Ought (band)
Post-punk band from Montreal, Quebec
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ought was a post-punk band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, formed in 2011. The band consisted of Tim Darcy (vocals, guitar), Ben Stidworthy (bass guitar), Matt May (keyboards), and Tim Keen (drums).
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Ought | |
|---|---|
Ought, 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2011–2021 |
| Labels | Constellation Records, Merge Records |
| Spinoffs | Cola |
| Past members |
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The band released three full-length studio albums across its ten-year career: More than Any Other Day (2014), Sun Coming Down (2015) and Room Inside the World (2018). The band quietly disbanded in 2021, with Darcy and Stidworthy going on to announce a new project Cola that same year.
History
Ought was formed in 2011 when its members began living together in a communal band practice space and recorded their earliest material. The band's first EP, New Calm, was released in 2012. After signing with Constellation Records, a full-length album, More than Any Other Day, was released in 2014. The album achieved critical acclaim, including a Best New Music accolade from Pitchfork Media.[1] It was noted in numerous year-end lists for 2014 including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Drowned In Sound, Loud and Quiet, Exclaim!, The Crack, and Paste. The album reached #20 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the United States.[2]
In October 2014, the band released Once More with Feeling, an EP of B-sides from More Than Any Other Day and re-recordings of earlier songs. Sun Coming Down, the band's second full-length album, was released in September 2015.[3]
The band worked with the French producer Nicolas Vernhes on its third studio album, Room Inside the World, which was released on 16 February 2018.[4]
Break-up and formation of Cola
Ought announced its disbandment in November 2021. A new band with Darcy and Stidworthy as members, Cola, was announced on the same day, along with the release of its first single "Blank Curtain".[5] Cola has gone on to release three studio albums: Deep in View (2022), The Gloss (2024) and Cost of Living Adjustment (2026).
Regarding the possibility of an Ought reunion, vocalist and guitarist Tim Darcy stated in May 2026: "I definitely think of the bands as two very distinct projects despite overlap in personnel. I'm always as stoked to meet Ought fans as I am people who only know Cola. We love playing [Cola] songs so obviously we lead with that, but we have played "Beautiful Blue Sky" a few times (with Matt from Ought as in the case of London) which was very special. All I can say is that if it feels right... we might do it again? It's not a hard rule."[6]
Side projects
Darcy released his first solo album, Saturday Night, in 2017.[7]
Members
- Tim Darcy – guitars, vocals
- Matt May – keyboards
- Ben Stidworthy – bass guitar
- Tim Keen – drums, violin
Discography
Studio albums
- More than Any Other Day (Constellation Records, 2014)
- Sun Coming Down (Constellation Records, 2015)
- Room Inside the World (Merge Records / Royal Mountain Records, 2018)
EPs
- New Calm (self-released, 2012)
- Once More With Feeling EP (Constellation Records, 2014)
- Four Desires (Merge Records, 2018)