The Beths

but yeah, this is definitely making my top 10 in the ilx 77 poll

this is pretty nice but I don't hear the Charly Bliss comparison at all, the energy levels are totally different

Yeah, I can’t figure out what I think of the harmonies. On some songs I think they’re fine and on others I just want them to go away. I think I just get fatigued with them after a while, so my tolerance for them depends on whether or not I’m skipping around or listening to the album all the way through.

I woke up with the chorus of the title track in my head several days in a row last week. Very catchy song but kind of becoming a living nightmare. You’re killing me, Beths!

there's a dry boredom conveyed by liz stokes' singing that i think contrasts quite strongly with the singer of charly bliss, who i think doesn't sound that different to carly rae jepsen at her most saccharine.

this is pretty nice but I don't hear the Charly Bliss comparison at all, the energy levels are totally different

That's my impression too. I said something similar in another thread, but Charly Bliss is an uninhibited joy bomb while The Beths feel a bit more studied and controlled—not bad qualities, but very much not what Charly Bliss is doing.

closer cousins for me are the aforementioned Alvvays, Best Coast, or even Standard Fare. anyway this is a great record!

^ yep

they both have a power pop sound reminiscent of the blue album but better, though they go in different directions with it

What part of what Beths song sounds like Weezer??

while we're throwing out people we hear I mostly hear Tuscadero

What part of what Beths song sounds like Weezer??

― Johnny Fever

The chorus of River Run Lvl 1 is probably the closest they come to Weezer.

i didn't really get the Charly Bliss comparison either, other than they're both pop-rock bands. vocals are far too different.

i can't quite nail down who i think they sound like except it's hard to get away from Courtney Barnett because of the accents.

this is really so excellent

man this rules

wow, they're playing a *tiny* room near where some of my friends live in oct. i think i will go.

Little Death is perfect.
I wish the rest of the album was more edgy and little less power ppp like this track.

What part of what Beths song sounds like Weezer??

This album reminds me of a lot of 90's power-pop that I had forgotten about, but loved dearly at the time: Velocity Girl, Jason Faulkner, Brendan Benson.

Thanks, Karl, for the heads-up on this band (I saw your post about them on the alvvays thread). They're playing a tiny room in my town too... either they booked this tour before they had any sort of traction at all, or no one besides the people on this thread are listening to them.

Also, this is totally OTM:

The harmonies on Whatever are fine imo, but the "whoa-a-oh-a-oh" and "oo-OO-oo-OO-ooooo" harmonies on Happy Unhappy and Uptown Girl, respectively, don't sound very good? They're just way too cutesy and on-the-nose for me. Which is a shame because they're excellent songs otherwise.

― josh az (2011nostalgia), Wednesday, September 5, 2018 11:53 PM

(i still love the album though)

i thought of That Dog and went and reminded myself of Totally Crushed Out ... close-ish, not quite right, but my next step was going to be Velocity Girl

I'm not invested enough in this band to play a long game of spot the inspiration, but if you're listening to "Little Death" and the strongest comparison you can make is Weezer, then that's what you *want to* be hearing. It's not there.

The chorus of River Run Lvl 1 is probably the closest they come to Weezer.

This checks out.

is the inspection over

xposts enochroot

jealous of the small room opportunity! they played a relatively small venue here (empty bottle) but it was just before i started listening to them.

but if you're listening to "Little Death" and the strongest comparison you can make is Weezer, then that's what you *want to* be hearing. It's not there.

This always happens me when I try to point out to my wife people who look like other people: she never sees it, because I think she's expecting to see an exact clone, rather than a few shared characteristics.
A band's output is similarly complex, nuanced, and unique, so seeing the similarities really depends on how much you're willing to squint and ignore the details.

btw, i'm rapidly zero-ing in on "Not Running" as my favorite track on the album.

for what it's worth they do say they were going for weezer

https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/14777/Interview-The-Beths-Talk-About-Their-Debut-Album-Future-Me-Hates-Me.utr

that’s just what they *want* to be hearing

This was a weird thread detour. If other people hear it and the band says they intended it, fine. They're doing a Weezer thing.

I still barely hear it, but also I'm not deeply taken with this album anyway (it's fine). Enjoy!

