After a five-year hiatus, Boygenius returns with the announcement of the band’s long-awaited first full-length album, ¨The Record¨. The band teased this new project with the release of the three leading singles from the album. The EP version of ¨The Record¨ features songs ¨$20¨, ¨True Blue¨, and ¨Emily Im Sorry¨. 

The supergroup Boygenius is formed by critically acclaimed musicians and songwriters Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker. The trio brings elements of their solo careers to Boygenius, both sonically and lyrically. 

As a long-time fan of Boygenius, “The Record” feels like a successful successor to the band’s previous work. Boygenius is known for their sound – a mix of indie rock and folk music – and their impactful lyrics, both equally present on the singles. ¨The Record” feels like a continuation of the band’s first EP ¨Boygenius¨ in many aspects. The self-titled EP similarly featured the band’s iconic mixture of genres with their signature raw and emotional lyrics. The new singles also have the same feel as the trio’s solo projects which featured similar sounds and lyrical components. After such a long wait for new music, a return to the band’s norm is very comforting as it reminded me of why I fell in love with Boygenius’ music.

Despite the project’s similarities, ¨The Record¨ is able to stand alone as it has a brighter aesthetic and leans more on rock aspects sonically, opposed to ¨Boygenius¨ which presented a darker aesthetic and relied heavily on a folk sound. The new releases also focus on an outward reflection of relationships lyrically, while ¨Boygenius¨ reflected primarily on internalized emotions. The differences between the band’s two major projects is refreshing as a fan because it shows that the group still has a lot to offer and that they can be experimental without losing the impact of their music. 

The full version of ¨The Record¨ is set to release on March 31 and will feature 12 tracks. An accompanying tour will also take place over the following months after the release.