- Source: 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 as part of its deal with Mercury/Republic 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. 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. On January 23, 2024, a music video for "Touchy Feely Fool", the 2nd song on the album, was released.
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 Maybe Man Tour
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 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.
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.
As of August 2024, the tour has reportedly sold over 500,000 tickets.
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.
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.)
= Tour dates
== Set list
=USA Leg
“Maybe Man”
“Sober Up”
“Yes I’m A Mess”
“I Won’t / Birthday Party”
“The DJ Is Crying For Help”
“God Is Really Real”
“The Good Part”
“Bang!”
“Inertia”
“Touchy Feely Fool”
“Karma”
“Turning Out / Turning Out Pt. ii / Turning Out Pt. iii”
“World’s Smallest Violin”
“Steve’s Going To London”
“Burn The Whole House Down”
“How We Made / Way Less Sad”
“Don’t Throw Out My Legos”
“100 Bad Days”
Encore
Reception
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
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
Additional musicians
Charts
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Der bewegte Mann
- AJR
- My Chemical Romance
- Keanu Reeves
- Randall Park
- Marvel Cinematic Universe: Fase Satu
- JKT48
- Ryan Reynolds
- Rowan Atkinson
- Anne Tyler
- The Maybe Man
- Maybe Man
- Maybe
- AJR
- List of songs recorded by AJR
- Yes I'm a Mess
- Inertia (song)
- AJR discography
- The Dumb Song
- God Is Really Real
