The Beths confront nonlinear growth on Straight Line Was A Lie
The Beths have released their fourth album, Straight Line Was A Lie, out now via ANTI-.
Produced by: Jonathan Pearce
Written in Los Angeles and recorded in their hometown of Auckland, Straight Line Was A Lie explores themes of cyclical growth, health struggles, and family dynamics. Frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes faced creative blocks during the writing process, including effects from starting an SSRI that shifted her songwriting instincts. To move forward, Stokes and longtime collaborator Jonathan Pearce reinvented their approach, drawing from books, films, and music, while Stokes dedicated time to daily sessions on a Remington typewriter from bassist Benjamin Sinclair. The result highlights the band’s jangle-rock hooks and sharp observations about life’s messy realities.
At the album’s core is its title track, a soaring indie-rock anthem distilling the project’s thesis: “I thought I was getting better/ But I’m back to where I started/ And the straight line was a circle/ Yeah, the straight line was a lie.” Across eleven songs, Stokes explores the emotional costs of antidepressants on ‘No Joy’ and the complexities of parental bonds on the sparse ‘Mother, Pray For Me.’ Each track highlights her growth as a lyricist and retains The Beths’ signature wit and immediacy.
Stokes says of the album:
“Linear progression is an illusion. What life really is is maintenance. And finding meaning in the maintenance.”
On Straight Line Was A Lie, The Beths embrace life’s nonlinear paths and affirm the value of persistence and finding beauty in imperfection.
Standout Songs: ‘No Joy,’ ‘Mother, Pray for Me,’ ‘Til My Heart Stops,’ and ‘Take, Ark Of The Covenant.’
Release Date: August 29, 2025
6.7
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