Neotheater

Last updated

Neotheater
AJR Neotheater.jpg
Studio album by
AJR
ReleasedApril 26, 2019 (2019-04-26)
Length44:28
Label
Producer
  • Ryan Met
AJR chronology
The Click
(2017)
Neotheater
(2019)
OK Orchestra
(2021)
Singles from Neotheater
  1. "100 Bad Days"
    Released: January 29, 2019
  2. "Birthday Party"
    Released: March 12, 2019
  3. "Dear Winter"
    Released: April 5, 2019

Neotheater is the third studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 26, 2019 [2] by the band's label AJR Productions. The album was self-produced by the trio. It is a follow-up to the trio's 2017 album The Click (2017).

Contents

Background and release

The 12 tracks were collectively described as "a coming of age tale that hears the band coming to terms with the sacrifices that come with growing older now that they are in their 20s". A description of the album also stated: "The buoyant and uplifting music is juxtaposed with darker lyrical narratives that touch on anxiety, naivete and searching for integrity." [3]

This album contained three official singles. AJR released the lead single "100 Bad Days" on January 29, 2019. [4] They followed up with the second single, "Birthday Party", on March 12, 2019. [5] "Dear Winter" was later released as the third official single on April 5, 2019. [6] On October 25, 2019, they released "Dear Winter 2.0," an alternate version of the original song with added instruments. [7]

Commercial performance

Neotheater debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 with 52,000 album-equivalent units (of which 32,000 were pure album sales). It is AJR's highest-peaking and first US top 10 album. [8]

Critical reception

Neotheater ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The album received generally positive reviews. Rolling Stone wrote in par, citing the bubbly tracks stepped in light orchestration, crisp hooks, and the social commentary, while AllMusic says that the album is "never less than refreshing".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jack and Ryan Met, except where noted.

Neotheater track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Next Up Forever" 4:17
2."Birthday Party"
3:44
3."100 Bad Days" 3:33
4."Don't Throw Out My Legos" 4:11
5."Break My Face" 3:46
6."Turning Out Pt. II" 3:43
7."The Entertainment's Here" 3:07
8."Karma" 4:05
9."Beats" 3:19
10."Wow, I'm Not Crazy" 3:17
11."Dear Winter" 2:48
12."Finale (Can't Wait to See What You Do Next)" 4:38
Total length:44:28

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [13]

AJR

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Neotheater
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [22] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. "US: AJR debut atop the US charts with new album Neotheater". BMG . May 7, 2019. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  2. Adam Met, Jack Met, Ryan Met (March 10, 2019). NEOTHEATER - 4/26 (ALBUM TRAILER). AJR Productions via YouTube.
  3. "AJR Neotheater – CD" . Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  4. Aniftos, Rania (January 30, 2019). "AJR Laugh About Their Failures In New Single '100 Bad Days'". Billboard . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. Legaspi, Althea (March 12, 2019). "AJR Bring Exuberant '100 Bad Days' Performance to 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  6. Snyder, Brett (April 15, 2019). "AJR's Dear Winter Hits All The Feels". Better Spins. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  7. Bosch, Eva (October 25, 2019). "AJR Release New Version Of "Dear Winter"". Strife Mag. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (May 6, 2019). "P!nk's 'Hurts 2B Human' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  9. Collar, Matt. "Neotheater - AJR". AllMusic . Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  10. Dolan, Jon (April 26, 2019). "Review: AJR Dance Through Coming of Age Reality on 'Neotheater'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  11. Met, Jack (March 26, 2019). AJR Chat About Their Latest LP, "Neotheater" (YouTube video). BUILD Series. Event occurs at 13:27. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  12. AJR [LIVE Acoustic Performance] | 101X, June 10, 2019, retrieved April 7, 2021
  13. Neotheater (Media notes). AJR. AJR Productions. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  15. "AJR Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  16. "AJR Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  17. "AJR Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. "AJR Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  19. "AJR Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  20. "AJR Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  21. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  22. "American album certifications – AJR – Neotheater". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 3, 2025.