed in 2018. Made up of the incredibly talented trio of Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker, the group put out their first full-length album in March of this year. Titled, “The Record,” Boygenius’ album explores themes of true love, grief, self-worth, depression, and growing up. In this article, we will be sharing our thoughts and perspectives on the meaning behind this critically acclaimed work.
First, in order to understand this group more, let’s talk about the meaning behind the name, “Boygenius.” The band regularly talks about the double standards between men and women in the music industry. Due to their experience first-hand in the music world, the group named their band, “Boygenius” as a satirical commentary of the place men hold in the music world. Bridgers told Vogue in a 2018 interview, “Men are taught to be entitled to space and that their ideas should be heard because they’re great ideas and women are taught the opposite…”
Now, let’s talk about the tracks featured on this album. The band uses layered vocals, acoustic guitar, and strong instrumentals to give the listener a feeling of revelation and discovery throughout this album. Throughout this album, there are consistent harmonies balanced by the three singers that give Boygenius their signature folk-rock sound. Combined with the music, the lyrics pull on heartstrings with the absolutely incredible songwriting that makes anyone fall in love with the songs. This album covers lots of topics, but one we noticed that was mentioned heavily was true love. Various tracks off of this album contain songs based around the idea of everlasting and meaningful relationships. Some examples of this being shown would be, “True Blue,” “Without You Without Them,” and “Leonard Cohen,” while other songs convey completely different themes and feelings that will allow the listener to experience things that have never felt before. Tracks such as, “Letter To An Old Poet,” “Anti-Curse,” and “Revolution 0”. These songs talk about heartbreak and the loneliness one feels going through it. These songs also give us a glimpse into Boygenius’ gritty and impactful themes that past EPs and singles gained popularity from. Track three on this album, “Not Strong Enough,” is a perfect example of remarkable songwriting and lyricism. Showing feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being rejected and abandoned, the contrast between songs flows while also taking the listener on a roller coaster of emotions. In conclusion, we found this album to be one of the best put out this year. We highly recommend those who enjoy Phoebe Bridgers, Taylor Swift, Ethal Cain, and Men I Trust. We give this album an overall 9/10.
Here are our two favorite songs from the album:
Not Strong Enough (Ella Risso)
The singers talk about feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being rejected or abandoned. “Not strong enough to be your man” Is just one of the lines expressing how the speakers feel if they are not meeting expectations and standards for their partner. The song also talks about being confused by the feelings and emotions surrounding themselves and not understanding why they feel the way they feel which is extremely well said and relatable. To conclude, “Not Strong Enough” definitely deserves all the attention and popularity it has gained recently and is a perfect example of Boygenius’ sound and talent.
Without You, Without Them (Samantha Cicuto)
This a cappella piece reflects on our main character expressing how they wouldn’t be who they are without the people around them. They express how they wish to be a part of a person’s life, and have a mutual and complete understanding of that person. This track was a favorite of mine for many reasons. One factor was the use of vocals in this track. I feel that lots of recent songs are heavily focused on using loud, complicated instruments and distortions to carry the song, but this track does the exact opposite. The simplicity of this song is what makes it such a great listen. Boygenius does a great job of using purely isolated vocals to send a message; something that is overlooked in the music community today. Overall, “Without You, Without Them” is a heartwarming piece that deserves lots of recognition and attention.
