The Maybe Man is the fifth studio album by the American pop trio AJR. It was released on November 10, 2023, following their previous studio album OK Orchestra (2021). It is the band's first album released as part of its deal with Mercury/Republic Records.
In 2022, AJR embarked on a world tour in support of their fourth studio album OK Orchestra. On the tour, they performed their then-unreleased song "I Won't" as a surprise addition to the set, before releasing it as the lead single for their upcoming fifth studio album on July 29, 2022.[1][2] On November 12, 2022, AJR revealed the album title's abbreviation of "TMM", fitting into the pattern "T** M**** M**". Fans immediately started posting speculative potential titles on the internet; popular theories included "The Music Men", "Ten Meter Men", and "The Manly Men".[3] The band released the album's second single "The DJ Is Crying for Help" on November 18.[4] The third single "The Dumb Song" was released on April 21, 2023.[5]
The fourth single, "God Is Really Real", was surprise-released on YouTube on July 3, 2023, along with a lyric video. While the song was originally set to be dropped along with the album, it was released much earlier than originally scheduled, in order to commemorate the life of their terminally ill father Gary. He died later that day.[6][7] The single had an official release on July 5, 2023.[8]
On August 27, 2023, they posted the message "Enormous news tomorrow. maybe." to their social media accounts along with a previously unveiled logo featuring the "TMM" acronym.[9] The album's full title and release date were announced the next day in a teaser video featuring the ending of the animated music video for the album's first track, "Maybe Man". The band revealed the track list and album cover on September 11.[9]
The fifth and final single "Yes I'm a Mess" was released on September 29, 2023.[10] A comedic music video, shot in Times Square, was released on October 25.[11] On October 11, AJR announced that The Maybe Man would be delayed exactly one week from its original release date, due to "exciting opportunities" relating to the album release.[12] The album was then released on November 10 alongside a music video for "Maybe Man".[13][14] On November 29, a music video for "Inertia", the 5th song on the album, was released.[15] On January 23, 2024, a music video for "Touchy Feely Fool", the 2nd song on the album, was released.[16]
Songs
"Maybe Man", the album's first track, is a melancholy song with lyrics that interpolates with other songs, such as the line "I wish I was big, as big as my house..." interpolates with Inertia's line "Don't you like it bigger, better but you do what'cha can?". "Touchy Feely Fool" is an upbeat yet reflective track that touches on the awkwardness and vulnerability of emotions, describing a rough breakup.
The album was supposed to have a 13th track, but it wasn't made due to the song supposedly not fitting in with the rest of the album's theme. The brothers deemed the track too upbeat and positive for it to fit in perfectly with the rest of the songs. It is rumored that this track will be released at some point in the near future, supposedly within the deluxe version of the album.
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: set list, attendance and revenue figures need to be added. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2024)
On November 9, 2023, AJR announced their first arena tour to promote the album,[18] most notably including two stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[19] Tickets for the tour went on sale on November 17.[20]
On November 14, 2023, AJR announced a second show for Madison Square Garden in New York, due to the first show being sold out on the first day of presale.[21]
On April 1, 2024, AJR canceled the tour's first show due to the Norfolk Scope venue being too small to accommodate the show,[23] announcing on April 11 that it was rescheduled to June 23.[24]
On April 2, 2024, due to high demand, Idaho Central Arena announced on their Instagram account that the Boise show would take place at ExtraMile Arena. The previously purchased tickets for Idaho Central Arena was shifted towards the newer venue ensuring that the tickets were still valid.[25]
On July 8, the concert scheduled to take place at Toyota Center the next day was canceled due to the safety concerns surrounding Hurricane Beryl.[26]
As of August 2024, the tour has reportedly sold over 500,000 tickets.[citation needed]
On August 8, Adam Met announced that he would not be performing with the band for the Asia shows to attend the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.[27]
The August 17, 2024 Osaka concert is the only concert of the tour to be performed in the afternoon (local time of where the concert was happening.)
↑ Dates Played June 27, 2024 - Cleveland, OH July 16, 2024 - Salt Lake City, UT July 20, 2024 - Denver, CO July 27, 2024 - New York City, NY July 30, 2024 - Atlanta, GA July 31, 2024 - Nashville, TN August 2, 2024 - Washington, DC August 3, 2024 - Boston, MA
Much like the band's previous albums, The Maybe Man was released to mixed reviews. Spectrum Culture's Thomas Stremfel criticized the album's lyricism, saying the album "barely scratch[es] the surface of the emotional depth their songs could achieve while insisting their music is nothing to take seriously."[31] Writing for AllMusic, Matt Collar praised the album, writing, "With The Maybe Man, AJR continue to turn their personal pain and anxieties into universally relatable pop anthems."[34]Exclaim! listed the album cover as 17th worst of the year, writing: "You've entered a wormhole to 2008 — your only tools for survival are a moustache finger tattoo, a copy of Amélie, a voucher for free puppetry lessons and this album cover. Good luck."[35]
Personnel
AJR
Adam Met – bass guitar, vocals
Jack Met – lead vocals (1–5, 7–12), guitar (tracks 2, 7, 10–12), drums (4 & 5), vocals
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