Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus shaped their indie various supergroup, boygenius, in 2018. They launched their debut self-titled EP in October of that 12 months earlier than co-headlining a tour, all of the whereas sustaining that their solo tasks have been nonetheless their respective priorities. After a five-year hiatus from boygenius which noticed the discharge of 1 full-length album from every of them, the trio got here again collectively in 2023 to launch their extremely anticipated LP, The Document.

When The Document was launched, it made huge waves all through all the various and pop music scenes. Myself, together with many different followers of the album, weren’t even accustomed to boygenius as a gaggle, and have been solely accustomed to the solo careers of one of many three members, if that. Their 12-track resurgence, nevertheless, rapidly shot Dacus, Baker, and Bridgers to the highest of the alt-rock charts, and into the Spotify Wrapped of many brand-new followers. Listed here are all 12 tracks on that beloved album, ranked.

12

With out You With out Them

Observe 1

The introductory observe, “With out You With out Them,” supplies some good harmonies to kick off the album. One in all solely 4 tracks on which Dacus, Bridgers, and Baker all sing lead vocals, the 1:21 a cappella observe is a good way to begin off The Document. All three ladies exhibit simply how nice their vocals sound collectively, reminding followers (and displaying new ones) why boygenius is the best various lady group in right this moment’s music panorama.

That mentioned, this tune sounds extra like a demo or an audition tune than anything. Given the quick size, and the lyrics which are harking back to acknowledgments or a thanks to their family members, this tune sounds a bit just like the dedication of the album. It is a good tribute, little doubt, however it is a bit troublesome to reward this observe above any of the opposite tracks on The Document.

11

We’re In Love

Observe 10

“We’re In Love” is the longest observe on the album, which might be a part of the rationale I might categorize it as probably the most boring observe on the album. The lyrics resemble poetry, which is often a constructive facet of any tune with Lucy Dacus’ smooth vocals on the helm, however on this case it feels a bit mundane. She sticks to a slim vary within the vocals with out a lot variation, giving the tune a borderline monotone sound.

In case you rewrite your life, might I nonetheless play a component?

Within the subsequent one, will you discover me?

I will be the boy with the pink carnation pinned to my lapel

Who appears like hell and asks for assist

And in case you do, I will know it is you

The lyrics are simply probably the most fascinating facet of this tune, as they may truthfully be analyzed as a standalone poem. The tune is sluggish and melodic, and have been the manufacturing and variation within the music a bit stronger, this tune might have had the potential to be amongst their strongest tracks. It’s nonetheless a stupendous tune, and Lucy Dacus sounds as nice as ever, however at virtually 5 minutes lengthy, this tune sadly simply lags compared to the remainder of the album.

10

Letter To An Outdated Poet

Observe 12

“Letter to an Outdated Poet” is one other merely lovely and melodic observe that kind of loses itself within the melody. I would not say it has that very same monotone high quality that “We’re In Love” does, however it feels a little bit extra unrefined than the remainder of this album. The lyrics sound virtually like an unedited stream-of-consciousness writing train, and whereas there may be definitely one thing to be mentioned for stream-of-consciousness writing workouts, they usually want a little bit bit extra enhancing earlier than they’re able to be categorised as a completed product.

The strongest line of the tune comes slightly below midway via, when Phoebe Bridgers sings, “However you are not particular, you are evil / You do not get to inform me to settle down,” with delicate harmonies from Dacus and Baker. Whatever the phrases she is definitely singing, Bridgers’ vocals on this observe have a melancholy magnificence. The tune is soothing to hearken to, and it’s nearly as good a tune as any to shut out the album.

9

Anti-Curse

Observe 11

This tune is one which simply type of fades into the background as a result of sheer excellence current all through the remainder of the album. It has some nice lyricism, and a handful of basic Julien Baker moments on vocals, however general it would not actually match into the grand scheme of the album very effectively. Maybe if it have been earlier on within the tracklist, it might have stood out extra, however because the second to final tune on the album, “Anti-Curse” will be type of simply forgotten.

