Expert in a Dying Field

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).^[2]

Expert in a Dying Field
Studio album by the Beths
Released	16 September 2022 (2022-09-16)
Recorded	2021–February 2022[1]
Length	44:59
Label	Carpark
The Beths chronology
Jump Rope Gazers (2020) Expert in a Dying Field (2022)

A deluxe edition was released in 2023, featuring 3 demos, 2 acoustic versions, and 2 previously stand-alone singles.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.9/10[4]
Metacritic	83/100[5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The Daily Telegraph	[7]
Exclaim!	8/10[8]
God Is in the TV	9/10[9]
The Line of Best Fit	8/10[10]
Loud and Quiet	7/10[11]
Mojo	[12]
NME	[13]
Pitchfork	8/10[14]
Slant	[15]

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.^[5]

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."^[16] 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."^[17] Poetic Justice Magazine concluded that Expert in a Dying Field is "an impressive and engaging record".^[18]

Year-end lists

Publication	List	Rank	Ref
BrooklynVegan	Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2022	14	[19]
BrooklynVegan	Top 50 Albums of 2022	29	[20]
The Forty-Five	The Best Albums of 2022	23	[21]
Impose	The Top 50 Albums of 2022	Unranked	[22]
Magnet	Top 25 Albums of 2022	12	[23]
ourculture	The 50 Best Albums of 2022	24	[24]
Paste	The Best Albums of 2022	14	[25]
Pitchfork	The 50 Best Albums of 2022	47	[26]
Pitchfork	The 38 Best Rock Albums of 2022	Unranked	[27]
PopMatters	The 25 Best Indie Rock Albums of 2022	10	[28]
The Ringer	The 33 Best Albums of 2022	13	[29]
Rolling Stone	The 100 Best Albums of 2022	67	[30]
Slant	The 50 Best Albums of 2022	22	[31]
Stereogum	The 50 Best Albums 2022	7	[32]

Track listing

Expert in a Dying Field track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Expert in a Dying Field"	4:11
2.	"Knees Deep"	3:39
3.	"Silence Is Golden"	2:56
4.	"Your Side"	4:41
5.	"I Want to Listen"	2:12
6.	"Head in the Clouds"	4:01
7.	"Best Left"	3:58
8.	"Change in the Weather"	3:42
9.	"When You Know You Know"	4:08
10.	"A Passing Rain"	3:15
11.	"I Told You That I Was Afraid"	3:21
12.	"2am"	4:49
Total length:		44:59

Expert in a Dying Field (Deluxe) track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Expert in a Dying Field"	4:11
2.	"Knees Deep"	3:39
3.	"Silence Is Golden"	2:56
4.	"Your Side"	4:41
5.	"I Want to Listen"	2:12
6.	"Head in the Clouds"	4:01
7.	"Best Left"	3:58
8.	"Change in the Weather"	3:42
9.	"When You Know You Know"	4:08
10.	"A Passing Rain"	3:15
11.	"I Told You That I Was Afraid"	3:21
12.	"2am"	4:49
13.	"I Told You I was Afraid - Acoustic"	3:11
14.	"When You Know You Know - Acoustic"	4:03
15.	"A Real Thing"	3:34
16.	"Watching The Credits"	3:15
17.	"Keep The Distance - Demo"	4:08
18.	"Expert In A Dying Field - Demo"	4:09
19.	"I Want To Listen - Demo"	2:59
20.	"2am - Demo"	3:41
Total length:		44:59

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Expert in a Dying Field Chart (2022) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[33] 80 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[34] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Expert in a Dying Field Chart (2022) Position New Zealand Artist Albums (RMNZ)[35] 18