They can be influenced by Weezer or by Justin Bieber for that matter. As long as they are good (and they are) who cares.

Just an aside: I just listened to two or three songs from the Charly Bliss album. This has nothing to do with it. What I heard did neither have the hooks nor the speed and variety of The Beths and I cannot get over the squeaky Minnie Mouse voice of the singer.

Idea/Intent from the E.P. is the best song they wrote

Listening to this album over and over

When I was about 20 I remember thinking that there were 3 things that gave me the same endorphin rush: crushes, drugs, and music.
Now that I'm in my 40's, the first 2 aren't happening any more, and music only gives me that buzz on increasingly rare occasions, but for whatever reason, this beths album does it for me.

They played live last night at a tiny place in Boston, and they definitely delivered the goods. It seems like the whole jazz-school background means that they're all solid musicians, so the live versions of the songs popped more than the studio versions. Also, there's something so primally pleasing about bands who can do 4-part harmonies.

Oh, and for whatever reason, they can't play River Run live.

This is like the least challenging album ever recorded but it's really addictive. I dunno, sometimes, more occasionally than is claimed, when you've got the tunes that's really all that matters.

Interesting to hear they've got a jazz background though, it does SOUND much tighter and more muscular than records like this usually do. Like usually you listen to a straightforward indie rock record and it feels like aesthetic decisions had been made because the band weren't capable of doing much more, or couldn't think of anything else to do. Here, it feels like they've arranged things this way because that's what the song NEEDS.

"Least challenging" might actually be the key here (i.e. has anyone ever experienced that endorphin rush feeling from listening to Stockhausen?)

Life is challenging enough sometimes, it's okay to just be a fun, well written and performed pop rock record

Absolutely what can you have against great music if your only critic is that it is unchallenging? What does that mean anyways? I find the whole concept that challenging music is good music which is somehow implied in the reasoning pretty dubious. There is so much crap challenging music out there. Let it challenge someone else, not me.

fwiw if you read matt dc's post he likes the album a lot, and he doesn't argue that music needs to be challenging.

(i.e. has anyone ever experienced that endorphin rush feeling from listening to Stockhausen?)

Yes.

Was just about to post the same thing! Kreuzspiel, Mikrophonie II, Kontakte - absolutely.

I love this album, though.

(i.e. has anyone ever experienced that endorphin rush feeling from listening to Stockhausen?)

Yes.

― Zach Same (Tom D.), Thursday, October 11, 2018 1:38 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I knew someone was going to post this, and ILM, you did not disappoint.

fwiw, 2 of the 4 people on the current tour were not part of the "all 4 have jazz-school backgrounds" group that made the record.

maybe those 2 went to jazz school, i don't know. just pointing it out.

yeah, good point. in that interview katherine posted upthread they mentioned that they used a different drummer on various parts of the tour (a good thing, i think, based off of their videos) and that the bass player was also not a permanent member.

i went to jazz school on the streets

These guys came on Spotify shuffle today at work and I was loving it. This thread bump has reminded me to get the album.

Decent enough rocking guitar pop

I’ve slowly come to realize that Whatever is the best thing here. It’s just one incredible hook after another

I think "You Wouldn't Like Me" is my favourite but that's up there.

Thanks for that article, kitchen person! So in-depth! It's funny that you mention consistent, because I'm sure that you mean consistent in quality, but as mentioned in the article, the sequencing itself is inconsistent, leading to what they call a whiplash quality at times.

With 3 more listens under my belt, I'm definitely on board with the album as a whole. Metal is still my favorite, and Mosquitos, as mentioned above. Also really big on Til My Heart Stops, Roundabout, and Best Laid Plans.

Never change, unless you do. Unless you want to.

The previous album is perfect imo, one of my favourites of the decade - I don't love this one as much yet, but I think it will grow on me. Today I've been replaying Til My Heart Stops, appreciate how it's a less frothy take on "Knees Deep".

I was actually trying to think of the last time a band began their career with four albums I loved as much as these.

It's rare, for sure. Next step is to see if Alvvays can match 'em. To me - and I may have said this upthread, and if so, my apologies - those two bands have been more or less neck and neck with each release so far. (Disregard the release dates and pace of releases, obvs.)

