boygenius – boygenius

Review

"boygenius" isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but what it does with six tracks is quietly thrilling. Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus pull together their distinct strengths, lighting up the EP with brutally honest lyrics and harmonies that sneak up on you. Tracks like “Stay Down,” “Me & My Dog,” and “Bite the Hand” double as emotional sledgehammers, each stamped with their own identity but working together so well you might mistake this for their tenth project as a trio rather than their first. Minimalist production digs deep into heartfelt territory, never trying too hard but always landing exactly where it should.

Most impressive is the sense of pure collaboration—you can actually hear them listening to one another, and that’s something missing in plenty of supergroups. Songs like “Salt in the Wound” cut close with their fearless vulnerability, and it’s clear this isn’t just a studio experiment. By limiting themselves to four marathon days at Sound City Studios and handling production within an all-women crew, Boygenius delivers an EP that wears its authenticity on its sleeve. In a sea of indie-folk imitation, these three tap into something real, raw, and, yes, pretty damn great. - Lauren