The Beths have been near the top of the Basement charts since their album, Expert in a Dying Field, was released in September.
One of the band's charms is the New Zealand accent detected in lead singer Elizabeth Stokes', voice. A personal favorite on the album is "When You Know You Know;" the slight pause in the song is executed seamlessly. Tristan Deck’s drumming leads up to the bridge, with just Elizabeth’s vocals, which then cues some introductory fills, then the keyboard and the guitar come banging back in.
I would also highly recommend watching the music video for the title song, “Expert in a Dying Field.” This opening song has some animated electric guitar chords, and perfectly-articulated lyricism about hopelessness that immediately set the tone for the album. “Silence is Golden” has that early 2000’s punk feel, that comes in with the amplified microphone effect on this song. There are some absolutely perfect drum fills in between each of the verses, with a guitar solo towards the end that’s just as perfect. If you want another killer guitar riff, there’s one towards the end of “Head in the Clouds” as well.
The album immediately softens with the next song “Your Side,” a post-breakup melody that dreams of a happy ending. The Beths mastered a song to listen to while awake at 2am staring at the ceiling. Stokes' sustaining of higher notes in the background of the ending fills is dreamy as the song “2am” brings the album to a perfect melancholy ending.
Try this album if you like: Soccer Mommy, Stella Donnely, Snail Mail, Alvvays, Wet Leg, The New Pornographers
