The Beths - Expert In a Dying Field

Album Review

Sep 24

The Beths

Expert In a Dying Field

While Expert In a Dying Field seems to communicate a greater sense of self-confidence, diminished is the sense of urgency that marked the importance of The Beths' earlier releases.

Expert in a Dying Field, The Beths' latest full-length release and their third on Rough Trade's US-based Carpark Records (Fat Tony, Ducks Ltd., Speedy Ortiz) captures a matured, more relaxed version of the New Zealand indie-pop group than previous albums.

That's not to say the band has lost a step as they sink deeper into adulthood. Rather, The Beths seem to have grown comfortably into themselves at the risk of losing the appeal of youthful earnestness.

Central to the work, Elizabeth Stokes' lyrics and vocals embody the dreamy pop hooks and nearly delicate melodies that contrast and complement the compositions on Expert.

The stadium-striving riffage of Jonathan Pearce and Stokes' dual guitar attack provides a mountainous backdrop for the singer's melodies as they teeter on the precipice.

Not to be outdone is the formidable rhythm section of Benjamin Sinclair on bass and Tristan Deck on drums. Though Expert In a Dying Field is Deck's first outing, his drumming brings dynamism through reliable yet striking time signatures like that featured on "I Told You That I Was Afraid," invoking both the post-hardcore and emo eras of pop punk. Additionally, Sinclair's basslines give the songs on Expert a drive both unrelenting and subtle.

However, the dynamic harmonies that set The Beths apart in previous albums are taking a less central role on their junior effort.

While Expert In a Dying Field seems to communicate a greater sense of self-confidence, eschewing the pervasive, sometimes surprising harmonies of earlier efforts, diminished is the sense of urgency that marked the importance of The Beths' earlier releases.

Though the record opens up creative possibilities for innovation sonically, and while Stokes' songwriting and vocal ability are well-suited to the group's instrumentation, this album suffers in terms of originality and the singalong quality that marks the indie pop genre.

Evident in the riffage of "Head in The Clouds" are distinct echoes of post-Generation X's Billy Idol's breakout hit "Dancing With Myself.” The track "Best Left," however, redeems the group in both originality and recall, utilizing a phase effect to scaffold the composition and Stokes' most poignant lyrics on the album.

Mainly guitar-driven, the instrumentation on Expert in a Dying Field is sophisticated yet gently fuzzed. Tracks like "Knees Deep" and "I Told You That I Was Afraid" swell with pop-punk nostalgia, providing temporality that feels intentional.

Other songs like "Your Side" recall the mid-90s, post-grunge rock groups like The Cranberries with a hint of power pop. But while the 90s influence leaves a taint of irony on these songs, cliché is used heavily in the lyrics, betraying an innocence missing from the inspirational era.

While not a radical departure from their signature sound, Expert In a Dying Field features experimentation on songs like "Silence is Golden" that softly push the sonic boundaries of the indie pop genre, but the personal nature of the songs undercuts their importance.

The tension present in extant solos outstrips the urgency of Stokes' vocal, robbing Expert of pop criticality.

Ultimately, the sophistication that higher production values and commercial success bring boosts Expert In a Dying Field as much as they hinder the album. At the end of the day - perhaps that's more of a testament to The Beths' talent and strong sense of self than criticism.