The Beths

i think it's probably my favourite song they've done yet

NZ having concerts again huh. They announced one for July 11!

"Out of Sight" is really really good

it's funny I don't really think of them as a "New Zealand" band but the shimmery guitar at the beginning feels very classic NZ to me

just looked it up, NZ pop 4.8 million, their per capita good rock band production is off the fucking charts

Does anyone else hear the melodies of Sunburn era Blake Babies coming through in the music of The Beths?

...or is it just me?

So did they deliberately chose the ugliest album cover they could think about?

The pre-orders are shipping... my copy of Jump Rope Gazers just arrived in the mail!

(xp - yeah, this band definitely neglects the visual / graphic design side of things)

My pre-order was delayed because I'm getting a free poster as I was one of the first people to order it. That was a nice bit of good news to get the other day (the poster, not the delay).

I've actually had a download since the beginning of April. I don't usually get albums I ask to review that early, but my editor came through for me. At first I was a bit surprised (and maybe even disappointed) that it's a bit softer than Future Me Hates Me and wasn't as instant. Of course after a few plays I love it to bits and they really do feel like my favourite current band. It's kind of the same experience I had with the second Alvvays, Shura and Charly Bliss albums which took a while and I ended up loving as much or even more than their debuts.

a free poster

unfortunately this is a free poster from the band that definitely neglects the visual / graphic design side of things, haha

where did you all pre-order from? i never purchased the first one because i was still trying to make more than negative zero dollars a month at that point, but now i'm wealthy and ready to buy NZ indie pop

Haha, yes I don't what the poster looks like but I don't have high hopes for it being one I want to actually display anywhere. It's a nice thought though.

I ordered it directly through their store as they said it was the best way to support the band.

http://store.carparkrecords.com/products/664303-cak143-the-beths-jump-rope-gazers

Not sure how they decide which songs to pick as singles, but this feels like wall-to-wall solid songwriting. I think I'm actually gonna connect with some of these album cuts more than I did with the first 2 singles... a lot of them have the same rain-streaked melancholy as "Out of Sight".

Yes, definitely closer to Alvvays territory (which is aural catnip to me).

It's hard to get past You Are a Beam of Light as my favourite. Such a stunning vocal performance.

Hmm I don't find the album cover that offensive. It's a photo of a weird sculpture so not the typical graphic design crime, really. TBH though shit like this has way more personality than most indie album covers out there that look like sterile overly serious magazine ads. Not that it is the only other type of cover, but ultimately I appreciate DIY art weirdness much more than most other styles.

otm. And the poster at the link above is a fun illustration. Can't wait to hear the album!

I don't mind their artwork that much really. It did take me a while to find a t-shirt that I was happy to get though. I went with the blue rabbit design and I'm very pleased with it.

https://thebeths.merchtable.com/apparel/rabbit-baby-blue-t-shirt

they have a really uncanny grasp of the "90s used CD bin" aesthetic

That might explain it. I am the strange-guy-on-the-beach-with-the-metal-detector of bins full of used 90s CDs.

honestly i've barely glanced at their song/album art, i didn't mean to be overly judgmental. for me, i really don't care much at all about album artwork. i put it in the same level as track names - a particularly good or appropriate one might stand out to me, but a bad one doesn't make a difference either

i'm here for the *music* maaaan

also ordered their LPs from car park, thanks for the head's up kitchen person!

I've seen many worse album covers this year

a lot of them have the same rain-streaked melancholy as "Out of Sight".

i think that's the best song they've ever done by a fair way so i'm very excited

I didn't say it was bad it's just this and the last one look exactly like a band that got signed to EastWest in 97 and put out two unfairly overlooked power pop records

so basically exactly what would have happened to the Beths had they been around then

album rules and i think it's a bit better than the debut, adding some melancholy jangles to their sound goes a long way

I had tickets to a show they were supposed to play here in Cleveland back in April, and it got rescheduled for plague-related reasons to the end of September, so now it will be in support of all-new material. Which is nice!

"Jump Rope Gazers", the song, is more directly evocative of Sheryl Crow than anything on the Haim album!

This album fuckin rules. Best summer ever! (For music, I mean...)

did it leaked

I don't think so. People have been getting their vinyl copies shipped early.

it leaked

yeah it's out there

Oh right, cool. I'm excited to see more reactions in the next few days. Hopefully the reviews are positive too. I'm still so surprised at how much critics slept on the debut.

It's doing ok so far:

https://www.metacritic.com/music/jump-rope-gazers/the-beths

The energy, the tightness, the power pop..almost all gone:(
Disappointing on first listen.

I don't think that's true really, there's plenty of pep on about half the songs (the first two singles + "Acrid", "Don't Go Away", "Mars"), with the other half various shades of wistful

Yeah i liked the singles, that's why it's kind of a letdown for me.

Will give it more chances though, because she sure knows how to write melodies ao it might be a grower.

her vocals are really strong and polished now too, to the extent I could even see it turning off people who prefer the band scrappier

I really can see why people might be disappointed with the album initially as it is quite a change of pace for them with half the album being much gentler, but after a few listens it really hit me. Hoping that's the case for most people. The songwriting is still just crazy strong.

my only beef rn is the closer seems a little slight

is it just my files or is the mastering remarkably quiet?

it's noticeably quiet, yeah, but it doesn't appear to be any quieter than the previously released tracks or anything so i think that's just how it is, not any issue with the leak.

yeah, just an observation. it's neat! crank er up.

when are crying putting a new album out is what I want to know

Title track has the perfect sad ballad melody

i'm curious to hear these more sad/melancholy songs! i've only heard the singles so far

oh my god the title track

it is deliriously good

Should be a radio hit. Getting close to kitsch but not crossing the line thankfully.

In 1996, sure. I'm not sure I hear that song on the radio in 2020.

I do love the title track though... it's been stuck in my head today.

FINAL "home" youtube show in 49 minutes!

*"house"

*48