The Story of Boygenius: A Playful Supergroup of Indie-Rock Stars

An Anticipated Full-Length Album from a Trio of Solo Artists

Boygenius, made up of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, is a supergroup of indie-rock stars who released a joint EP in 2018, and were labeled “the year’s most promising indie-rock supergroup” by Newsweek. Although they have all had successful solo careers, the trio worked together to make a full-length album, despite the immense pressure and anticipation from fans. Their band name is a sardonic reference to the inflated praise that young male rock musicians often receive, and the album title is a punchline to the weight of such expectations. Rolling Stone even put the trio on their cover, dressed in the same suits as Nirvana wore in 1994.

A Reflection on Supergroups and the Members’ Attitudes towards Fame

The members of boygenius have expressed their distaste for the commodification and cultishness that comes with becoming a superstar. Despite the supergroup label not sitting well with them, “the record” is more than just a side project, as they set aside a full year to promote it. The band’s image is a combination of old-school rock-and-roll mythos and playful allusions to famous musical duos and trios. The EP’s cover mimics a 1969 Crosby, Stills, and Nash album, and boygenius has referenced other famous musical team-ups of the past, including “Trio,” the 1987 platinum record made by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris.

A Focus on the Music and the Members’ Talents

While the members of boygenius are undeniably talented, their music gained even more cohesion with this full-length album. Although each artist brought two songs to the EP, the LP features a new level of intertextuality among the three voices, showcasing their shared musical entity. Despite recognizable differences in each artist’s style and sound, the album’s trim collection of twelve tracks adeptly manages to capture the many different emotions of boygenius. While the members’ appreciation for experimentation and allusion can be heard throughout “the record,” the band’s specialty lies in delivering great harmonies and lustrous melodies.

Genres and Style: An Overview of “the record”

The boygenius album is an intentionally mixed bag of genres and styles, representative of the era of shuffling playlists and collapsing styles. From a Weezer bop to a gentle Elliott Smith homage, each one of the tracks is unique, showcasing the members’ ability to explore different types of music while still creating a cohesive album. “Not Strong Enough,” the most radio-friendly tune on the LP, showcases all three members’ talents with the refrain “Always an angel, never a god.” Although the trio is labeled a supergroup, “the record” is proof that as a musical entity, these three friends can keep expectations high but exceeding them is just in their nature.

Credit: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/listening-booth/boygeniuss-record-of-friendship-and-mutual-obsession

ENND