Straight Line Was a Lie

Straight Line Was a Lie
Studio album by the Beths
Released	29 August 2025 (2025-08-29)
Genre	Indie rock
Length	43:42
Label	Anti-
The Beths chronology
Expert in a Dying Field (2022) Straight Line Was a Lie (2025)

Straight Line Was a Lie is the fourth studio album by the New Zealand indie rock band the Beths. The album was released on 29 August 2025 through Anti- and received positive reviews. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elizabeth Stokes and arranged by the Beths.

Straight Line Was a Lie track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Straight Line Was a Lie"	4:04
2.	"Mosquitoes"	4:43
3.	"No Joy"	3:17
4.	"Metal"	4:43
5.	"Mother, Pray for Me"	4:50
6.	"Til My Heart Stops"	4:14
7.	"Take"	3:56
8.	"Roundabout"	4:23
9.	"Ark of the Covenant"	4:22
10.	"Best Laid Plans"	5:05
Total length:		43:42

Personnel

Credits are from the album's official Bandcamp page.

• Elizabeth Stokes –guitar, vocals, writing
• Jonathan Pearce –guitar, production, engineering, mixing (except tracks 5 and 10)
• Benjamin Sinclair –bass guitar
• Tristan Deck –drums and cymbals
• Michael Howell –production and engineering
• Bevan Smith –mixing
• Joe Lambert –mastering
• Lily Paris West –artwork

Charts

Chart performance for Straight Line Was a Lie

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [5]	83
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [6]	5
Scottish Albums (OCC) [7]	37
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [8]	25
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [9]	11
US Top Album Sales ( Billboard ) [10]	19

References

1. Greene, Linnie (4 September 2025). "The Beths: Straight Line Was a Lie". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
2. McLevy, Alex (28 August 2025). "Dependability Serves the Beths Well on Straight Line Was A Lie". Paste . Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
3. Macafee, Gabrielle (26 August 2025). "The Beths Reckon With Growing Up". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
4. Mitchell, Cece (27 August 2025). "The Beths: Straight Line Was A Lie Review". Iowa Public Radio . Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
5. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 8 September 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1853. Australian Recording Industry Association. 8 September 2025. p. 6.
6. "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
7. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
8. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 September 2025.
9. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
10. "Top Album Sales: Week of September 13, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved 9 September 2025.