boygenius - The Record (March 31, 2023) • Page 47

Kinda bummed I didn't realize they were playing Denver on my birthday. Prob would've sprung for a trip for that since it's just a short flight and I haven't traveled in 1000 years

 

You don't look a day over 999

 

I don't want to be a dick but was anyone else massively disappointed by this new record compared to their last EP? It just lacks all of the hooks and catchiness of that one. Idk

 

No

 

Nah

 

Much prefer it to the EP.

 

I said this previously but the songs where they trade vocals and truly sound like a band are where they shine the best. Then, the songs that sound like a natural progression of their individual sound with something interesting added in are also great ($20, Julien Baker's sound). The Phoebe only songs and the Lucy only song are fine but...more suitable for a solo record IMHO. They don't really progress eithers sound and felt like they could be B-sides on a solo record.

That being said, I still think it's a pretty solid collection of songs. I think after the "magic" of the EP people had really high expectations that were probably never going to be met. While it's not my favorite album released this year so far (Lana, Lies, Caroline Polachek, and Wednesday are my top four faves) it's still in my top 5.

 

I absolutely love this through Not Strong Enough and then it loses all the momentum for me. Satanist and Anti Curse are the only songs on the second half that have grabbed me thus far

 

Not Strong Enough is honestly the only song I like on this record. Ah well, just not for me. Glad you all are liking it!

 

It does throw me for a loop that Emily I'm Sorry could just seamlessly fit into the Punisher tracklist and no one would be the wiser. Then again, that also automatically makes it one of my favorite tracks here.

 

Why would it be dickish to express your (different) opinion?

 

Dunno, I just like the members of the band and I feel bad to talk badly about their work haha

 

I think it's a fantastic record with a lot going for it, but I think most of the criticisms are valid. I keep thinking about how I'd kind of rather have stuff like $20, Satanist, and Anti-Curse as part of Julien's next record rather than on here, even though that feels slightly blasphemous to say. Still will almost certainly end up in my top 5 for the year, but it's not the complete AOTY slam dunk I was hoping for.

 

I think the record is fine when considered on its own merits but I am still very disappointed relative to the strength of the EP. This definitely went from being an AOTY contender to barely making my EOTY list, most likely. It's really uneven as a record, and I think (like many have said) the songs that are primarily Phoebe or Lucy are the ones that disappointed me most. Something about them, whether it's the lack of a cohesive band feel, their similarity to solo songs, or just the fact that some of them are just not that interesting or catchy definitely hurt the overall record.

 

I could do without “we’re in love”.

 

There is just not a single song that reaches the heights of Salt In The Wound to me personally

 

I think my having a more muted response to the EP than most fans has contributed to me not being disappointed in this album the way some of you are. The EP for me had a couple of absolute masterpieces for songs and then a few songs that were cool because I am a big fan of these three but didn't blow my mind or anything. The record for me is stacked with fantastic songs and there aren't really any bad ones. I don't think all 12 tracks are masterclasses up there with the best of these three incredible artists' strongest material, but I wasn't realistically expecting that from the album, even though it was/is a little hard not to get carried away when you hear that these three are teaming up.

 

This is definitely my least favorite, although it has some incredible lyrical sections. Think I would have liked it more as a poem than a song though.

 

First half of this album + satanist is a legit 9.5 rest is fine. Can’t wait to see them

 

Some songs could fit on their solo records, but oh well, why not - I think this was the idea for the band, to make their songs together, share the duties and do it with people they like, so they can just do whatever they enjoy doing and tour with that, bringing some "classic" solo material into the mix as well. I personally find more excitement in the full band songs that really reach new territories of course, and I guess if they ever come up with a sophomore album, it will feature that more heavily, but for now it is exactly what's needed from them to produce a perfect blend for the live show in my opinion.

 

I don’t really love either the ep or this to be honest

 

Love this way more than the EP

 

I was excited for the record because I am just so happy for them as artists. However, I wasn’t over-anticipating the music side of things, so I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how good this is and how much I’m enjoying it. I prefer it to the ep, which outside Salt In The Wound, I haven’t really revisited.

 

They are on Zane Lowe in approximately 2 hours and on Jimmy Kimmel's show tonight as the musical guest.