Only the Poets, a band that first formed in 2017, finally released their long-awaited debut album “And I’d Do It Again” on Friday, January 30. This 14-song, 36-minute album is everything that fans have been expecting.
The British band has released many singles and EPs in the past, including a demo-EP with 14 songs from 2021 that first introduced me to their music.
My absolute favorite part of this album is how well it all flows together. The title track, “And I’d Do It Again,” opens the album with a slow and reverbed one-minute synth track without lyrics that works as a prologue into the rest of the songs, immediately moving into the second-track, “Monumental.”
“Monumental” shares the story of the singer’s ex-partner who immediately moved on from him to try and fill the emotional gap that was left behind. With lyrics like, “You said you’re better without / Just another lie that you’re telling now / So quickly you found someone / Guess the loneliness weighed a bit too much for you / You could fake, you could say it’s coincidental / Oh but, losing me was monumental,” the song recognizes the feeling of noticing when you came out of a breakup better than the other person.
The next, “Emotionally Hungover,” is about being exhausted in an emotionally-draining relationship where the other person refuses to listen. “Yesterday I poured my whole heart out, I did / Now you’re asking me how I’m feeling / And it’s honestly like I’m grieving / Don’t know how to give when there’s nothing to give.” These heartbreaking lyrics are hidden behind an upbeat track that show the freeing feeling of being able to let go of that situation.
Following is “Thinking Bout Your Ex,” a track that — while at first glance seems like a jealousy-ridden story — actually just questions how the love-interest’s ex could have let them go. The song emphasizes, “There’s no way he’s moving on / And I’m totally obsessed,” before ending with the repeating line, “How could he give you up.”
The fifth track of the album, “Saké,” is my personal favorite off of the album. While it’s not the most lyrically-captivating, the beat and the vocals on the chorus are addictive. I listened to this song 17 times in a row while working on homework the other day, and I have zero regrets.
“You Hate That I’m In Love” follows, a song about a bitter ex who cannot accept that the relationship is over despite — according to the lyrics — an amicable breakup. The singer says, “You could have left with I wish you the best / But you’re bitter instead / And you hate that I’m in love.” This song works very well on the album, especially with the connection to “Monumental” and “Emotionally Hungover,” as well as later tracks like “Don’t Wanna Know.”
The next song, “Madeline,” is one of the songs that hurts the most, especially because the singer recognizes that — in this scenario — he is in the wrong. He says that he is scared to be alone so he won’t break off the relationship despite knowing that he does not truly love “Madeline.” He says, “Said I loved you, might have lied / Truth is, I’m scared to hurt you / So I’ll stay, making you my enemy.” While refusing to leave the relationship because it will hurt this both, he also is building up bitterness toward her for being “stuck” in the relationship.
“Freeze” is next, and is one of the only songs on this album that feels like an actual love song. He sings, “Stop time, for a minute with my eyes closed / The way that you’re holding me / I’m wishing that, wishing this night would freeze.” He wants to stay in this moment forever, content that he finally found his person.
“SAY!” is a song that has the singer asking his ex to get back with him. Similar to “Emotionally Hungover,” the overtly upbeat backing is a juxtaposition to the lyrics, “Still, I want you to / Say! That you want me back / ‘Cause honestly, I’m still in too deep / I’m on my knees, I need, I need you to / Say! That you miss me now.” Ignoring the lyrics, this song makes me want to jump around the room and dance. Listening to the lyrics, however, I feel like I need to sit in the rain and wallow.
Up next is “God Knows Where You Were,” a song that thanks the love interest for finding him at his darkest point and saving him: “Right when I need it / Pull me from the deep end / You make it look easy / (God knows where you were) / Oh, I was fading / Past the point of saving / I’m so glad you came back.”
“Don’t Wanna Know” follows, and brings back the upbeat music and heartrending lyrics that we see in “Emotionally Hungover” and “SAY!” He is trying to get over his ex by purposely not thinking about them, but this causes a spiral of asking about it anyway. He sings, “I don’t wanna know, don’t wanna, yeah / What you thinking ‘bout? Who you seeing now? / Where you running ‘round?” He contradicts himself by continuing to ask despite not wanting to know.
The next song, “Bad,” is a desperate song about wanting to leave a relationship where he feels like he is constantly messing up despite trying his best. He sings, “Would you let me out? Let me out / ‘Cause I’ve been holding on, but all it does is hurt / You’re telling me / Everything I do always so bad / Everything I do makes you mad.”
“I Keep On Messing It Up” follows, and feels like a combination of “Madeline” and “Bad.” With lyrics like, “Keep holding on, when I know it’s wrong / I keep on messing it up (I keep on messing it up) / So scared to leave, but it’s killing me,” he is clearly hung up on this relationship where he obligated to stay, but desperately wants to leave.
The album ends with the track “Guess She’s Cool.” This song is like the nail in the coffin of the album. He finally recognizes that he will not be able to get back with his ex, but is still using other people to try to get over her. He says, “I guess she’s cool / She’s helpin’ me forget about you / And all the things we said we’d do / I’m haunted by your silhouette / In my head.”
Overall, this album is absolutely amazing, especially considering the fact that it is their debut album. The storytelling in the individual songs, and how they interact with other songs in the album is enticing. This is a great album to sit down and truly listen to to understand it, to dance to the beat and enjoy the vibes, and to throw on in the background when you need to focus on schoolwork. This album will be on repeat for the foreseeable future and I cannot wait to see what they put out next!
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