boygenius - ‘the rest’ - review
boygenius - the rest (HIVE)
There is no denying that boygenius is everywhere right now. It might just be because most of us are on the side of TikTok that’s full of Hozier and Mitski, but the rest of the world has had no choice but to notice the trio. As extremely successful solo artists in their own right, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus made the choice to revive the supergroup earlier this year, much to their fans’ excitement.
When the group released debut album, the aptly titled, ‘the record’ earlier this year it took the music industry by storm, with Hive heralding it as “the best parts of boygenius wrapped in a near package with a bow.” Now, six months later, ‘the rest’ shows us exactly what we missed from this album, ending their release run in fantastic style (and just in time to refresh minds for Grammy nominations).
The title is deceptive, as the tracks that we are presented with could have easily fought for space on ‘the record’ and are not simply ‘the rest’ of the recorded tracks. As with previous work, each track has a recognizable sound that belongs to each respective member of the group, each of them calling back to previous tracks to develop their sound and continue the stories they have told – Bridgers is, as always, obsessed with the moon on ‘Voyager’, a track that emulates the same gentle melodies and feeling of weightlessness that Bridgers’ solo work does.
‘Afraid of Heights’ gives Dacus her moment in a way that only she could accomplish, mirroring the faster pace of ‘the record’ and letting Dacus’ storytelling abilities shine. The track talks of a protagonist and how they have let something as simple as a fear of heights hold them back from truly living life – it proves to be a lyrical highlight of the groups’ entire discography.
It's unfair to classify boygenius’ music as the definitive item of the ‘sad girl starter pack’. Their music is too often labelled as sad or melancholic, when it is so much more than that. Their music is complicated, the emotions within proving so much more complex than initially meets the eye. They have a gift in weaving intricate tapestries with their lyrics, each song meaning something entirely different to the next listener. Their music is contemplative and meditative, all while seeming deceptively simple with sparce instrumentals and three-part harmonies.
In a year where boygenius has managed to skyrocket into popularity with a billboard top 10 album, a headline show at Madison Square Garden, and dozens of festival sets, ‘the rest’ sounds the final notes on a tumultuous time for the trio, allowing them to rest again until their dedicated fanbase calls for even more.
Rating: 4/5
