Ought-Sun Coming Down Review

Artist: Ought

Album: Sun Coming Down

Label: Constellation Records

Release Date: September 18, 2015

Website: http://cstrecords.com/ought/

Ought is back with the follow up to their 2014 debut More Than Any Other Day. Singer/songwriter Tim Darcy and crew spent some time in isolation this year working on the new album, Sun Coming Down. This album takes on the world around Darcy and reveals how his daily observations about life have turned out an album with intense and distinct irony.

Singer and guitarist, Tim Darcy, isn't sure what to do with the mundanity of modern civilization . "If I'm being honest, who would want to live here?" he asks on the opening track, "Men for Miles." Darcy comes off as an everyman completely sick of just about every facet of the day-to-day movements we all run through. The seven-minute centerpiece, "Beautiful Blue Sky" is the strongest track, and through most of it Darcy laments in deadpan both our materialistic culture as well as our need to constantly check in with our fellow human, singing, "How's the family?, "How's your health been?" and "Fancy seeing you here." More evidence to his uneasiness with society can be heard on "Celebration" as Darcy seems to be okay with meaningless interaction, overconsumption and causeless ceremonies because they are, in fact, a way to escape. He sings, "These situations can seem like a drag, but don't take em from me". Most songs on the album deal with that easily relatable desire to pack up and leave the daily grind. On "Passionate Turn" Darcy almost perfectly details the thought, singing, "I am digging the silence. Don't need no house on the moon. I'm gonna take mine in the valley. Good bye to everyone I know."

The music on Sun Coming Down sounds to be another step in the right direction. These songs are more brash and unsettling than 2014's More Than Any Other Day, and the production keeps it raw and unpolished to great effect. With the obvious comparisons to their inspiration such as The Fall and Sonic Youth, Ought comes off as a modern version of those two. The frenetic pacing of Sun Coming Down gives the listener little room to gather their thoughts, and instead takes them on a journey, relying on you keeping up rather than hoping to slow down.