Straight Line Was A Lie

The Beths are bigger, better and more complicated than they’ve ever been. This is the record to beat from now on.

Despite its frequently overcast tone, Straight Line Was a Lie is, in typical Beths fashion, dependably catchy and sweetly harmonic.

The result is a record born from an introspective creative process, one that invites listeners to lean into its occasionally patient rhythms. However, there is equally a lot to love for those who are here for the simple pleasures of the band’s sugar rush power pop. 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.

It is to the group’s credit that they manage to balance the disparate influences and styles with such panache. It is one of the band’s strongest to date and one fans will come back to time and time again.

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. [Oct 2025, p.88]

The Beths have been putting out quality music for a while, but Straight Line Was a Lie may be another step up for them.

The band’s tight, canny songwriting is so winsome on most of the album that weaker tracks, or trite phrases like “I’ll always be addicted to your energy” on the otherwise charming “Roundabout,” momentarily break the spell.

Engaging New Zealanders The Beths masterfully marry muscle and vulnerability here. [Sep 2025, p.28]

[Elisabeth] Stokes’s songs have always been witty and self-aware, personal but relatable, and the lyrics on Straight Line Was a Lie offer even deeper, more vulnerable insights into her psyche.

Adds a more introspective tone to the adrenaline-packed indie rock they’ve always done well.

The overarching sentiment of the album - that development isn't linear, and healing is often cyclical. [Oct 2025, p.130]

This is an album that lacks the fun and hooks of their earlier outings.