REVIEW: BOYGENIUS - THE RECORD

4/5

The Review.

Genius loves company, boy, and like Ray Charles, 'The Record' has plenty. Hands up to the California sunshine from the Pacific Coast. The supergroup is here on the cover of Rolling Stone, dressed like a Nirvana shoot. Heaven sent, pointing to each other like a Spider-Man meme made Multiverse reality. Your heroes, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Gods not angels. The best big-three and women in music since the sisterhood of Haim. Here to end March and begin the Spring of April with 'The Record' of the year following their E.P. named after their group's collective name, Boygenius. 

Named after the fact that most men get more credit than they deserve like "bro Einstein's", it's time for those who run the world to be seen for their smarts. Can't mansplain your way out of this one. And it's not for a writer (waiter) like me to judge, but this album is well worth the wait and the Tokyo tease seeing 'The Punisher' Phoebe Bridgers bare her acoustic bones in Zepp DiverCity last month. To begin this album's conclusion ('Letter To An Old Poet') she sings, "I said, "I think that you're special"/You told me once that I'm selfish/And I kissed you hard/In the dark, in the closet/You said my music is mellow/Maybe I'm just exhausted/You think you're a good person/Because you won't punch me in the stomach," before her spiritual sister join in harmony. You think this music mellow, man? Really it's a masterwork from one of the genre's greatest. Make that three of the biggest and best. 

You can hear it in the harmonies of the 'Without You Without Them' a cappella intro for this Interscope record to sing along. A week after the great Lana Del Rey asked us 'Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd' and a month after Miley Cyrus contended for the calendar with her 'Endless Summer Vacation', we now have three voices in the land where the sun always rises. And this time, we ain't talking about Japan. Recorded at Rick Rubin's Shangri-la study in Malibu like many a classic, Chili or Beastie. Following 'The Punisher' in 2020, 2021 saw Baker bake up 'Little Oblivions' and Dacus delve into her 'Home Video'. But this January 2023 we were treated to a trio of singles from this Holy Trinity. Not to mention a Coachella line-up announcement. '$20' which this album is well worth, affording more. The standout single 'Emily I'm Sorry'. And the beautiful like Joni Mitchell 'True Blue'. 

Now we have 'Not Strong Enough' for your radio play on this dozen from Baker, Bridgers and Dacus. But it actually is tough enough with lyrics like "The way I am/Not strong enough to be your man/I tried, I can't/Stop staring at the ceiling fan and/Spinning out about things that haven't happened/Breathing in and out." Singing "always an angel, never a God" on a big wheel like a Bueller day off. And if that wasn't enough of a California dreaming like music video for your mamas and papas, then how about 'The Film' to go with 'The Record'? Directed by 'Personal Shopper' and 'Spencer' star Kristen Stewart showing her career of the future like when 'Don't Worry, Darling' and 'Booksmart' director hit with the Red Hot 'Dark Necessities'. Hollywood hits for a hallmark Los Angeles act by way of Pasadena, Virginia and Tennessee. 

'Leonard Cohen' is here too and the sampling of the late, great's 'Anthem' like the "do, do, do's" of a Lou Reed 'Summer Girl'. Paul Simon is credited as inspiration on the instant vintage familiarity of 'Cool About It'. And this Traveling Wilbury like epic ensemble also has fun with you Beatles boys on 'Revolution 0'. But it's on 'Satanist' where there is really hell to pay like fury and scorn, but no tired cliché or stereotype. Dacus delights, "Will you be a satanist with me?/Mortgage off your soul to buy your dream/Vacation home in Florida/The collateral, the devil's repossessin' from me/Tryin' to score some off brand ecstasy/Will you be an anarchist with me?/Sleep in cars and kill the bourgeoisie/At least until you find out what a fake I am/Spray paint my initials on an ATM/I burn my cash and smash my old TV." All hail. 

'We're In Love', and you will be too when Lucy Dacus makes art in the notebook. "You could absolutely break my heart/That's how I know that we're in love/I don't need the symbol of a scar/So put down the knife, we're not swapping blood/Isn't it enough that we stripped down to our skin?/Cold and porcelain, like bathers in a painting/And I told you of your past lives, every man you've ever been/It wasn't flattering, but you listened like it mattered." And if you're not convinced by then, the 'Anti-Curse' of Baker will heal you like, "There we were/Was anyone ever so young?/Breakin' curfew with illegal fireworks/Unpackin' God in the suburbs." We haven't had lines like this since her last album. Legacy making legend for her story and musical muse history. Boys beware, "you don't have to make it bad, just 'cause you know how", this isn't an album against you. But genius, know this if you think this putting three heads together, meeting of the minds can't compare with what you have to say, then it's high time you kept it lipped and listened up. For 'The Record', this goes harder and smarter. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Emily I'm Sorry', 'Cool About It', 'Leonard Cohen'.