Right after “supergroup,” one of my favorite terms to snicker at when used to describe a hard rock or jazz fusion three-piece is “power-trio.” Somewhere between Led Zeppelin and Guthrie Govan’s The Aristocrats it lost all meaning in its rampant overuse and became a bit cringeworthy to me. So please cringe along with me as I tell you honestly, dear reader, that Boygenius is my favorite supergroup AND power-trio of the moment.
As patiently awaiting new releases from each Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus individually is a pastime of mine, I was more than pleased to see The Record, their latest combined effort (and brilliant success) as Boygenius, show up on Bandcamp. Needing instantaneous entertainment, I listened immediately.
The phrase “spinning out” shows up in a couple songs on this album, which pretty well describes my cold listen. From the a capella “Without You Without Them” opener (a real earworm) I was hyped up with anthems like “Not Strong Enough” and emotionally destroyed on more than one occasion.
Frankly, I love Boygenius because I love drenching handkerchiefs in my salty sweet cathartic tears. I dare you to listen to “We’re In Love” and not tear up. That nickel-y fingers-on-guitar-strings sound behind Dacus’s decisive voice is gorgeous on its own, but when the keys come in it’s all over. Don’t even get me started on the backing vocals.
Something that constantly impresses me about each of these songwriters is their ability to pack such hefty sentiments, be it grief or rage, into the sweetest softly sung songs. “Letter To An Old Poet” is a great example (how is Bridgers not just yelling at her subject?) but such quiet power is present throughout the album.
It’s not all waterworks though, “$20” and “Satanist” are rollicking romps which have already earned spots on my summer road-trip and dance party playlists. “Leonard Cohen” is funny, sweet, short, and very possibly my number one track.
Overall the collection of songs fits extremely well together, and neither an extra track nor one less would do. The blend of these creative forces is magic. The lyrics are clever and the musicality is tightly woven; The Record is one to spin over and over.