CD of The Week

The Beths might be the catchiest band in modern rock music. The guitar chords are simple, but they feel new when they play them. Incredible melodies, lyrics, harmonies, and guitar leads can be found on every song they have put out. To me, they’re modern power pop. Liz Stokes is such a great songwriter and underrated among her contemporaries. Not like it's a contest – I just think she deserves the recognition and The Beths rock so hard (maybe harder). As I've stressed, they make CATCHY indie rock. They’ve gained more and more traction, especially on their more recent Expert In a Dying Field, which unfortunately didn’t hit me as much as their debut – and my favorite – Jump Rope Gazers. Maybe I needed a record like that while taking walks alone in the summer of 2020.

Straight Line Was A Lie being The Beths’ fourth album, some sonic changes were bound to be afoot, and I was intrigued to see what they had coming after hearing the first single “Metal.” It definitely seems like one of the softest songs from the band, or at least sonically acoustic. It’s really beautiful and even more twinkling with a lead from a 12-string guitar. “No Joy” is the second single and, you know, pretty standard catchy rock music – it’s familiar but it straight-up rules. The intro chord progression could be a grunge song in a different context. It reminds me of “Brain Stew” by Green Day but way more fun. I love the bridge’s “all my pleasures: guilty / clean slate looking filthy.” Stokes’ lyrics and melodies are just on another level.

“Mother, Pray For Me” is another stand-out track. The performances are emotive and really work. I do think it could have built and ended with the full band; it feels like it should have. My favorite track, “Roundabout,” starts with a jangly acoustic lead with a piano. It’s a beautiful love tune with so much real sentiment. “Never change, unless you do, unless you want to, unless you want to,” Stokes sings, and it can make you tear up. The whole band’s playing is so solid and tight. I have to praise Jonathan Pearce’s guitar playing especially and his solos on tracks like “Ark of the Covenant.” He can play so beautifully and at the same time so noisy. He has also been the producer of every Beths release, and again, he’s a master. Everything is so natural and full.

The last track, “Best Laid Plans,” grooves like Talking Heads with a dancey drum beat and bongos. The bridge brings you into something like a dream, with keyboards, a spoken word sample, and Stokes singing “a different gravity.” It’s something completely different for the band. I can reference so many lyrics, melodies, and guitar playing throughout this album. The songwriting is superb and so catchy, and instead of me repeating myself, just listen to this band. Straight Line Was A Lie sees them toying with a softer side of themselves and even some of their darkest songs, while bringing similar indie rock jams that they have perfected. The Beths have two shows coming up at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on December 6th (sold out) and 7th (tickets available).

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