Expert in a Dying Field is the third studio album by New Zealand indie rock band the Beths. It was released on 16 September 2022 by Carpark Records. The cover art features a haku (kingfish).
A deluxe edition was released in 2023, featuring 3 demos, 2 acoustic versions, and 2 previously stand-alone singles.
Critical reception
Expert in a Dying Field received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 83 based on 15 reviews.
Jonathan Wright with God Is in the TV states "It appears to be in the band's DNA that they can keep creating this brand of addictive indie pop songs that all feel like essential additions to their already strong back catalogue." Laura Snapes, for Pitchfork, asserts that the album is "brimming with smart power-pop that brings to mind the casual virtuosity of '90s Aimee Mann and the bonhomie and euphoria of Superchunk and Fountains of Wayne." Poetic Justice Magazine concluded that Expert in a Dying Field is "an impressive and engaging record".
+Year-end listsPublication ListRankRefBrooklynVeganIndie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 202214BrooklynVeganTop 50 Albums of 202229The Forty-FiveThe Best Albums of 202223ImposeThe Top 50 Albums of 2022UnrankedMagnetTop 25 Albums of 202212ourcultureThe 50 Best Albums of 202224PasteThe Best Albums of 202214PitchforkThe 50 Best Albums of 202247PitchforkThe 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022UnrankedPopMattersThe 25 Best Indie Rock Albums of 202210The RingerThe 33 Best Albums of 202213Rolling StoneThe 100 Best Albums of 202267SlantThe 50 Best Albums of 202222StereogumThe 50 Best Albums 20227
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Expert in a Dying Field Chart (2022) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 80 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 1
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Expert in a Dying FieldChart (2022)Position New Zealand Artist Albums (RMNZ) 18
References