| The Maybe Man | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 10, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2023 | |||
| Length | 44:12 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Ryan Met | |||
| AJR chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Maybe Man | ||||
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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 under their deal with Mercury Records/Republic Records. The album was met with mixed reviews.
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]
| Tour by AJR | |
| Location | United States |
|---|---|
| Associated album | The Maybe Man |
| Start date | April 3, 2024 [lower-alpha 1] |
| End date | August 3, 2024 |
| Legs | 1 |
| Supporting acts |
|
On November 9, 2023, AJR announced their first arena tour to promote the album, [17] most notably including two stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City. [18] Tickets for the tour went on sale on November 17. [19]
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. [20]
On February 13, 2024, the band announced that the supporting acts for the tour will be Mxmtoon, Dean Lewis and Almost Monday. [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, [22] announcing on April 11 that it was rescheduled to June 23. [23]
On April 2, 2024, due to high demand, Idaho Central Arena announced on their Instagram account that the Boise show would now 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. [24]
Notes
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Spectrum Culture |    [25] |
| AllMusic | [26] |
| The Orcale | [27] |
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." [25] 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." [28] 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." [29]
All tracks are written by Adam Met, Jack Met, and Ryan Met.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Maybe Man" | 3:40 |
| 2. | "Touchy Feely Fool" | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Yes I'm a Mess" | 2:44 |
| 4. | "The Dumb Song" | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Inertia" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Turning Out Pt. iii" | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Hole in the Bottom of My Brain" | 3:07 |
| 8. | "The DJ Is Crying for Help" | 3:39 |
| 9. | "I Won't" | 2:48 |
| 10. | "Steve's Going to London" | 4:47 |
| 11. | "God Is Really Real" | 2:59 |
| 12. | "2085" | 5:31 |
| Total length: | 44:12 | |
AJR
Technical
Additional musicians
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA) [30] | 2 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [31] | 41 |
| US Billboard 200 [32] | 28 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [33] | 4 |
| US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [34] | 8 |
AJR is an American indie pop band founded by brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, collectively a trio of vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, and songwriters. The brothers grew up in New York City, primarily focused on busking and singing covers until releasing their first album, Living Room, on March 3, 2015. As of 2024, they have produced and released five studio albums under the independent label AJR Productions to various record labels.
"Weak" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was first released on their EP What Everyone's Thinking via the band's label AJR Productions on September 16, 2016, later becoming the second single for their second studio album The Click (2017). The song's lyrics describe acceptance of human weakness and feature an uptempo pop composition. A lyric and music video were released, with the latter featuring the band in a New York City subway. The music video went viral, with the song's popularity on Spotify helping the song become one of the band's highest charting songs.
The Click is the second studio album by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on June 9, 2017, by the band's label AJR Productions. The album follows the trio's previous work, maintaining a pop sound with elements of hip-hop, electronic dance music, and jazz. It includes a sole guest appearance from Rivers Cuomo of the band Weezer while taking influence from Fun, Twenty One Pilots, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West.
"Inertia" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the fifth track on their fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"Burn the House Down" is a song by American indie pop band AJR. It was released on March 23, 2018, as a single from the deluxe edition of their second studio album The Click.
Neotheater is the third studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 26, 2019 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).
"I Won't" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on July 29, 2022 via Mercury Records as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"Don't Throw Out My Legos" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the fourth track on their third studio album Neotheater. It uses an upbeat keyboard-based instrumental while discussing the difficulty of growing up.
OK Orchestra, often abbreviated as OKO, is the fourth studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released on March 26, 2021, by the band's own label AJR Productions. The album was produced by group member Ryan Met.
"All My Favorite Songs" is a song by the American rock band Weezer, released on January 21, 2021, as the first single from their fourteenth studio album OK Human. A music video was released on the same day.
Living Room is the debut studio album by American pop band AJR. It was released through the band's label AJR Productions and Warner Music Group on March 3, 2015. The album was produced from the band's apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan.
"Way Less Sad" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on February 17, 2021, via Black Butter Records and S-Curve Records as the fourth single for the band's fourth studio album OK Orchestra, appearing as the twelfth track. It samples the song "My Little Town" by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel and builds off unused demos intended for Norwegian DJ Kygo and American rapper Cardi B. The song's lyrics discuss having optimism amidst a poor state of mental health, instrumentally backed by upbeat pop music with hip hop influence.
"World's Smallest Violin" is a song recorded by the American pop band AJR. It was released on March 26, 2021, as the 11th track from the band's fourth studio album OK Orchestra and as a music video. In 2022, the song became a viral song on the social media platform TikTok, with many using the ending verse and the line "I'll blow up into smithereens" as a soundbite on the site as fan edits or by throwing back to viral videos.
"The Dumb Song" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on April 21, 2023, via Mercury Records as the third single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"The DJ Is Crying for Help" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on November 18, 2022, via Mercury Records as the second single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"Yes I'm a Mess" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released on September 29, 2023, via Mercury Records as the fifth and final single from the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"Maybe Man" is a song by American pop band AJR from their fifth studio album The Maybe Man, appearing as the opening track. The song received a music video on the day of the album's release.
"Touchy Feely Fool" is a song by American pop band AJR, appearing as the second track on their fifth studio album The Maybe Man.
"God Is Really Real" is a song by American pop band AJR. It was released by Mercury Records and serves as the eleventh track on the band's fifth studio album The Maybe Man. Despite not being planned as a single, the song, which is dedicated to the brothers' terminally ill father, was surprise-released to YouTube on July 3, 2023. The single was officially released on streaming services on July 5, 2023.
Infinity is the third extended play by American indie pop band AJR, published through Warner Music Group and the band's label AJR Productions. It was released on September 23, 2014, to accommodate the delay of the band's debut studio album, Living Room (2015). The EP produced the sole single "Infinity", which received praise from critics and commercial success. The song would later be included on their debut album alongside "Pitchfork Kids".