Album Review: The Beths – Jump Rope Gazers (Carpark)
The Beths deliver a knock-out of a second album, Jump Rope Gazers, which seems destined to give them an international boost in these troubling times.
The band members came together as Auckland University School of Jazz alumni.
Starting trio are Elizabeth Stokes who is the signature Voice and guitar, Jonathan Pearce lead guitarist and producer of this album, and Benjamin Sinclair on bass.
Tristan Deck is on drums, replacing another original member Ivan Luketina-Johnston.
I’m Not Getting Excited kicks off proceedings with a Buzzcocks style electric guitar kicking the door down. Propulsive drums and riffs fired off. Stokes sings with a melodic and light touch which reminds of Katrina and the Waves and the power pop end of Blondie.
Dying to Believe just as energetic.
Jump Rope Gazers is a stand-out classic and will be destined to appear on Best New Zealand Music collections in the future.
Begins with a chiming electric guitar riff, the music floats up and surrounds the singer, who sounds like the Beach Boys all on her own, but I think the others are singing harmony on the chorus. White soul music with the legendary Gold Star Studios glimmer. A little symphony for the kids.
But there is no real let-up in quality over the rest of the album.
Acrid is back to a Ramones style guitar bed over which Stokes come in with a Blondie sound. She may not be a technically gifted powerhouse vocalist, but she has vulnerability and soul like Debbie Harry.
Do You Want Me Now is a pop ballad. The energy is turned down, the other band members add some nice chorus vocals. A gentle kiss-off song, a little kinder than Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.
I want to tell you something/ But I don’t know how/ I’ll see you around.
Out of Sight begins with the bells of Spector. Incendiary drum bursts pull along a sunny melodic song which builds into a power-pop gem.
Don’t Go Away has stabs of buzz saw Ramones guitar riffing but a soft pop vocal. If Joey sang I wanna be your boyfriend, The Beths sing I just wanna be your best friend.
You Are a Beam of Light shows us some Folk roots. The song has a gentle acoustic guitar refrain and a vulnerable sounding lead vocal until the chorus vocals of the guys give comfort.
Sunny, sparkling pop on the closer, Just Shy of Sure. The guitars play a melodic drone that build. The drums kick it all along.
Bright, summery power-pop music delivered with spirit-lifting energy.
The Beth’s have deservedly garnered a lot of attention and music industry recognition. Due to bad timing and bad luck I have not caught them live yet. I will do so, and I have no doubt they will be fantastic.
Rev Orange Peel
- No Broadcast – The Common Thread (Album Review) - May 14, 2023
- Rita Mae – Whammy Bar, May 5, 2023 (Concert Review) - May 6, 2023
- Dictaphone Blues – Greetings from Glen Eden (EP Review) ⭐⭐⭐ - May 4, 2023
July 17, 2020 @ 8:51 am
“She may not be a technically gifted powerhouse vocalist…” Why is this a thing? As if we have to excuse this ‘lack of technique’ (however that’s defined by the reviewer). Would you rather a voice like Whitney Houston?As if technical proficiency automatically creates greater music. Please also excuse Bob Dylan for not singing like Bing Crosby. It’s such a shame that Johnny Ramone sounds nothing like Steve Vai. God give me the strength to look beyond this and try and enjoy the Ramones… and the Beths.
July 17, 2020 @ 9:54 am
Its a perfectly acceptable statement for a reviewer to make. Its not necessarily a negative thing. Just letting the potential first time listener not to expect an Adele or Whitney.
July 17, 2020 @ 10:10 am
Right… so next time you review someone who is more technically proficient (in your opinion), you will warn the potential first time listener not to expect a Liz Stokes or a Patti Smith or a… you won’t.