Photo Credit: Press
Words: Sophie Thompson

After years of touring, advocating for accessibility in the music industry and steadily refining their sound. Reading born Only the Poets have arrived with their debut album I’d Do It Again which is their most musically confident release to date. It is the album of a band who know exactly who they are. 

Having formed in 2017 Only the Poets, Tommy Longhurst, Andy ‘Roo’ Burge, Clem Cherry and Marcus Yates have built their career from the bottom up. Their breakthrough moment came after supporting Louis Tomlinson on the UK and Europe leg of his world tour in 2022. Their success hasn’t only come through exposure but also through their hard work and determination. Their identity has been shaped as much by their advocacy for making live music accessible, they created headlines early this year with their ‘Battle of the Bands’ to win a support slot where they play a sold-out gig at London’s O2 Academy Brixton where all tickets cost just £1. Through their affordable ticket prices and push for the music industry to be more accessible to up-and-coming artists, Only the Poets pushed against the boundaries which defines the music industry. It is this sense of purpose which underpins I’d Do It Again.

Musically, this album shows a new direction for the Reading stars. Their earlier indie rock sound has evolved into an explosive alt/pop sound driven by 80s inspired synths, clean guitar lines, and soaring vocals creating a heightened sense of atmosphere. This shift feels confident and assured in a way that shows them as a main act and no longer the opener. Produced by the band themselves there really is little standing in the way of Only the Poets from becoming one of music’s greats. 

The album opens with an instrumental title track prelude before it erupts into the anthemic ‘Monumental’, a statement album opener consumed of powerful choruses and shimmering guitars. The opening of this album sets the tone for what follows, with songs which effortlessly balance vulnerability and pop melodies. Longhurst’s vocals truly shine on this album and sound the most assured than they have on any of Only the Poets’ previous work.

‘Emotionally Hungover’ is the most classic pop on the album with repetitive choruses “I’m over being emotionally hungover” a line which works as the main hook of the song. Tracks like ‘Thinkin Bout Your Ex” provide momentum and energy into the album fuelling the album with pop immediacy. It is tracks like these which bring their live shows to life and are met with lively crowds giving all their energy in reciprocation to the electricity of these songs. 

With slower songs like ‘Madeline’ Longhurst’s skilled vocal ability takes the spotlight leaving space for vulnerability in their lyrics. Their live-first mentality is evident on this album as every single track seeming to be built to be performed on stage.

Across its 14 track run each song is cohesive and has its own identity on the album. The albums’ greatest strength is in its ability to blend vulnerability with pop melodies allowing moments of introspection to exist with anthemic pop music. ‘Guess She’s Cool’ closes the album on an emotional note exploring the raw reality of a breakup. 

I’d Do It Again is an album which prioritises establishing Only the Poets for who they are it captures emotional honesty and their musical confidence. Their debut album reflects both their journey and shared values whilst capturing the energy which comes with live music. They have built a foundation which has allowed them to build a lasting reputation in the music industry.