Written By: Kiera
If you haven’t heard of them yet, you surely will soon. While they’re certainly not new on the scene, Only The Poets have been gaining long-earned attention in the wake of releasing their debut album, And I’d Do It Again. Hailing from Reading in England, Only The Poets has been creating music for nearly a decade. Now, recently released in January of 2026, And I’d Do It Again marks a new era for the quartet.
I was introduced to the group as they supported The Wombats’ 2025 Oh! The Ocean Tour across North America. Their music was energetic, the crowd was engaged, and the energy was exciting. As someone who was not a major fan of One Direction during their peak years, their sound evoked a distinctly fun boyband energy that I can only imagine drew in Directioners all those years ago.
And I’d Do It Again certainly continues to carry the charm that I first heard last year. While the album channels a myriad of moods and energies throughout its tracks, its lyrics consistently reflect on themes of honesty and insecurity in relationships, and the “what comes after”-ness. Songs reference experiences in heartache, loneliness, and slowing down; we feel both perspectives of a breakup, as both the person who aches and is not ready to move on and as the person who is completely over it all.
This contrast is most obvious when juxtaposing tracks like “SAY!,” a song about struggling to let go and biting one’s tongue, with those like “Monumental” (a.k.a. Only The Poets’ version of Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable”). We see an intentional duality in experiences again through the indifferent and detached energy of “Don’t Wanna Know” in contrast to the somber questioning in “Guess She’s Cool.” Though the themes raised in the above-named songs are typically those that require introspection of complex feelings, the lyrics do feel as though they don’t dip far below the surface (most notably on the project’s more relaxed songs).
I hope to see their style blossom and evoke a slightly deeper nuance in future tracks that match their impassioned performances. Still, the energy poured into each track enriches the experience nonetheless (and lord knows this girl does not hate a catchy light-hearted pop song).
Reflecting on the trials and journeys faced by a romantic heart caught in the merry-go-round that is dating and emotional intimacy, this album effectively balances anthemic and upbeat tunes with subdued and mellow sounds. A large number of its tracks follow relatively formulaic song structures, with all but 4 of 14 tracks falling under 3 minutes long. Only The Poets certainly do not feel married to one sound. This variety does at times feel like an unintentional compilation of vibes that don’t always coordinate in a polished way (I’m looking at you, “Saké”), though it still provides for a relatively diverse-sounding pop album. The variety in sound leads to quick pops of bright energy intermixed with the album’s more mellow tunes, making the listening experience both engaging and refreshing.
I continue to look forward to seeing more come out of this group of highly talented performers! Soon to be touring throughout Europe in celebration of And I’d Do It Again, Only The Poets are just warming up--perhaps for a 2026 North America Tour..?
Tracks:
And I’d Do It Again
Monumental
Emotionally Hungover
Thinking About Your Ex
Sake
You Hate That I’m In Love
Madeline
Freeze
SAY!
God Knows Where You Were
Don’t Wanna Know
Bad
I Keep On Messing It Up
Guess She’s Cool
Discussion