Released as
Boygenius
wrapped up their supporting tour for
The Record
,
The Rest
doesn't contain leftovers from the proper album. The trio recorded these four songs in May, not long after the release of
, making this more of a companion than a supplement. The EP feels a bit hushed when compared to the LP, a quietness that helps shift the focus to the individual singer/songwriters rather than the collective.
Julien Baker
Phoebe Bridgers
, and
Lucy Dacus
do share vocals on the EP's opening number, "Black Hole," which sets a contemplative, twilight tone that the remaining three songs continue. The sharpened melodies and bold guitars that distinguished
are conspicuously gone, making
sound a bit like an extended sigh: it's a comedown record, a bittersweet punctuation at the end of the day. The EP's wistful quality combined with its brevity can make
seem almost unassuming, but it's not slight: it's a welcome coda to the relative exuberance of
. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine