Without You Without Them $20

You’re sitting on a quilted, foral couch in an antique, dusty home. Built in the 1950’s, all of the foors creak and there are surmounts of hardened candy foating around the home. A fre is roaring below the shortwave retro radio that is playing this track. It’s around dusk, and the neighborhood has begun to quiet and settle. So make yourself comfortable and prepare for the emotional roller-coaster ‘the record’ provides.

Key Lyric: “I want to hear your story and be a part of it”

Emily I’m Sorry [E]

We’re immediately met with a cool guitar and spacial-like atmosphere. Allegedly about Emily Bannon, Phoebe delves more into the theme of regret and reminiscing of calmer experiences that are shaping who she is now.

Key Lyric: “I’m 27 and I don’t know who I am, but I know what I want.”

Cool About It

So far one of the most popular songs on the album, and for good reason. If you’re searching for gut-wrenching acoustic, look no further.

A song about loving someone while knowing the pain they are going through, but not being able to do anything about it. Even going so far as pretending that everything is okay in hopes that method acting will change reality.

Key Lyric: “But we don’t have to talk about it, I can walk you home and practice method acting.”

Who just turned the volume up?! Compared to the last track, $20 is a far leap from the smooth, radio-like melody of Without You Without Them. Starting of strong with “Its a bad idea”, we get a pretty good hint of the vibe of the song. Have you ever done something you knew you shouldn’t have done? $20 is fast and strong about reminiscing on those kinds of adrenaline pumping experiences.

Key Lyric: “In another life, we were arsonists”

True Blue [E]

The beat picks up once again, bursting with a sense of hopefulness and love for companionship. It’s well known that the trio–Phoebe, Julien, and Lucy– are very close, and this track is about that: fnding your people. A very high-school-coded song, in my opinion, because we are all trying to fnd our people.

Key Lyric: “I remember who I am when I’m with you, your love is tough, your love is tried and true blue”

Not Strong Enough

Google: “song that sounds really happy but is actually too real and heartbreaking (boygenius)”, and Not Strong Enough will appear! At frst listen, this song is quick and exciting with acoustic chords mixed with electronic beats. But as soon as you start paying attention to the lyrics, you get a glimpse of what the song is actually about. Recently, Boygenius did an interview with Genius explaining the song. In summary, this song is about the fear of not being enough for anyone both in worth (also referencing the diference of treatment between women and men) and in efort.

Key Lyrics: “I don’t know why I am the way I am, there’s something in the static, I’ve been having revelations”

“Always an angel, never a god.”