The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field
Indie Rock – Released September 16, 2022 – 12 songs, 45 mins
LUNDI
Shout out 2022. You were one hell of a music year and despite our best efforts I’m sure TSR missed some amazing albums. Thankfully The Beths Expert in a Dying Field isn’t one of them, as this album deserves all the praise and acclaim.
When scratching the surface The Beths sound is well crafted modern rock that places them perfectly among the upper tier of well established present-day alternative bands. But pretty quickly that praise begins to sell the Aukland outfit short. With every new listen of Expert in a Dying Field the intricacies of their work break through establishing the band as poster child who are leading the charge in reintroducing rock music to the mainstream.
The foursome out of New Zealand ooze chemistry. The album is filled with tight, compact arrangements and while the sound isn’t groundbreaking The Beths have no fear of sprinkling spicy elements where they see an opening. The switching drum pattern on Knees Deep, the bold introduction of guitar solos throughout the album, the speaker alternating reverb effect on Best Left, and the four person full band harmonies on each track are some of the stand out elements. But honestly the list is long. The album is filled with difference makers. The Beths have found a formula where they separate themselves from the pack.
On the topic of vocals, let’s give it up for lead singer and songwriter Elizabeth Stokes. She simply shines. Emotional and authentic, her voice is peaceful when the subject matter is anything but. Stokes pens some of the most insightful direct lyrics of recent memory. She wears her heart on her sleeve and sings of anxiety, relationship, and personal struggles. She rarely hides behind winding stories or metaphorical language, she remains straight to the point about her issues. It’s a refreshing take and extremely relatable. She could carry a band on her own but has found a trio that complements her well. She is a blossoming star in the making.
The bands third album isn’t without some flaws though as a few middle album tracks feel like filler or cookie cutter Alt Pop, but, The Beths do two very important things on Expert in a Dying Field, start strong and finish strong. Reel them in and entice them to come back. The trajectory for the band is no doubt upwards. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Apologies to The Beths for taking so long to get here but as they say better late than ever. Expert in a Dying Field is near perfect modern rock that has something for every music lover.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Expert in a Dying Field
ROZ
After what seems to be an eternity, the Too Sweet Crew is finally back on the album review circuit. Before we close the 2022 chapter for good, we have one final album to take a hard look at. If you’ve seen or heard episode two of the Too Sweet Podcast (that is now very available on any and all streaming platforms), the band name The Beths should ring a bell - it did have a place on Lundi’s “Top Ten Songs” list after all, with the titular Expert In A Dying Field ringing in at an impressive #10 for the entire year. I wonder what he sees in it? With that, the metaphorical needle hits the record.
The Beths are a New Zealand outfit, with vocalist/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes fronting the band and guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck manning their stations respectively. It does not take long to pinpoint the bands signature sound - what we have here is guitar heavy, high energy indie rock, with a catchy and melodically driven nature that harkens back to a review we did about a month ago. Liz Stokes is an absolute treat on the microphone; her warm tones and delightful New Zealand accent work in tandem with the remaining members' harmonization and individual input throughout the tracklist. Very pleasing on the ears.
For an album recorded remotely through the late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, it certainly seems to hide that reality well. Songs range from a welcoming, laid back, vocally driven nature (When You Know You Know, Your Side) to an electrifying, gritty power pop performance (Silence Is Golden, Head In The Clouds; where the latter really lets go at the 2:40 mark). Best Left gives Stokes her best showing of the bunch, with a hook that refuses to leave the listener's head. In that vein, it must be noted that the replayability of the album is simply undeniable. One can only imagine how amplified this experience would be in a live setting, a setting that The Beths’ sound seems tailor-made for.
Expert In A Dying Field is not only a very impressive effort from this TSR unknown but is also a very, very welcome kick-start to the new year here at Too Sweet Reviews. The Beths channel their self-proclaimed musical influence Alvvays to a tasteful degree while also adding their own unique guitar-laden, indie rock stylings to the mix - creating a product that is genuinely fun yet beaming with raw, unabated talent. With this review now in the books, it’s time to finally say farewell to 2022. You will be missed - well, the good parts of you will be at least.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Favourite Song: Silence Is Golden
REID
56 days since the last written Too Sweet Review. This one has been scheduled for weeks with an album that’s been out for months. And here I am, writing closing thoughts after midnight to meet the deadline… It’s good to be back!
2022 was truly one for the books. Our main objective is to find good music. We’re just three pals with a musical ‘book club’ who have had our catalogs benefit immensely since review #1 on October 28, 2020. We want to share our experience with whoever wants to listen. Simple as that. As we pick up where we left off with review #92, I can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store.
Truth be told, we tried to squeeze in The Beths at the end of 2022 but competition was tough and life got busy. As a result, we’ve had the benefit of additional time on the band’s third studio release, Expert In A Dying Field.
Let’s begin with Elizabeth Stokes. Her voice is truly a pleasure. Whether it’s the New Zealand accent, her quirkiness or her simply just going for it and delivering. There’s no let down. Factor in the rhythm guitar support and her impressive lyricism, which spans from heavy to self-deprecating. We’re in the presence of a special talent.
The biggest strength of the album is its cohesiveness. Although Elizabeth, Jonathan, Ben and Tristan offer a range of styles, it was undoubtedly meant to be consumed as a 45-minute listening experience. The best albums do. Heavier rock songs like Silence Is Golden and Head In The Clouds are balanced with the softer Your Side and When You Know You Know. Despite this shift in delivery, the depth of the guitar riffs, melodic hooks and harmonized vocals are consistent throughout. When you strip it all down – Expert In A Dying Field just makes you feel good.
The Beths tastefully combine elements of rock, punk and pop for a very accessible sound just about anyone could enjoy. With Elizabeth Stokes at the helm and excellent melodic guitar, they have a leg up in a popular genre.
Overall Rating: 8.0/10
Favourite Song: Your Side