“I can’t hide from you like I hide from myself,” boygenius sings in their debut album, released on March 31 and very literally titled “the record.” The band, comprised of indie-rock singers and queer icons Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker, formed in 2018 when they released their debut eponymous EP. The three band members have found success in their solo careers but joined together as friends and musicians to put together this poetic exploration of platonic and romantic love with a pinch of nihilism and a dash of existential crisis.
What makes this record so impactful is the group’s close friendship. In the opening track “Without You Without Them,” the group asks, “who would I be without you, without them,” as they reflect on the importance of their friendship. In heavenly harmonies, the three sing to each other begging for connection with others.
“It feels good to be known so well,” they sing in the song “True Blue.” It’s a simple lyric, but not at all a simple feeling. This track expertly conveys the complexity behind finding strong friendships. Not every person you meet serves you, but finding someone who understands you deeply makes all the pain worthwhile. “You said you wanted to feel alive / So we went to the beach,” they croon as if they can anticipate each other’s needs.
What feels the most consistent and cohesive throughout the album is the camaraderie between the three artists. It is clear that these three came together to do what they love and to make art as friends. “We’re obsessed with each other,” Bridgers revealed in a January interview with Rolling Stone.
The safety of their platonic relationship allows for “the record” to dive into their most vulnerable thoughts. Bridgers apologizes to her former lover in “Emily, I’m Sorry,” explaining that she’s only “27 and I don’t know who I am…but I know what I want.” Although this track is about Bridgers’ ex, Baker and Dacus seem to understand how she feels. In this particular song, and throughout the album, all three musicians seem to share feelings of both insecurity and self-assuredness. They seem to know who they are but are perhaps afraid of what that might mean. “Will you still love me if it turns out I’m insane?” Bridgers asks in “We’re In Love.” Maybe they’ve all questioned their value because of their tendency to self-destruct, or maybe only Bridgers feels that way. Regardless, this raw lyric captures a fear of being known deeply by someone – that the person might run because they know you.
Their most tender songs, “Not Strong Enough,” “Revolution 0,” and “We’re In Love,” sound like lullabies – with soothing guitar strums, soft vocals, and faint strings in the background. Songs like “$20” and “Satanist” feature harsher electric guitars and more strained and breathy vocals. The rock-style track “Satanist” reflects on the meaninglessness of life. “Will you be a nihilist with me? / If nothin’ matters, man, that’s a relief.” This song feels like a release for the band. They feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable and revel in that release, almost like they’ve been waiting to exist in nothingness and scream it out to the world.
Bridgers is no stranger to throwing a scream or two in her songs – see “I Know The End” for a heart-wrenching but liberating screech. In these tracks, she may not scream quite so resoundingly, but Bridgers, Dacus, and Baker all express feeling so seen by each other that they can let go of their vulnerabilities and finally be free with one another.
The album’s turning point comes in the final track, “Letter To An Old Poet.” The lyrics and melody mirror boygenius’ song “Me & My Dog” on their EP, “boygenius.” “I wanna be emaciated” a line from “Me & My Dog” turns into “I wanna be happy” on “Letter To An Old Poet.” Fans and casual listeners alike, if they see this connection, can observe the tangible growth. The singers don’t say they are happy, they instead say they want to be happy. While the three of them have started feeling happier, they continue to yearn for a more dramatic breakthrough. This subtle yet powerful distinction makes this growth even more relatable. “I can’t feel it yet / But I am waiting,” they sing.
The members of this group have a genuine connection. And it’s palpable in “the record” – a meditative and dreamy sea of feelings. In their solo projects, each band member has a similarly thoughtful style to their music, but in combination their bond heightens it. “I feel permitted to be ambitious in this band,” Baker said in the Rolling Stone interview. “I like myself better around them,” Bridgers added. This reflective album might not offer any profound epiphanies or grand conclusions, but it will leave you thinking about the meaning of life and the importance of friendship – and I think the power trio would be satisfied with that.