the record (2023)

The Record is the debut studio album by American indie rock supergroup Boygenius, consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. It was released on March 31, 2023, through Interscope Records.

The Record received critical acclaim, and was awarded perfect scores by the likes of DIY, NME and Rolling Stone. It went on to top the charts in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, marking the first number-one album for all band members, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.

The Record and its tracks received a total of seven nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. It received three awards, including Best Alternative Music Album.

Background

After releasing their debut self-titled EP Boygenius in 2018, the trio had since been working on their solo projects and had all released their respective albums—Little Oblivions by Julien Baker, Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers, and Home Video by Lucy Dacus—before performing as a group for the first time in 3 years on November 19, 2021. Rumours about a debut album from Boygenius began spreading in late 2022 to 2023, after the trio was spotted in a photoshoot together in November 2022 and after Boygenius was announced to be on the 2023 Coachella lineup on January 10, 2023.

Release

On January 18, 2023, Boygenius announced the album, along with the release of three lead singles, "$20", "Emily I'm Sorry", and "True Blue".

On March 1, 2023, Boygenius released the album's fourth single "Not Strong Enough", along with an accompanying music video edited by Bridgers' brother Jackson Bridgers. The song was sent to adult album alternative and alternative radio in the United States on March 13 and 28, 2023, respectively.

The B-side of the vinyl version of the record ends with a locked groove at the end of "Letter to an Old Poet," resulting in the group repeating the phrase "waiting" until the listener lifts the needle.

The Film

On March 30, 2023, Boygenius released "The Film", a promotional short film for the album, featuring the videos for all three singles, "$20", "Emily I'm Sorry", and "True Blue". The videos are interconnected with visual details.

"The Film" was directed by Kristen Stewart, and was launched with a proper film premiere at the El Rey Theatre, a live music venue in Los Angeles. The premiere was followed by a live Q&A with the band, for the press and fans.

Touring and promotion

The group embarked on two tours to support the album, the Re:SET Concert Series in June 2023, and their own The Tour from April to October 2023. The Tour saw the band notably play Coachella, Pukkelpop in Belgium, Connect Music Festival in the UK and Rock en Seine in France.

The band also performed "Not Strong Enough" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and during Bridgers' opening set for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour in Nashville.

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Metacritic, The Record holds a score of 90 out of 100, based on reviews from 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". A five-star review by NME raved that The Record was an "instant classic" as a result of each Boygenius member "getting to know each other artistically and collaboratively". Rolling Stone wrote that Boygenius were able to "transcend any kind of 'supergroup' cliché" through "recombining their individual styles into a different kind of chemistry for each song". Matthew Neale of Clash praised Lucy Dacus' contributions to the album in particular with tracks "True Blue" and "We're in Love". John Amen of PopMatters wrote, "Democratically curated and effusing a palpable enthusiasm, [The Record] stands as a testimony to the power of aesthetic commonality, enduring friendship, and the magic of teamwork, something we could all use more of these days." Kyle Lemmon of Flood Magazine stated that The Record "just plain rips as an indie-rock record".

Year-end lists

Numerous critics and publications listed The Record in their year-end ranking of the best albums of 2023, often inside the top-ten.

The Tour

The Tour is the second concert tour by American indie rock supergroup Boygenius, in support of their debut album The Record. The tour was announced on March 28, 2023, and began on April 13, 2023.

Background

In 2018, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus booked a co-headlining tour together, and, after booking the tour, decided to record a six-song EP to help promote the tour. The three ended up forming a band called boygenius, coming on stage together at the end of each show and playing the entire EP. In 2023, the group returned with the announcement of their debut album, The Record. That same month, the group also announced they would be heading out on the Re:SET Concert Series. With the Re:SET Concert Series only hitting select cities, the group announced a proper headlining tour to hit markets not part of the concert series. In February, they announced their first concerts in the United Kingdom and Europe. A final fall US leg of the tour was announced in July including shows at Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl.