The Maybe Man Explained

The Maybe Man
Type:studio
Artist:AJR
Cover:The Maybe Man Album Cover AJR.jpg
Alt: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.
Recorded:2022–2023
Genre:Pop
Length:44:12
Label:
Producer:Ryan Met
Prev Title:OK Orchestra
Prev Year:2021

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.[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. 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 Maybe Man Tour

Concert Tour Name:The Maybe Man Tour
Artist:AJR
Album:The Maybe Man
Border:yes
Location:United States
Start Date:April 3, 2024
End Date:August 20, 2024
Number Of Shows:51
Number Of Legs:2
This Tour:The Maybe Man Tour
Attendance:450,000+[17]
Last Tour:The OK Orchestra Tour

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 February 13, 2024, the band announced that the supporting acts for the tour will be Mxmtoon, Dean Lewis and Almost Monday.[22]

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.

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.)

Tour dates

The Maybe Man Tour dates
Date (2024)CityCountryVenueAttendanceRevenueOpening Act of performance
North America
April 2NorfolkUnited StatesNorfolk ScopeRescheduled
April 3PhiladelphiaWells Fargo CenterDean Lewis
April 4BostonTD Garden
April 6HartfordXL Center
April 7BaltimoreCFG Arena
April 9RaleighPNC Arena
April 10CharlotteSpectrum Center
April 12IndianapolisGainbridge Fieldhouse
April 13LouisvilleKFC Yum! Center
April 14Grand RapidsVan Andel Arena
April 16Des MoinesWells Fargo ArenaAndrew Hoyt
April 17Saint Paul, MinnesotaXcel Energy CenterDean Lewis
April 19Kansas CityT-Mobile Center
April 23BoiseExtraMile Arena
April 24PortlandModa Center
April 26SeattleClimate Pledge Arena
April 29San FranciscoChase Center
May 1San DiegoPechanga Arena
May 4Oklahoma CityPaycom Center
May 7AustinMoody Center
May 9TampaAmalie Arena
May 10OrlandoKia Center
May 12JacksonvilleVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
May 14HollywoodHard Rock Live
June 23NorfolkNorfolk ScopeAlmost Monday
June 25PittsburghPPG Paints Arenamxmtoon and Almost Monday
June 27ClevelandRocket Mortgage FieldHouse
June 28ColumbusNationwide Arena
June 29ChicagoAllstate Arena
June 30DetroitLittle Caesars Arena
July 3ChicagoAllstate Arena
July 4MilwaukeeAmerican Family Insurance Amphitheatermxmtoon and Carly Rae Jepsen
July 6St. LouisEnterprise Centermxmtoon and Almost Monday
July 9HoustonToyota CenterCancelled due to Hurricane Beryl[28]
July 10Fort WorthDickies Arenamxmtoon and Almost Monday
July 12PhoenixFootprint Center
July 14Los AngelesKia Forum
July 16Salt Lake CityDelta Center
July 17
July 18DenverBall Arena
July 20
July 21OmahaCHI Health Center Omaha
July 23CincinnatiHeritage Bank Center
July 25PhiladelphiaWells Fargo Center
July 26New York CityMadison Square Garden
July 27
July 30AtlantaState Farm Arena
July 31NashvilleBridgestone Arena
August 2WashingtonCapital One Arena
August 3BostonTD Garden
Asia
August 17[29] OsakaJapanOsaka Sonic StageNone
August 18[30] ChibaJapanTokyo Sonic Stage
August 20SeoulSouth KoreaJamsil Arena

Set list

USA Leg

  1. “Maybe Man”
  2. “Sober Up”
  3. “Yes I’m A Mess”
  4. “I Won’t / Birthday Party”
  5. “The DJ Is Crying For Help”
  6. “God Is Really Real”
  7. “The Good Part”
  8. “Bang!”
  9. “Inertia”
  10. “Touchy Feely Fool”
  11. “Karma”
  12. “Turning Out / Turning Out Pt. ii / Turning Out Pt. iii”
  13. “World’s Smallest Violin”
  14. “Steve’s Going To London”
  15. “Burn The Whole House Down”
  16. “How We Made / Way Less Sad”
  17. “Don’t Throw Out My Legos”
  18. “100 Bad Days”

Encore

Reception

Much like the band's previous albums, The Maybe Man was released to mixed reviews. Spectrum Cultures 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."[31]

