By: Shannon Mo 
Kindred spirits turned bandmates, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus are boygenius, and they are the moment. Each successful solo artists, the three met up for a co-headlining tour in 2018, releasing a critically acclaimed self-titled EP. The name, boygenius, is an ironic commentary on the inflated entitlement of male musicians in the industry. Despite this, genius is the only word that comes to mind when describing their discography. From the emotionally charged lyrics of Cool About It: “I can walk you home and practice method acting/pretend being with you doesn’t feel like drowning,” to the resounding harmonies of Baker’s expert guitar work and Bridgers and Dacus’ cathartic belts in Salt in the Wound, there is no doubt boygenius has been rightfully labeled a ‘supergroup’.
It’s no secret the three are devout bookworms; The Record, the band’s recently released debut album, is a treasure trove of literary references. Take the headbang-worthy track Anti-Curse, a hard-hitting tribute to Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus. Within the lyrics lies Baker’s own narrative of a near-death experience she had while swimming at the beach. Swept up by the tide, Baker “[makes] peace with [her] inevitable death”. For a moment, she considers allowing the ocean to consume her but ultimately makes the decision to fight for her life. The poignant line at the climax of the song, “I’m swimming back” is both a nod to Camus’ message of finding meaning in life and a reflection of Baker’s powerful declaration to cling to it voraciously. Literary icon Joan Didion is also quoted directly in the fifth verse, with the line “Was anyone ever so young?”. Even the title of the final track on The Record, Letters to an Old Poet, is a reference to Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, published in 1929.
Boygenius’ talent and innovative sound are also displayed in the track $20, a punk rock anthem featuring a myriad of unconventional musical timings. The first few verses are in 7/4 timing, before quickly switching between 5/4 and 4/4, then back to 7/4. The pattern continues, building into a crescendo of each member’s verses at the end, including an iconic screamed lyric from Bridgers, “I KNOW YOU HAVE $20!” A generation-defining supergroup, boygenius is everything and more. Their rich discography contains striking multitudes–from exhilarating, blast-in-the-car tracks like Not Strong Enough and Satanist, to poignant, heartfelt ballads like We’re in Love and Souvenir. Either way, the group’s profound lyricism and musical delivery is a powerful expression of love in its purest form that will be celebrated for years to come.
Image created by Shannon Mo
