The Beths

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

Entertaining fun - wish they did 'Out Of Sight.' Good on them for putting out a fine rekkid.

nz missive

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/the-side-eye/10-07-2020/the-side-eye-in-the-studio-with-the-beths/

the album art is so upsetting

God, for some reason that aaba aaab panel cracked me UP

oh damn, this is out today?

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.

They were on Radio New Zealand's mixtape yesterday; hour-long show w/some interesting digressions.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2018754435/the-mixtape-the-beths

Che Fu - "Misty Frequencies"
Ella Fitzgerald / Oscar Peterson - "Lush Life"
Death Cab For Cutie - "The Sound of Settling"
Anthonie Tonnon - "Water Underground"
Chelsea Jade - "Lowbrow"
Lomelda - "Interstate Vision"

At long last i figured it out: Title track sounds like Camera Obscura

Something is missing :(

I'm sad to see a fairly muted reaction to the new album in general but I had a feeling it was coming. It hasn't hit me the same way Future Me Hates Me did but that album is absolutely perfect. I still have a lot of love for this.

I think I like 'em about the same in different ways. They have surprisingly distinct ~vibes~

yeah they're about equal for me with the new one having higher highs but is maybe a little less consistent

Future Me Hates Me is definitely the better record but I do love the new one a lot, even if it feels like it suffers from awkward-second-album-syndrome at times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_5uVLoiTVk

nice!

i've listened to the new one several times, and although i do think the debut was more consistent, there are still 4-5 songs on jump rope gazers that i like a bunch, and that's about on par with the debut as well. i think they're good at picking singles! but there are a couple others i also really like.

dying to believe
i'm not getting excited
mars, the god of war
out of sight
jump rope gazers

do you want me now
just shy of sure

you are a beam of light
acrid

don't go away

Played at least 10 times now. All of this hits for me. It's so sweet.

album is nice, doesn’t sing to me quite like the first one. there’s a little bit less muscle in these tunes, and the pre-release tracks are far and away the highlights.

that said, ‘dying to believe’ is one of the best songs ive ever heard in my life.

I've been connecting with the mellower tracks on this album: the title track is the clear standout, but also "just shy of sure", "you are a beam of light", and "out of sight".
That live version of "out of sight" posted this morning is better than the album version -- the musicianship really comes through, and it's got a lot more energy. That drummer is such an asset.

Same here. After initially thinking there were too many mellow songs on here, they've become my favourites. You Are A Beam Of Light is so beautiful.

Seeing these tonight. My first gig of the year

Wow. Outdoors? Or indoors?

jealous of you, but happy they're able to do a little touring. are you in Christchurch? xp

Album still on heavy rotation

this album has become my go-to sulking-during-the-pandemic soundtrack. I love it and that pitchfork review is objectively wrong

so, after considering Future Me Hates Me a top 10 album of the past decade and then being a bit underwhelmed by the new one, i have listened many more times and recognized the incredible genius and beauty of Jump Rope Gazers, and now consider this band to be arguably the best on the planet.

no one is writing melodies better than Liz. that title track, my god.

Welcome

Yeah, I saw that they placed on the tracks poll for 2020, but not for the title track!

(other favorites from the 2nd album: Just Shy of Sure, Out of Sight, You Are A Beam of Light)