When The Beths released 2022’s dazzling, “Expert In A Dying Field“, the band found themselves gaining a bigger audience thanks to earworms such as ‘When You Know You Know’ and the instant classic title track. Despite this success, the path to the follow-up wasn’t an easy one. Liz Stokes, lead singer and songwriter, suffered from writer’s block, as well as various health issues. In an interview with The Guardian, she talked openly about dealing with Graves’ Disease and the effects of the prescribed medication. Stokes spent time writing pages of lyrics and ideas for this album, and eventually finessed them into a concise ten track album.
Stokes’ revealed some of her insecurities and struggles in the newspaper interview, and this is part of what makes her such a remarkable songwriter and performer. She puts those topics into her songwriting, whether it’s a love song ‘Til My Last Breath’ or a song about her mental health ‘No Joy’.
Impressively, she has a gift for turning these confessionals into immaculate hook-filled pop songs. “Straight Line Was A Lie” isn’t just another great Beths album, it’s their most varied and best album since their stellar debut.
New Zealand indie rock heroes The Beths latest album “Straight Line Was A Lie“ is a catchy, instant classic out on Anti. Written in Los Angeles and self-recorded in the band’s hometown of Auckland, “Straight Line Was A Lie” is their first release for ANTI-Records follows 2022’s critically celebrated LP “Expert in A Dying Field”.
Lead singer and songwriter Liz Stokes delves deeper into her psyche to address everything from roundabout progress to physical and mental health challenges, and fraught family dynamics. Inspired by The Go-Go’s, Olivia Rodrigo, filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, and Stephen King’s On Writing, amongst others, Stokes’ songwriting has achieved startling new depths of insight and vulnerability.
Fans will agree that “Straight Line Was A Lie” is the most sharply observant, truthful, and poetic Beths project to date.
“The inclusion of personal issues has given these songs an infectious juxtaposition between some of their best songwriting and the underlying melancholy…It’s so easy to root for Stokes and The Beths in general, because struggles and growth are relatable and the music captures it beautifully. “Straight Line Was a Lie” is a remarkable record that epitomises why the band is so special. They hit the ground running almost a decade ago and haven’t faltered one bit. “
The Fat Angel Sings 
I love it. Metal is the best song of the year in my mind.