EP: "the rest"
Band: boygenius
Release Date: Oct. 13, 2023
Rating: A
When three powerful indie-rock singer-songwriters with mutual obsessions for one another’s work come together, the product is guaranteed to be perfectly soulful and warmly familiar.
Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, the trio known as boygenius, released their debut album "the record" on March 31. The group followed the album up just six months later with its companion piece, a four-song EP titled "the rest," which released on Oct. 13.
Following the release of "the record," the women of boygenius had an immensely successful year, playing at Coachella and performing at a sold-out Madison Square Garden. Fans were desperate for more, leading the group to release the songs that were originally cut out of the album under the fitting title "the rest."
The EP opens with “Black Hole” — a song about uncertainty and longing for connection.
Baker sings, "Good day / good night / good talk / goodbye / It's out of your hands," and "Sometimes, I need to hear your voice." These lyrics illustrate the mixed feelings of wanting to let someone go but also wanting them in your life. Baker’s vocals are backed by dark melodies that are as lovely as they are haunting.
Lucy Dacus shines on the next track, “Afraid of Heights,” which chronicles the desire to experience the vibrancy of life while not taking risks just for the sake of feeling alive.
Dacus beautifully illustrates this point through her soft vocals and lyricism: "You made me climb a cliff at night / You wanted me to jump, and I declined." She then sings, "I wanna live a vibrant life / But I wanna die a boring death," furthering the idea of wanting to live a full life while not being willing to take dangerous risks that may end that life.
The third track, “Voyager,” feels like an ode to Phoebe Bridgers’ solo work, as its melancholic instrumentals and delicate lyricism are reminiscent of her previous solo albums, "Stranger in the Alps" and "Punisher." The theme of this song is similar to other songs by Bridgers, telling a tale of ill-fated love and the feeling of losing someone you knew so well that you could read their mind.
Bridgers sings, "But I used to believe no one could love you like I do / ... And sometimes you let me read your mind." She then sings, "You took it from me / But I would've given it to you." These lyrics perfectly emphasize the feeling of loving someone who doesn't love you in the same way.
The EP closes with “powers,” where the three voices of Bridgers, Dacus and Baker come together for a magical ending to their short supplement to "the record."
The message of “powers” is almost reminiscent of the themes explored by Phoebe Bridgers’ song “I Know the End.” The lyrics reveal a theme of personal discovery and introspection on one's identity. The trio sings, "Or am I simply another of the universe's failed experiments?"
This song illustrates the feeling of wondering who you are and struggling with your place in the world. It ends with a minute of slow yet beautiful instrumentals that allow the listener to reflect on the lyrics heard in “powers” as well as the three previous songs.
This EP acts as a beautiful culmination to the three artists’ ultra-successful year. The melancholic sounds mixed with the pensive lyricism is boygenius’s signature sound and is one that never disappoints.
While the EP contained all new songs, there was something about it that felt familiar. The recurring themes and melodies of boygenius’ songs are a reliable staple that works for the group and gives its music a sense of friendly warmth that makes it irresistible.