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10.0
142407
10.0 |
God Is In The TV
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
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8.3
142239
8.3 |
Paste Magazine
The Auckland band’s fourth album elevates its usual parts—catchy riffs, sing-along choruses, earnest ballads, ebullient rockers, and Elizabeth Stokes’ lovely, evocative lyricism—with a newfound maturity and expansiveness
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8.0
142244
8.0 |
Far Out
There’s no doubt that it doesn’t reinvent any wheels. In fact, it quite happily gets pretty close to repurposing the indie wheels of circa 2014, but it’s unpretentious enough to celebrate that fact proudly and picnic upon the lesser-known alternative patch of being delightfully pleasant
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8.0
142263
8.0 |
All Music
The record closes on the funky rocker "Best Laid Plans," whose bubbly bongos and mirroring syncopated guitar rhythms uplift lyrics about powering through another Friday
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8.0
142220
8.0 |
Mojo
If the lyrics deal with wavering states of mind and quiet struggles, though, the music is sharp and direct, echoing Belly or Tsunami but also keeping pace with Lucy Dacus or Phoebe Bridgers. Print edition only
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8.0
142222
8.0 |
PopMatters
Straight Line Was a Lie is full of catchy hooks, big guitar riffs, and often introspective lyrics. The New Zealand quartet are at the top of their game
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8.0
142482
8.0 |
Dork
They’ve made their most mature, most incisive album yet. Not reinvention. Continuance. The long way round, mapped with clarity
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8.0
142279
8.0 |
Under The Radar
After breaking down and rebuilding their songwriting process, The Beths’ charms remain ever the same. It is a simple formula, but nobody does it quite like them
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7.8
142360
7.8 |
Spectrum Culture
Straight Line is as catchy and earwormy as any Beths album before it, just in a different way
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7.5
142335
7.5 |
Pitchfork
On the Auckland indie rockers’ most incisive album, bulletproof hooks cloak gnarly emotional realities and cheerfulness always comes tinged with a creeping sadness
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7.5
142272
7.5 |
Northern Transmissions
Straight Line Was a Lie isn’t a misstep, but it isn’t a breakthrough either. It’s a well-made album with a handful of standouts
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7.0
142223
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
Adds a more introspective tone to the adrenaline-packed indie rock they’ve always done well
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7.0
142224
7.0 |
Slant Magazine
The band's fourth studio album offers deeper, more vulnerable insights
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7.0
142221
7.0 |
Uncut
Engaging New Zealanders The Beths masterfully marry muscle and vulnerability here. Print edition only
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