Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
The boys are back in town. boygenius (Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers) are the indie supergroup that have reached cult-like status with their candid songwriting and unique camaraderie. After this year’s release of their highly-lauded debut album, the record, the group hit the road for their equally-anticipated world tour.
The second leg of “the tour” opened in Boston, MA on September 25, where I was fortunate enough to be in attendance. Kicking off the run with animated energy and a plethora of surprises to come (spoiler alert: new announcements, singles, and a guest-appearance by Hozier), it was clear that boygenius are currently raising towards the peak of the powers, but are not planning on slowing down any time soon.
During the show, boygenius announced to the crowd that their new EP, aptly titled the rest, would come out in only 3 weeks, on Friday the 13th no less. The 4-track collection, while short in length, provides thoughtful vignettes that continue the stories told through tracks on their preceding full-length. The EP’s opening track, “Black Hole” was debuted live in Boson and marks a slightly different sound for the group. Unlike the quiet instrumentation and melodic harmonies of their earliest works, the new song incorporates electric production aided by layers of pulsation and drum beats.
The infectious collection of 4 new songs finds boygenius in a place of gratitude and optimism, as they celebrate friendship, queer joy and continue on the sonic-heighs of their phenomenal debut album. In their typical format, each of the three members are highlighted on their own “solo” songs, in which Bridgers, Dacus, or Baker provide lead vocals.
Opening track “Black Hole” kicks off the EP with a combination of each member leading a verse and culminating together in the chorus, their voices effortlessly meshing together in a sound so fine-tuned, it feels kismet. Short and sweet, each of the following songs flow out organically, feeling as if they are thoughts meant to be uttered in their most simplistic forms, rather than poked and prodded with added production value.
“I don’t want to live forever, but I don’t want to die tonight,” Dacus sings earnestly on the EP’s second track, “Afraid of Heights.” With hope of a better future, the song is more optimistic and forthcoming than most of boygenius’ offerings to date. This level of euphonic confessionals is a trademark of the group, who are known to craft tattoo-worthy lyrics that fans eagerly scream, cry, and dance along to in their wide breadth of emotion.
On “Voyager,” Bridgers channels mellow ruminations as she laments her own shortcomings. Similar to tracks off her critically-acclaimed record Punisher, the sonng is a Bridgers’ construction inside and out, with morose lyrics like “I’m starting believe that I might be a monster,” which she confesses in her detached, nonchalant way.
Baker’s ending effort, “Power” feels raw and stripped in both production and emotional levity, deepened with backing harmonies from her counterparts. Melodically, the track ebbs and flows through her introspective musings and strums of acoustic guitar, before fading out into a dissent of muted horns that bellow to signify an end. Whether it is an end to this era of boygenius, or simply the mark of a semicolon is yet to be determined. What we do know, is that we can always count on boygenius to soundtrack life’s pleasures and pitfalls in the most sincere way.
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