I know some people were kinda down on it, but I still really fuck with the Julien and Torres album from this year. I feel it will be largely overlooked on year end lists because it kind of came and went (especially since the tour had to be canceled), but it will definitely end up on my list.
julien got me into the whole boygenius world and was, for quite a long time, the most important artist in my life. all three of her records came out at critical moments in my life. there’s a level of emotional attachment there that almost no one else can rival to this day. most of the music i listen to today doesn’t fully align with boygenius’ brand of indie anymore, but i will always have a soft spot for them and julien in particular.
I really like Lucy, minus the new album, but she’s not someone I throw on a ton. I do think what sounds like the most inspired stuff by her on the boygenius album (“$20,” “Satanist”) is the best stuff on there.
the julien/torres album just did not work for me. julien’s songs are good, though not revelatory by her standards, but torres is just not an artist i can get into.
This is true, with the caveat of a few individual songs from Stranger in the Alps that are masterpieces.
Little Oblivions is the best any of them have done also I thought $20 and Satanist were almost definitely Julien-led?
Little Oblivions is probably my least fave of Julien solo, but Julien’s first two are probably my fave out of all three’s records. Although Phoebe comes close with SITA and Punisher. I haven’t listened to either in a while though.
If you’re really looking for a good time, quit ranking albums and list your fifteen favorite songs overall from the three of them. Night Shift Chinese Satellite Go Home Please Stay — Everybody Does Motion Sickness Addictions I Know The End Punisher Me and My Dog — Not Strong Enough Appointments Yours & Mine Blacktop Funeral Imagine if they decided next time around to play more of their solo songs. The mind baffles.
Historian is the best album out of the entire Boygenius web imo. So I was Lucy > Phoebe for years, but the two albums Lucy has put out since then are not good. At this point Phoebe has the better track record, both of her albums are great. The Boygenius EP was really cool but the LP wasn’t it Julien Baker bores me to numbness
My thought when I saw this was “mine would probably be like 10 Phoebe songs, four early Julien songs, and one Boygenius song.” And, welp, pretty close. Chinese Satellite Funeral I Know the End Not Strong Enough Go Home Motion Sickness Appointments Moon Song Kyoto Everybody Does Would You Rather Turn Out the Lights Smoke Signals Me and My Dog Graceland Too
I would LOVE a redo of the first boygenius tour where they each played a solo set and then did a bg set. The crowd would be different this time around and it wouldn't be at like a <1000 cap venue but things change I guess.
boygenius isn't my favorite, but the trajectory of that band will forever be burned into my brain. I've seen all three of them in <100 person rooms in Philly. My wife and I attended the Pitchfork-filmed show they did at Brooklyn Steel and then their MSG sellout four years later.
I don't know what it is about Lucy versus the other two, but her music has just never made any kind of impact on me.
have you listened to "Please Stay"? that song aches, especially when read as a response to Julien's "Go Home".