Singles From Soul-Stirring Songwriters
The time has finally come for Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus to formally reintroduce themselves. As boygenius, they debuted in 2018 with a fantastic EP of six tracks, recorded in conjunction with a joint tour. The three stayed in touch in the following years, collaborating on a handful of songs (including “Graceland Too,” “Favor” and “Please Stay”) as each released solo material that expanded their profiles and musical palettes. Finally, one fateful afternoon in the middle of January, they announced their long-awaited debut album – the record – set to release March 31st of 2023, featured in a hilarious and heartwarming Rolling Stone interview, and (most importantly) released three songs, each of which spotlights a different member of the group, tackles a different musical style, and is uniquely packed with expertise and emotion.
“$20” is the opener to this trio of tracks, with Julien Baker taking the lead vocals, and it is easily the most up-tempo and sonically hard-hitting of the bunch. Baker’s 2021 album Little Oblivions was a departure from her previous records of stripped-back balladry, incorporating a full band, and it’s exciting to see her continue to venture out of her musical comfort zone in that regard. Encased in crunchy guitar riffs, Baker sings about rebellion as well as vehicles like cars and motorcycles—the throughline being the idea of someone running “Out of gas, out of time, out of money.” The song culminates when it blossoms into a hazy Radiohead-esque bridge, with Baker’s and Dacus’s voices overlapping as Bridgers begins screaming “Give me 20 dollars!!!” like her damn life depends on it.
Next, “Emily I’m Sorry” takes the stakes down sonically while remaining extremely powerful. Phoebe Bridgers continues the depressed-yet-hopeful themes of her beloved sophomore outing Punisher, and crafts one of her catchiest ballads to date. Describing the fallout of a past relationship, she writes simply but effectively about dissatisfaction with herself (“I can feel myself becoming someone I’m not”) and attempting to find her way out of it. (“I don’t know who I am / but I know what I want”) The gentle acoustic guitar and muted synths create the perfect bed for Bridgers to harmonize with Baker and Dacus, and although the track may not musically progress as much as the previous one, it delivers satisfyingly on the energy that it promises.
Baker and Bridgers are songwriters worthy of their status and acclaim, but when it comes to passionately specific storytelling and warm romanticism, no one today is quite like Lucy Dacus. “True Blue” is her contribution, and it is a deeply perfect slice of soft indie rock. Much like Dacus’ excellent 2021 record Home Video, the song explores the nature of unconditional love and trust across time and space. Over the rhythmic guitar and steady drums, Dacus drops lyrics that are equal parts funny and affectionate (“You say you’re a winter bitch but summer’s in your blood / you can’t help but become the sun.”) The song’s bridge is an absolute explosion of warmth with all three vocalists joining together, and as it eventually fades out, it’s hard not to smile at how well-crafted an emotional experience it all is.
Many fall into the trap of describing (often female and/or queer) musicians like Baker, Bridgers and Dacus—along with their contemporaries like Mitski, Adrianne Lenker and Clairo— as “sad girls.” While the melancholic aspects of their work shouldn’t be understated, they reach far beyond that boundary, both musically and lyrically, and the singles from the record so far continue that trend with ease. These three songs may as well be a microcosm of the charm, wit and devastating emotional songwriting that boygenius pull off, separately and (especially) together. As Dacus wistfully sings on the chorus of “True Blue”—“It feels good to be known so well.”