Album Review: Once More With Feeling... [EP] by Ought

Montreal-based art rockers Ought delivered their ecstatic debut, More Than Any Other Day, in the spring of 2014 and followed just months later with this four-song EP, Once More with Feeling..., in the fall of the same year. The album was a tightly coiled collection of sometimes noisy, always jubilant tunes with influences going back to the best college rock standouts of several generations. The band drew on influence from Talking Heads, the Feelies, the dour melodicism of early New Zealand pop groups, and even some of the sentimental urgency of '90s Midwestern emo groups like Cap'n Jazz.

Full Review >>

If Parquet Courts’ breakthrough ‘Light Up Gold’ thrilled on account of its short, sharp bursts of punk spirit, then Montreal quartet Ought’s new EP is its equal but opposite flipside. A similar reckless clatter presides on much of ‘Once More With Feeling…’, but in place of 120-second rushes, there are sprawling, seven-minute epics and instead of obtuseness there’s humour. Ought’s other touchstones are art-punk’s outsiders.

Full Review >>

If you’re unfamiliar with Ought’s work then their latest EP Once More with Feeling, might not be the ideal jumping on point. That’s not to say it isn’t uniformly excellent - indeed it perfectly compliments the high standard of their recent output. But if you’re after a more cohesive introduction to Canada’s finest non-Canuck indie sensations, then you’d be better starting with their hugely accomplished LP More Than Any Other Day, released earlier this year to deserved acclaim.

Full Review >>

Once More With Feeling… is a quick and generous follow-up to Ought’s excellent break-though record, More Than Any Other Day. For this EP, initially conceived as a tour-only release, the band revisited early material and re-recorded it. The results are dynamic and impressive, both doubling down on and expanding outward the charms of the band’s previous record.

Full Review >>

Head here to submit your own review of this album. After the success of their critically acclaimed debut album More Than Any Other Day, released earlier this year, Ought got straight back into the recording studio. Not being ones to hang about, they have returned with another stellar dose of post-punk fury and delight in the shape of Once More With Feeling.

Full Review >>

A mere six months after the release of their debut album, More Than Any Other Day, adopted Montreal quintet Ought are ready for a reintroduction. Essentially a reissue of their earlier pre-Constellation Records material, Once More With Feeling… is surprisingly eclectic for a four-track EP. Consisting of re-recordings of previous releases, including non-album track "Waiting," which has been floating around since early 2014, the new EP finds the band playfully cocksure.

Full Review >>