I like boygenius.
I like Phoebe Bridgers. I like Julien Baker. But I haven’t really listened to a full Lucy Dacus solo album—until now.
For those unfamiliar, boygenius is an indie rock supergroup composed of Bridgers, Baker, and Dacus, who joined forces to make the already-devastating indie rock scene even more poignant. Their collaboration won them three Grammys and a cult following. I always saw Dacus as the grounding voice of the trio, her voice more measured, offering a sense of balance amidst Bridgers and Baker. So, going into Forever Is a Feeling, I was curious to see what Dacus sounds like on her own terms when she’s not harmonizing with the sad girl Destiny’s Child.
The album opens with “Calliope’s Prelude,” named after the Greek muse of eloquence and epic poetry. It’s a fitting introduction, suggesting that what follows is meant to be thoughtful. The track is instrumental, offering violinist Phoenix Rousiamanis’s fluttering melodies in place of Dacus’s warm alto tones, like unveiling the curtains for a Greek play.
The title track, “Forever Is A Feeling,” is a fine song on its own—I didn’t really have any complaints. But when the outro started, that’s when I sat up straight. For lack of a better word, I was flabbergasted. Out of nowhere, Bridgers and Baker’s voices join Dacus in chanting the song’s title. They’re not credited in the tracklist, which made it a beautiful surprise on the first listen, and even more emotional once you realize boygenius is on hiatus. With no clear idea of when (or if) the group will return, the moment plays like a quiet final bow—a soft, farewell from the trio.
Nestled deeper in the album’s tracklist is “Bullseye.” Not gonna lie, this was the song I was most excited for when the tracklist dropped. As a Hozier fan (pre-“Too Sweet,” respectfully), I’d say my expectations were met. The track captures the phrase “misery loves company” perfectly, with Hozier softening his usual baritone to match Dacus’ steadier energy. I might be a little biased, but I do wish he’d stuck around for some backing vocals too. His verses are great, but a few ghostly harmonies wouldn’t have hurt, especially to further emphasize it’s a duet.
The next and penultimate track, “Most Wanted Man,” hit me the moment I pressed play—for some reason, it felt like a cowboy hat dropped onto my head and a leather belt with a Texas-sized buckle cinch around my waist.
Weird. Must be a glitch.
Anyway, “Most Wanted Man” is a twangy country song that has me tapping my metaphorical cowboy boots. The title carries a pinch of irony. It’s speculated to be about Dacus’s current relationship with Baker, making her the most wanted “[wo]man.” And fittingly, Baker makes her second appearance on the album, singing along with Dacus on the later verses. It’s a bit striking to hear their voices together again, but not unwarranted—they fit together like puzzle pieces, their harmonies soft and intimate.
Something to note is that I would’ve loved if we got more sappy love songs (or sappy songs period) on this album. I know Dacus is colloquially referred to by her fans as the reason their depression exists. But it would’ve been a good opportunity to break out of those expectations placed on her. Forever Is A Feeling has a mix of pity party anthems and existential lullabies. The album is sad but comforting at the same time, acting like a shoulder to cry on.
