Boygenius, an all-girl indie group made up of Julian Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers, is known for its captivating lyrics and for satirizing the stereotypical boy band.
The band members dress in their fair share of ties and suit jackets, while also showing influences of late 90s and early 2000s indie alternative feel. From their rock ballads resembling The Killers, to their Elliot Smith inspired moods, it’s not a question of whether they know what they’re doing.
Following the success of their first EP as a group in 2018, the band decided to take a break and work on their own solo careers. The band reunited this past March and released their debut album “The Record,” with their song “Not Strong Enough” reaching number 1 on the billboard adult alternative chart.
After touring the album they decided to bless their fans with what is believed to be the added bonus for an already successful album by releasing their newest EP, “The Rest.” Baker, Dacus, and Bridgers have a heightened sense of humor, adding on to the title of “The Record” and releasing four more songs for a finished version of a project that seems to be a long time coming.
The songs give way to a familiar world with clever lyrics and catchy rhythms, while still showing off the band’s songwriting abilities and unique melodies.
The first song on the EP, “Black Hole,” references an article posted by NASA this past April about a black hole that was seen creating a line of stars in the sky. Baker’s delicate vocals and simplistic acoustics bring the listener down to earth. The added harmonies of both Dacus and Bridgers create a sense of familiarity to the listener.
A clever way of showing how cohesive each song is by having the first fade into the next. “Afraid of Heights,” the more Dacus anthem of the EP, talks about the idea of what it’s like being friends with a person who has reckless intentions. Toying with the themes of peer pressure and demanding expectations, Dacus has always had a way with words and telling poignant stories. The lines, “I want to live a vibrant life, but I want to die a boring death” cogently speak to the teenage experience of wanting to live life to the fullest.
The third song of the EP is a Bridgers ballad titled “Voyager,” reference to the Voyager 1 spacecraft sent out by NASA in the 90’s. Famously capturing an image of earth known as the“Pale Blue Dot” reveals the tone of loss and heartbreak for a failed relationship. Lines like “you took it from me but I would’ve given it to you” convey the pain of failed or ended relationships.
This song shows the tale of how these boys got their “powers.” The fourth and final track of the EP, “Powers,” is infused with cohesive instrumental beats and a variety of musical rhythms that feel interesting without giving a sense of unfamiliarity. With Baker on main vocals and Dacus and Bridgers on back, this song shows how creative the boys can be with their melodies. The sound of a trumpet is the last thing the listener hears as the EP fades out to an end — the perfect way to end a long awaited EP.
Boygenius has a colossal responsibility being the men of the industry, and their fans are ready for whatever comes next.
