they're interesting records to compare, ostensibly the same subgenre, both third albums that (imo) level up but totally different approaches sonically, lyrically etc.
I absolutely love The Beths’ debut full length, but I can only clumsily describe their second and latest as “way less catchy”, to my ear anyway.
Yeah, it’s super weird what does and does not stick with someone. I used to get weirdly defensive about that, whether it was my liking something I thought others should or vice versa. It’s a strange phenomenon.
They fucking crushed it. I need to listen more before I can make more articulate comments but this is pretty much exactly what I hoped for.
Such a deceptively complex band. The song structures are strange and exciting, the best part is when they rip or float into a bridge (ie, Belinda Says, Easy On Your Own?, Bored in Bristol). The Pitchfork review nailed it when they highlighted the key changes. they’ll visit these cathartic moments so briefly and then they are gone forever, it’s such a tease and I love it.
As someone who covets the other 2 records, and as someone who liked but was not blown away by the pharmacist back when it dropped over summer, I gotta say I'm blown away by this record. The Smiths influence on Pressed. Belinda is perfect. Wow wow wow.
This is REALLY REALLY good. On my first listen it didn’t do a ton but now every single time I listen I fall more in love.
I wish :( But really just they spent most of 2014-18 or so as my favorite band and as such I'm probably still a bit hyperbolic about them. Not many bands I'd be rooting harder to get the level up record from (and after being slightly disappointed by Antisocialites as a whole/the whole 4+ year new music break thing I'd be lying if I said I expected this would be this good).
It’ll be hard for any record by anyone to dethrone Big Thief for me, but if it happens, this would be the one to do it. I’ve been walking around all day with multiple parts of multiple songs stuck in my head at the same time, and as soon as I’m done listening, I want to start it again. Just a masterclass of a record. I think my favorites right now are EOYO?, After the Earthquake, Many Mirrors, Pomeranian Spinster, and Belinda Says. Cannot fucking wait to see them again on Friday.
I’ve said this before but more bands should make albums without any bad songs. It sounds so simple, but really goes a long way.