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I am a sucker for some good old style highschool nostalgia, and I believe this tune had some significantly wasted potential as an awesome nostalgic anthem. With lyrics like, “Was anybody ever so younger? / Breaking curfew with unlawful fireworks / Unpacking God within the suburbs,” if this tune got extra of a highlight, it might have been a strong contender for the best tune on The Document. Sadly, it simply did not stand out relative to the remainder of the album.

8

Revolution 0

Observe 7

“Revolution 0” is one other tune that type of fades into the background of the album. That mentioned, the lyrics do have a little bit extra substance than songs like “Anti-Curse” or “We’re In Love,” and Bridgers’ vocals simply elevate the tune as an entire. The phrases are chilling, and Bridgers sings with a kind of haunting parallel to the guitar, singing about psychological sickness and themes of despair.

This tune is deeply private, and that may be a clear feeling one will get upon first listening to the observe. It’s brooding, however in a serious key, which feels virtually incorrect given the aura of the lyrics and the sluggish tempo of the melody. Even when “Revolution 0” has a tough time standing out on an album filled with hits, it’s nonetheless a testomony to only how versatile boygenius’ sound will be. A tune with lyrics as deep and darkish as these with a stupendous guitar backing that has an virtually whimsically comfortable sound that solely the boygenius women might pull that off.

7

$20

Observe 2

Personally, I love “$20” if for no different purpose than Julien Baker’s throaty scream on the finish of the tune. From an goal standpoint, the tune does kind of get a bit misplaced with the repetition of the chorus. The primary half of the tune is completed flawlessly; the guitar riff within the introduction adopted by Baker’s raspy vocals set us up for what might have been the head of boygenius’ exhausting alt-rock sound.

By the second half of the tune, as soon as we’re hit with, “Gasoline, out of time, out of cash / You are doing what you may / Simply making it run,” it is virtually as if the tune will get caught in a loop. The loop ends with Baker scream-singing, “Twenty {dollars},” after which there may be one other 30 seconds or so of instrumentals and miscellaneous vocals. The primary half of the tune definitely carries sufficient weight to excuse the loop within the second half, however that loop does detract from the tune’s general greatness.

6

Emily I am Sorry

Observe 3

“Emily I am Sorry” was one of many three singles launched because the preliminary announcement of the album, and the best power of this observe comes from the vocal harmonies current within the refrain. Whereas Phoebe Bridgers is credited with the lead vocals on this tune, the best way all of them sound collectively from the phrases, “Emily, I am sorry I simply / Make it up as I am going alongside,” is sufficient to make your breath stall.

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The transition from “$20” to “Emily I am Sorry” is the right method to introduce each The Document and boygenius’ id as a band. They do not miss a beat when going from the hardcore alt-rock vibes of “$20” to the smooth acoustic guitar that kicks off “Emily I am Sorry.” The primary slower ballad on the album (barring “With out You With out Them”), “Emily I am Sorry” is the type of multi-faceted sluggish jam that exemplifies why they determined to return collectively as a band within the first place.

5

Leonard Cohen

Observe 8

Coming in at just one:42, “Leonard Cohen” is the right distinction to “With out You With out Them,” displaying that boygenius is greater than able to a smash-hit quick tune. I bear in mind listening to this album for the primary few occasions and “Leonard Cohen” being amongst my favorites; I used to be genuinely shocked to see it solely had a run-time of below two minutes. The tune consists of a verse, adopted by a kind of pre-chorus, one other verse, and an outro. Such a formulation would usually make a tune really feel incomplete, however not this one.

Each line on this tune has some depth and weight to it. The lyrics type of abruptly transition from the scene within the automobile from the primary few sections of the tune to a tribute to the tune’s namesake, Leonard Cohen, along with his quote, “There is a crack in the whole lot, that is how the sunshine will get in.” The tune ends on a stupendous excessive word, Dacus singing, “However I agree / I by no means thought you’d occur to me.”

