The Boygenius musical release timeline is disappointing as a fan, to say the least. Their self-titled, 6-track EP was released in 2018, featuring the soft ballad âSouvenirâ, rough rock classic âSalt in The Woundâ, and acoustic masterpiece âKetchum IDâ. The band, composed of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker, then went off to do their own projects though they collaborated on many songs in the process.
Finally, in March of 2023, they released their first studio album The Record, which featured the previously released singles â$20â, âEmily Iâm Sorryâ, âTrue Blueâ and âNot Strong Enoughâ.
Following the release of the album, the band set off on tour. The tour technically ended on October 2nd at Madison Square Garden, though the band is performing at the Hollywood Bowl on October 31st,
Then we get The Rest, which we can assume is an EP of songs that didnât make it onto their studio album.
One thing Boygenius does incredibly well is being a band. There is such genuine support and love for each other that shines through not only in their friendship but also in their music. Every song may feature one artist more than the others, but everyone remains prominent throughout the track and every release equally gives them a chance to shine.
Another thing they do incredibly well is lyricism. Bridgers, Dacus and Baker have all been known to have an incredible ability to blend metaphor and blatant statements to create heart-hitting pieces of music.
That being said, this EP is no different. The saddest part of the EP is that these songs didnât make it onto the album. However, it feels like a perfect way to end this era of Boygenius. âBlack Holeâ is Bakerâs feature, âAfraid of Heightsâ being Dacusâ feature, and âVoyagerâ being Bridgersâ. âPowersâ, the final song, is surprisingly led by Baker. However, on stage at MSG Baker told the crowd that the band âhave given me my voice backâ, so itâs nice to hear her featured on tracks.
âBlack Holeâ holds one of the most interesting musical accompaniments on the album, showcasing Bakerâs love for the music. âAfraid of Heightsâ is classic Lucy Dacus, with lyricism coming to the forefront and a soft guitar and clapping for percussion. Even the title âVoyagerâ screams of Phoebe Bridgerâs essence: a soft guitar, heartbreaking lyrics, and a melody that doesnât match the music, but beautifully flows with it.Â
The final song on the album âPowersâ is a beautiful wrap-up track. Itâs a storytelling song, something the band does often and well. It tells a classic superhero origin story with an acoustic strum and an instrumental that feels cosmic (and a little Bridgers-like). The last line of the song, and the album, is sung by Baker and goes âThe force of our impact, the fission / The hum of our contact, the sound of our collisions.âÂ
Baker explained this line in an interview with the Grammyâs, saying she kind of stole it from Cruising Utopia, a book by JosĂ© Esteban Muñoz. She explains that to her it means â…you look back and realize that youâve spent your life with people that have become like your family and theyâve been the driving force in what motivates you. Itâs small, daily and powerful,â perfectly encapsulating what Boygenius is all about.
Itâs a small EP. And it is bittersweet, almost reminding us that this era of the band has, most likely, come to an end. But with three insanely talented individuals such as this band, there is definitely more to come. Whether that is solo projects or more from the band, Boygenius isnât over.