The Record is a work of heart

The supergroup's debut album commemorates their artistry and frienship

The indie-rock supergroup Boygenius, comprising of singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, has made a triumphant return with their album, The Record, carefully discussing delicate themes such as relationship trauma and near-death experiences while stressing the importance of solidarity between female artists. The Record is a beautiful medley which uses indie-rock to encompass the sacred bond which the group has.

In 2018, Baker, Bridgers, and Dacus first teamed up to create a self-produced EP after bonding over the shared frustration of being pitted against each other as “women in rock.” Their EP, titled Boygenius, was a revelation in the world of modern rock, showing how three distinct styles and voices can cohesively mesh together and create a new style of fusion.

The Record builds on this collaboration, with each member contributing full songs as well as partial ideas. The three singles, “$20,” “Emily I’m Sorry,” and “True Blue” were Baker, Bridgers, and Dacus’s works respectively, but they managed to successfully tie the themes together through the use of each others’ voices in harmonies and instrumentals.

The rest of the album serves as a pure fusion between Baker’s vulnerable lyricism, Bridgers’ musicality, and Dacus’s nostalgic sound. “Not Strong Enough” is a standout track on the album, with each artist having their own verse but combining forces in the final bridge to stress the message. The song ends with the line, “Always an angel, never a god,” repeated 12 times, stressing how despite the efforts they put into it, they feel that their work would always be devalued because they are women.

Another impactful song was “We’re In Love,” written by Dacus. The song was originally written off for being too off theme from the rest of the album, but it became a beautiful ode to the friendship between the three women. In “We’re In Love,” Dacus sings, “Damn, that makes me sad // It doesn't have to be like that // If you rewrite your life, may I still play a part?” referring to Dacus’s song “Please Stay.” This was yet another nod to the beauty of camaraderie and female friendship in the music industry.

The portrayal of their friendship has gone beyond the supergroup. In “Please Stay,” Dacus sings about the importance of her friends knowing that she sees their pain and cares for them. In Bridgers’ 2020 song “Graceland Too,” which featured Baker and Dacus on background vocals, she sings about caring for someone who is struggling with their mental health. Both of these songs are rumored to be about Baker and her mental health, and Baker’s song “Favor” is seen as a response. Baker sings, “I always wanna tell the truth // But it never seems like the right time // To be serious enough // I'm sorry I'm making myself cry.” The group’s deep seeded love for each other, which fans previously had to piece together

Judah Smith. Smith has been known to openly share, and receive flack for, more socially conservative opinions, and Lana’s choice to include a recording of his proclamations was artistically risky, but also showed self-awareness and the playful spirit behind what looks like selfdeprecation. Over a recording of Smith’s sermon, producer Jack Antonoff plays a soft piano melody while Lana and her friends cackle at Smith’s words.

Lana continues to explore her past art, even including a partial remix of “Venice Bitch,” a song from her 2019 album NormanFuckingRockwell!, in the album’s closing song, “Taco Truck x VB.” She directly addresses her controversies regarding her relationships, COVID-19 compliance, and social media statements, playfully singing, “Spin it 'til you whip it into white cream, baby // Print it into black and white pages, don't faze me // Before you talk, let me stop what you're saying.”

Lana Del Rey has fully embraced her status in the music industry, with all of her stellar but also controversial works which have shaped her artistic persona. Ocean Blvd is the best possible mess of self-reflection and epiphany. Lana put her heart and soul into the album, and it shows a new, unbroken side of her. By portraying her past in a campy light, Lana showed full command over her reputation and how it is unequivocally hers to control.

Our staff’s celebrations and condemnations of the latest events in pop culture

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

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After a five-year touring hiatus, Taylor Swift is back stronger than a ’90s trend with the kickoff of her sold-out Eras Tour, which traverses her career from humble country roots to global pop stardom. With a packed setlist, elaborate sets and pyrotechnics, and a bevy of costume changes, Taylor once again proves that she truly never goes out of style.

“Angela Bassett did the thing”

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WestSideStory star Ariana Debose has gone viral on TikTok for her opening monologue at the 2023 BAFTA awards, where she lovingly paid homage to the women nominated for leading actress. In honor of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star, Debose rapped “Angela Basset did the thing.” A- because no one truly knows quite what "the thing" is.

C through their disparate discographies, is portrayed in whole in The Record

The EP closes with “Letter To An Old Poet,” a sequel to “Me & My Dog,” a song on their 2019 EP. “Me & My Dog,” is an emotional ballad about Bridgers’ anxiety and desire to be with her late dog, Max. The connection between the two songs is a stunning full circle revolution, with the original lyrics, “I wanna be emaciated // I wanna hear one song without thinking of you // I wish I was on a spaceship // Just me and my dog and an impossible view,” being rewritten as, “I wanna be happy, I'm ready to walk into my room without lookin' for you, I'll go up to the top of our building, And remember my dog when I see the full moon,” on the exact same melody. “Letter To An Old Poet” shows the journey from desperate to hopeful which Bridgers embarked on, and shows how their friendship has allowed her to look at a previously difficult chapter of her life through a hopeful lens.

Baker, Bridgers, and Dacus put their heart and soul into The Record, and everything about it shows not only their understanding and mastery of music, but the emotional maturity which they had gained through their time in the music industry. Their collaboration, fueled by the strength of their relationship has made for an incredible work of art. As far as albums go, The Record is emotional, nostalgic, and just perfect.

Gwyneth Paltrow was sued for allegedly plowing into a retired eye doctor while skiing. The eye doctor, Terry Sanderson, alleged that Paltrow’s run-in caused serious injuries, but his attorney seemed more interested in becoming besties with Paltrow than defending Sanderson, adding “you probably had a better ski outfit, I bet” during questioning. She also asked about Paltrow's height (5 ’10), adding “Okay, I’m so jealous.” This entire trial warrants a C grade because absolutely no one took it seriously.

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage

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Although there were some moments of comedic levity, like when Rock picked apart the notion that children are born pure, and moments of honesty, like his tough-love anecdote about how he got his own daughter kicked out of a fancy private school, Chris Rock’s new comedy special was inconsistent at best. The veteran comic has been slammed on social media for his misogynistic comments and furthering an ongoing feud with Jada Pinkett Smith. In other words, he didn’t learn much from the infamous Oscars’ slap last year.