The Beths just had most of their musical instruments stolen while on tour in Tourcoing, France.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPMU4btDHhc/?img_index=1

sacre bleu!

I felt so proud of them watching this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j42HHzUW1H0

Saw them the other night. So much fun. Unsurprisingly tight. Good mix of older and newer stuff. Played like an hour and a half.

i saw them friday as well, they were fantastic. i also liked their opening band, also from new zealand, who had kind of a city pop sound to them

Phoebe Rings!

https://phoeberings.bandcamp.com/album/aseurai

Their only ILx mention was ... me, five years ago, in this thread, ha:

The release show at the Powerstation last night was p.fun, though a bit nerve-wracking to be in such a tightly-packed crowd for the first time since lockdown. Title track of the new album worked really well live, "I'm Not Getting Excited" was a great set-opener, and for "Dying To Believe" they dragged out Rose Matafeo and local Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick. Opener Phoebe Rings was a jazz-school-y take on Stereolab/Cocteau Twins, and had the Beths' bassist Ben guest on clarinet for a track.
[...]

― etc, Sunday, July 12, 2020 3:21 AM (five years ago)

Gonna grab tix to see the em next week!

joining the chorus of how incredible and life affirming this band is live. and they were pretty adorable when i saw them in Sacramento, talking about having been to their first NBA game the night before

I was glad the Vancouver audience echoed my hatred for the damned gastown Steam Clock.

Wow. This was one of the tightest bands I’ve seen.

Saw them last week here in Saint Paul and I'm still floating. They were just incredible and the set was perfect. One of those shows I really didn't want to end (which is rare as I get older). I love their awkward banter and band introductions almost as much as the music. Take was the highlight. I was waiting all night to hear that one and it was so thrilling.

Phoebe Rings were also an absolute delight. I got the record at the show and the band were all so sweet and charming. They seemed surprised I'd heard the album before the show and were delighted when I said they had big Stereolab vibes.

Overall, one of my favourite shows ever.

Just found this live session while looking up something else from the same radio station:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgAjkqgJwRA

Sick! Thanks for the heads up.

very fun to see people finding arguably the best rock band of the past decade. they were making perfect albums from the jump, and once they locked in that rhythm section, they became a glorious live act.

"And I know I’m a collaboration
Bacteria, carbon and light"

is one of the hooks of the year. no one writes melodies like Liz.

I caught an absolutely silly number of their shows on this tour and they just kept getting better each time.

That session is fantastic, thanks for the share! Am just going to add to the consensus here, have seen them on the last two tours and wish I'd found out about them earlier. Easily one of the best bands around right now both on record and live.

Ooh yeah that performance is excellent. I'm hooked on that solo in Take at the moment.

Metal made Barack Obama's end of year playlist thing. Amazing

I wish someone could do a good story on how that list gets made. I'd be genuinely interested in the process, who's involved, how much Obama's involved (if at all), etc.

man they are really the tightest live band in the world, they're fantastic

at this point i think they have a pretty firm claim to being the greatest power pop band ever

Yeah, I'd agree with both of those statements. They're ridiculously good live and I'm so glad I have them in my life.

They've come through our area twice on this tour. The first time they were playing two nights at the same club, so I thought I'd have time to buy tickets before the second night sold out, but I was wrong. They're coming through again this summer on their co-headlining tour with Spoon, and I again missed the tickets. They're over $80 a head on the secondary market, but I might try to see if prices come down on the day of the show.

And ufo, since you mentioned power pop, The Beths have been part of a power pop dichotomy that have been nurturing me for the past year. The Beths tending to occupy my ears on more wistful days, with The Happy Fits (ultra cheesy. hooks for days.) powering me through, well, happier times.

The Happy Fits have toured Europe, but not Australia yet, I'm sad to report. They also aren't solely power pop, but most of their songs head in that direction.

this was the second time i've seen them. first time was good but i was exhausted and forgot my earplugs so it really wasn't ideal. this time was incredible! they nail every harmony and pretty much all their material is great. sound was perfect too, clearest i've ever heard in that venue

Saw them last year, and getting to stand right in front the stage as Liz performed "Mother, Pray for Me" felt like a real privilege. Absolutely mesmerizing.