Album review: The Beths, Future Me Hates Me

The Beths. Photo by Will Agnew.

From the moment you hit play it's impossible not to be swept up in the infectious energy and momentum of The Beths debut record.

It may have you checking your calendar to see what year it is: indie power-pop and punk-pop isn't really flying high these days. But Future Me Hates Me is so good it may kickstart the revival.

The album comes out flying with the fuzzy guitar riffing, bouncy beat and ridiculously catchy chorus of Great No One, the best opening track of any album so far this year. As fizzy as a can of soft drink, the song makes you want to jump out of your chair, pogo around your lounge and shout-along.

They then immediately launch into the title track, and Silver Scroll nominated single, Future Me Hates Me, as gorgeous a slice of indie-pop you'll find this side of '96.

There's no time for a breather either as they then hit you with the deliriously giddy Uptown Girl, followed quickly by the warning stomp of You Wouldn't Like Me.

The song titles on the album, like Happy Unhappy, Little Death, and Whatever, tell you everything you need to know about singer/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes' lyrical concerns. She's anxious, thinky, melancholic, full of self-doubt and angst; "If I told the truth, what would you do?" she wonders on the propulsive Not Running. She's the fly in the sugar, keeping the obvious joy of The Beths music from grating over the course of the record.

There's a lot to like, from the ear bleeding Dinosaur Jr. style guitar solos and the pummelling drums right through to the Beach Boys-style "ooooo"'s and "woooo's" of the backing vocals.

The songs are catchy as heck, making this an album I can see future me returning to time and time again.

Artist: The Beths
Album: Future Me Hates Me
Label: Dew Process
Verdict: An infectious debut that future you will love