Personnel

AJR

Technical

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[32] 2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coleman. Diana. AJR Return With "I Won't". Music Daily. August 19, 2022. September 12, 2023.
  2. Web site: ABC Audio. AJR confirms they're working on their fifth album. MOViN 92.5. en-US. October 19, 2022. October 30, 2023.
  3. Web site: Preethi . AJR Album Release Date, The Maybe Man Track List and More - News . September 5, 2023 . October 30, 2023 . Freshers Live . en.
  4. Web site: Ellwood-Hughes . Pip . November 22, 2022 . Listen: AJR release 'The DJ Is Crying For Help' . September 12, 2023 . Entertainment Focus . en-US.
  5. Web site: Vigil . Dom . AJR The Dumb Song . Prelude Press . en . April 21, 2023 . September 12, 2023.
  6. Web site: Kahler. Tanner. After Summerfest cancellations, AJR announces their father has died. WISN. July 3, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  7. Web site: Manoj. AJR's Father Passes Away, Leaving A Musical Legacy. Lee Daily. July 4, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  8. Web site: McEwen. Alex. Alternative band AJR release new song in tribute of their late dad Gary. Culturess. July 5, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  9. Web site: Elbl. Allison. Price. Alexa. Multi-Platinum Chart-Topping Band AJR Are Back With Anthemic New Single "Yes I'm A Mess" Out Now . Shore Fire Media. September 29, 2023. October 1, 2023.
  10. Web site: ABC Audio. AJR releases new song "Yes I'm a Mess" off upcoming ' The Maybe Man' album. 98KUPD. en-US. September 29, 2023. October 30, 2023.
  11. Web site: ABC Audio. AJR's Jack Met is an Elmo on the run in new video for "Yes I'm a Mess". 105.7 The Point. en. October 26, 2023. October 27, 2023.
  12. Web site: Maeoka. Toshio. AJR Releases New Album "The Maybe Man". pm studio. November 11, 2023. November 14, 2023.
  13. Web site: Elbl. Allison. Price. Alexa. Multi-Platinum Chart-Topping Band AJR Releases The Maybe Man. Shore Fire Media. en. November 10, 2023. November 12, 2023.
  14. Web site: Watch Latest English Official Music Video Song 'Maybe Man' Sung By AJR. The Times of India. November 14, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  15. Web site: ABC Audio. AJR premieres video for 'The Maybe Man' track "Inertia". 105.7 The Point. November 29, 2023. December 3, 2023.
  16. Web site: Shore Fire Media. Multi-Platinum chart-topping band AJR debuts 'Touchy Feely Fool' music video. Shore Fire Media. January 23, 2024. May 3, 2024.
  17. Web site: 2024-10-01 . AJR announces concert live stream: Where to watch and how much it will cost . 2024-10-01 . Culturess . en-US.
  18. Web site: Benedetto. Matt. AJR bringing "The Maybe Man" tour to Pennsylvania. ABC27. en-US. November 9, 2023. November 9, 2023.
  19. Web site: Iuzzolino. Nicole. AJR tour 2024: How to get tickets to 'The Maybe Man Tour'. NJ.com. en. November 25, 2023. April 16, 2024.
  20. Web site: Spirito. Taylor. AJR returning to Pittsburgh on 'The Maybe Man Tour' next year. WPXI. en. November 9, 2023. November 9, 2023.
  21. Web site: AJRBrothers . 2023-11-14 . AJR (@AJRBrothers) . 2024-04-18 . X/Twitter.
  22. C3TDTBRpQQY . ajrtour . Introducing... the openers for The Maybe Man Arena Tour! Welcome @deanlewis @mxmtoon @almostmonday to the AJR family. . AJR . February 13, 2024 . March 19, 2024.
  23. Web site: Lundy. Kathleen. Hood. Miles. AJR cancels tour kickoff in Norfolk on day of concert, says Scope Arena too small. WVEC. en. April 2, 2024. April 16, 2024.
  24. Web site: Noe. Eliza. AJR announces new Norfolk Scope date after last-minute cancellation. The Virginian Pilot. en. April 11, 2024. April 16, 2024.
  25. Web site: Instagram . 2024-04-11 . www.instagram.com.
  26. AJR. AJRBrothers. 1810493171803328972. Unfortunately, due to the impacts of Hurricane Beryl, we have to cancel our show tomorrow (July 9) in Houston at Toyota Center. en. https://x.com/AJRBrothers/status/1810493171803328972. July 8, 2024. July 8, 2024.
  27. Web site: Announcement regarding the members of the AJR. Summer Sonic Festival. en. August 8, 2024. August 9, 2024.
  28. Web site: x.com . 2024-06-12 . X (formerly Twitter).
  29. AJR "World's Smallest Violin" at SUMMER SONIC 2024 OSAKA (2024.08.17) . 2024-08-19 . religionmk . 2024-09-07 . YouTube.
  30. Opening ～ Maybe Man ～ Sober Up / AJR at Summer Sonic 2024 Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, 2024-08-18 . 2024-08-18 . ねたやまだちゃんねる . 2024-09-07 . YouTube.
  31. Web site: Hudson . Alex . Bell . Kaelen . LaPierre . Megan . Exclaim!'s 25 Worst Album Covers of 2023 . . 2024-04-03 . en . 2023-12-14.
  32. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 20 November 2023. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1759. 25. November 20, 2023.

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