The Maybe Man
A drawing of the three members of AJR swimming in a vast ocean, with one in the middle reaching up toward a village of colorful houses flying above them.
Studio album by
AJR
ReleasedNovember 10, 2023 (2023-11-10)
Recorded2022–2023
Length44:12
Label
ProducerRyan Met
AJR chronology
OK Orchestra
(2021)		 The Maybe Man
(2023)
Singles from The Maybe Man
  1. "I Won't"
    Released: July 29, 2022
  2. "The DJ Is Crying for Help"
    Released: November 18, 2022
  3. "The Dumb Song"
    Released: April 21, 2023
  4. "God Is Really Real"
    Released: July 5, 2023
  5. "Yes I'm a Mess"
    Released: September 29, 2023

The Maybe Man is the fifth studio album by American pop band 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.

Promotion and release

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 an animated teaser video featuring Jack Met running through various settings including a forest, a hospital, and the autumn landscape of their 2021 album OK Orchestra at night before flying into space; the entire scene would later be revealed as the ending of the 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]

Tour

On November 8, AJR announced their first arena tour to promote the album. Beginning in April 2024, the tour will most notably include a stop at Madison Square Garden in New York City and end at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on August 3.[16][17]

Ryan Met stated in 2011 that playing at Madison Square Garden was one of the biggest goals by him and the band.[18]

Reception

The Maybe Man ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Spectrum Culture[19]
AllMusic[20]

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."[19] 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."[21]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Adam Met, Jack Met, and Ryan Met.

The Maybe Man track listing
No.TitleLength
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

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
  • Ryan Met – lead vocals (6), vocals, production, programming

Technical

  • Dale Becker – mastering engineer (1–3, 5–7, 9–12)
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering engineer (4, 8)
  • Joe Zook – mixing engineer (1–3, 5–10, 12)
  • Rob Piccione – engineer (1, 3, 5, 7, 9–12)
  • Katie Harvey – assistant mastering engineer (1–3, 5–7, 9–12)
  • Noah McCorkle – assistant mastering engineer (1–3, 5–7, 9–12)
  • Brandon Hernandez – assistant mastering engineer (1, 2, 5–7, 9–12)

Additional musicians

  • Rob Piccione – additional vocals (1), backing vocals (3, 8, 10), vocals (4, 5, 7, 9, 12), guitar (6)
  • Ruth Kornblatt-Stier – cello (1, 5–7, 10–12)
  • Emelia Suljic – violin (1, 5–7, 10–12)
  • Arnetta Johnson – trumpet (1, 4, 10, 12)
  • Chris Berry – vocals (1), drums (4), backing vocals (8), cello (12)
  • Dane Hagen – vocals (1, 5), guitar (5), backing vocals (8)
  • Ezra Donellan – vocals (1, 5), backing vocals (3, 8, 10)
  • Austin Roa – vocals (1, 5, 12)
  • Josh Plotner – woodwinds (1)
  • The Beu Sisters – backing vocals (3)
  • Kent Lucas – backing vocals (3), vocals (7)
  • Ryan Chernin – backing vocals (3, 10)
  • Chloe Brettholtz – additional vocals (4)
  • Andrew Sobelsohn – guitar, vocals (4); backing vocals (8)
  • Martin Lieberman – vocals (4), backing vocals (8)
  • Cat Capps – vocals (4), additional vocals (5), backing vocals (8)
  • Alba Avoricani – vocals (4), backing vocals (8)
  • Honore Balan – vocals (4)
  • Nell Balan – vocals (4)
  • Ariel Gendler – vocals (5), backing vocals (8)
  • Jabari Golding – vocals (5, 12)
  • Zachary Murphy – vocals (7, 9)
  • Benjamin Hostetler – vocals (7, 9)
  • Eugene Mahlstadt – vocals (7)
  • Katrina Udle – vocals (7)
  • Natasha Bermudez – vocals (7)
  • Adam Tomlinson – backing vocals, vocals (10)
  • Amanda Wierbowski – backing vocals (10)
  • Eric Holloway – vocals (10)
  • Naia Lika – additional vocals (12)
  • Daniel Cruz – vocals (12)
  • Robert Hanley – vocals (12)
  • Kevin Grammar – vocals (12)
  • Jiliane Russo – vocals (12)
  • Sarah Piccione – vocals (12)

Charts

Chart performance for The Maybe Man
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[22] 2
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] 41
US Billboard 200[24] 28
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[25] 4
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[26] 8

References

  1. ↑ Coleman, Diana (August 19, 2022). "AJR Return With "I Won't"". Music Daily. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ ABC Audio (October 19, 2022). "AJR confirms they're working on their fifth album". MOViN 92.5. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ Preethi (September 5, 2023). "AJR Album Release Date, The Maybe Man Track List and More - News". Freshers Live. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (November 22, 2022). "Listen: AJR release 'The DJ Is Crying For Help'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ Vigil, Dom (April 21, 2023). "AJR The Dumb Song". Prelude Press. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kahler, Tanner (July 3, 2023). "After Summerfest cancellations, AJR announces their father has died". WISN. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Manoj (July 4, 2023). "AJR's Father Passes Away, Leaving A Musical Legacy". Lee Daily. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ McEwen, Alex (July 5, 2023). "Alternative band AJR release new song in tribute of their late dad Gary". Culturess. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Elbl, Allison; Price, Alexa (September 29, 2023). "Multi-Platinum Chart-Topping Band AJR Are Back With Anthemic New Single "Yes I'm A Mess" Out Now". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ ABC Audio (September 29, 2023). "AJR releases new song "Yes I'm a Mess" off upcoming ' The Maybe Man' album". 98KUPD. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ ABC Audio (October 26, 2023). "AJR's Jack Met is an Elmo on the run in new video for "Yes I'm a Mess"". 105.7 The Point. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  12. ↑ Maeoka, Toshio (November 11, 2023). "AJR Releases New Album "The Maybe Man"". pm studio. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ Elbl, Allison; Price, Alexa (November 10, 2023). "Multi-Platinum Chart-Topping Band AJR Releases The Maybe Man". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Watch Latest English Official Music Video Song 'Maybe Man' Sung By AJR". The Times of India. November 14, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ ABC Audio (November 29, 2023). "AJR premieres video for 'The Maybe Man' track "Inertia"". 105.7 The Point. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ Benedetto, Matt (November 9, 2023). "AJR bringing "The Maybe Man" tour to Pennsylvania". ABC27. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ Spirito, Taylor (November 9, 2023). "AJR returning to Pittsburgh on 'The Maybe Man Tour' next year". WPXI. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  18. ↑ Met, Ryan (Mar 24, 2011). "Ryan". AJR. Archived from the original on Mar 24, 2011. Retrieved Mar 24, 2011.
  19. 1 2 Stremfel, Thomas (November 14, 2023). "AJR: The Maybe Man". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  20. ↑ Collar, Matt. "The Maybe Man Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  21. ↑ AJR - The Maybe Man Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-12
  22. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 20 November 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1759. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 20, 2023. p. 25.
  23. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ "AJR Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  25. ↑ "AJR Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  26. ↑ "AJR Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
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