SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOYGENIUS – THE RECORD

boygenius
The Record
Interscope

The debut album The Record by supergroup boygenius is a remarkable album that showcases the individual and collective talents of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers.

“$20” and “Satanist” are the heaviest and hardest-rocking songs from the album, and Julien Baker leads both. “$20” has a sick riff reminiscent of the grunge era, Baker’s vocals are powerful, and Bridgers and Dacus provide great backing vocals. Near the end, the song transforms into an emo song of sorts and is incredibly explosive, energetic, and angry. The electrifying screams by Bridgers and the beautiful vocal dynamic between Baker and Dacus hits hard. Listeners will become obsessed with the song’s epic conclusion.

 “True Blue”, the track led by Lucy Dacus, is one of the best-written songs from the album and is endearing and heartwarming. Its production is very interesting, too. The keys, in particular, give it an electronic and spacey sound. Dacus also brings a small amount of humour to the record, especially on the charming track “Leonard Cohen”. The lines: “And I am not an old man having an existential crisis/In a Buddhist monastery/Writing horny poetry” are pretty amusing and witty. It is one of the few instances when the album is a bit ‘happier’ or upbeat, and that style change is quite refreshing.

The melancholic and emotional track “Emily I’m Sorry” displays Bridgers’ vocal and storytelling talents the best. Bridgers’ soft and delicate whisper-like vocals are top-notch. Lyrically the track is devastatingly heartbreaking and honest.

One of the best tracks from the album is “Not Strong Enough”. It has a gorgeous mixture of melodic acoustic guitar and warm electric guitar riffs. Each member gets their own verse to sing alone, and deliver soul-crushing lyrics. All of them are perfect, but the high notes of Dacus in the third verse is the highlight. Also, the triumphant and cathartic repeated line: “Always an angel, never a god”, is one of the album’s best lines.

The Record is everything fans of Baker, Bridgers, and Dacus could have asked for. Their voices blend together flawlessly, the choruses are catchy, the storytelling is vulnerable, sad and authentic, and the melodies are meticulously crafted. It will become an instant classic in the indie rock scene.

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