The Maybe Man
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.
| 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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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. 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". The band released the album's second single "The DJ Is Crying for Help" on November 18. The third single "The Dumb Song" was released on April 21, 2023.
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. The single had an official release on July 5, 2023.
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. 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.
The fifth and final single "Yes I'm a Mess" was released on September 29, 2023. A comedic music video, shot in Times Square, was released on October 25. 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. The album was then released on November 10 alongside a music video for "Maybe Man". On November 29, a music video for "Inertia", the 5th song on the album, was released.
The Maybe Man Tour
| Tour by AJR | |
| Location | United States |
|---|---|
| Associated album | The Maybe Man |
| Start date | April 3, 2024 |
| End date | August 3, 2024 |
| Legs | 1 |
| Supporting acts | |
On November 9, 2023, AJR announced their first arena tour to promote the album, most notably including two stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tickets for the tour went on sale on November 17.
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.
On February 13, 2024, the band announced that the supporting acts for the tour will be Mxmtoon, Dean Lewis and Almost Monday.
On April 1, 2024, AJR canceled the tour's first show due to the Norfolk Scope venue being too small to accommodate the show, announcing on April 11 that it was rescheduled to June 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.
Notes
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Spectrum Culture |    |
| AllMusic | |
| The Orcale | |
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." 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." 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."
Track listing
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 | |
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 (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA) | 2 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) | 41 |
| US Billboard 200 | 28 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) | 4 |
| US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) | 8 |
References
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