4

Cool About It

Observe 5

“Cool About It” is the primary full-length tune on this album that options all three members because the lead vocalists. It’s also certainly one of simply two particular person songs on the album that have been nominated for a Grammy, particularly Finest Various Music Efficiency. It’s the good stability between all three of their vocal strengths, taking turns as lead and concord, with every certainly one of them heading a verse.

The lyrics to “Cool About It” are additionally an awesome pattern of the themes of romance and psychological sickness, that are each very distinguished all through The Document – significantly in Bridgers’ verse, when she sings:

As soon as, I took your treatment to know what it is like

And now I’ve to behave like I am unable to learn your thoughts

I ask you the way you are doing and I allow you to lie

The phrases are trustworthy and emotion-ridden, like a lot of boygenius’ work. It feels flawed to characterize this observe as a ballad, however given the sluggish tempo and the underlying thematic romance, that would not be inaccurate. This might be one other troublesome endeavor by many various rock bands of right this moment, however boygenius makes it look simple.

3

Satanist

Observe 9

The opposite aspect of the boygenius alt-rock sluggish ballad coin, “Satanist” is one of the best anthem to return out of this album. It’s purely that: an anthem. Within the lyrics, and in the best way the tune begins out with a hardcore electrical guitar riff, it is indignant, anti-establishment, and resonates deeply with so lots of boygenius’ followers. Given the timing of the album’s launch and the political local weather of the nation at giant, it is no surprise this tune gathered the find it irresistible did from boygenius followers.

The tune begins with the enduring line, “Will you be a satanist with me?” and the next verses ask the identical query, changing satanist with ‘anarchist’ and ‘nihilist.’ One other tune with all three ladies singing lead vocals, “Satanist” is a observe that’s really consultant of the band’s sound. Once they carried out on SNL, “Satanist” was the second observe they selected to play, and for good and clear purpose.

2

Not Robust Sufficient

Observe 6

The primary tune boygenius selected to play throughout their SNL efficiency, and the opposite tune that was nominated on the Grammys, “Not Robust Sufficient” is without doubt one of the finest songs to return out of the 12 months 2023. The band gained each Finest Rock Track and Finest Rock Efficiency for this observe, and it was nominated for Document of The Yr. “Not Robust Sufficient” is the type of tune that ties an album collectively, particularly with the repetition of “All the time an angel, by no means a God” in direction of the top of the tune, culminating in one other iconic Julien Baker scream.

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Maintaining with the theme of romance all through the album, “Not Robust Sufficient” is a observe that additionally wrestles with problems with gender and sexual identities. The lyrics of the refrain boast, “I do not know why I’m / The way in which I’m, not sturdy sufficient to be your man,” coupled with the truth that all three ladies id as part of the LGBTQ group, suggests a battle with id that lots of their followers can relate to.

1

True Blue

Observe 4

Once I first heard The Document, “True Blue” evoked a very visceral response inside me. The intro to the tune is a gorgeously strummed chord development in which you’ll be able to hear the strike of each guitar string. Lucy Dacus’ vocals then are available, mixing seamlessly with the guitar, because the music enhances her voice completely. Hardly ever do all the weather of a tune come collectively so flawlessly as they do in “True Blue,” making this observe into one thing really particular.

The lyrics of the refrain make the listener really feel understood, and make the tune itself really feel universally relatable:

And it feels good

To be identified so effectively

I am unable to cover from you

Like I cover from myself

“True Blue” is one other tune that feels ambiguously on the middle of the boygenius ballad to anthem spectrum. It definitely has a extra ballad-like really feel, but it surely is not as sluggish and smooth as a few of their different tracks. That mentioned, it might be the right tune to elucidate the band’s sound to somebody who solely has time to hear to at least one observe – although they might significantly be lacking out by not listening to boygenius‘ The Document in its superb entirety.