Growing pains are inevitable, and it’s about time we embrace them.
Through past albums such as OK ORCHESTRA, Neotheater, The Click, and Living Room, indie-pop band AJR tries to cling to their childhoods. Now the Met brothers — born Metzger — Adam (lead bassist), Jack (vocals), and Ryan (producer), are trying to untangle the complicated transition of childhood to adulthood with The Maybe Man, their fifth studio album released on Nov. 10, 2023.
Accompanied by electronic samples and philharmonic orchestras, The Maybe Man showcases the brothers trying to discover their identities while having no idea how to do so.
In their opening title track, “Maybe Man,” Jack announces the complexity and confusion he is dealing with. Partnered by a heartfelt orchestra and Jack’s raw voice, the theme of self-identity is obvious when he sings, “I wish I was me, whoever that is” and “I don’t know who the hell I am.”
What is particularly interesting about this song is that the brothers confirmed that this song is essentially a table of contents — each verse relates to an individual song on the album and does not state which verse relates to what song. This is a fun scavenger hunt for fans and a creative way to create an unofficial overture for the album.
From there, every track deals with the transition from childhood to adulthood while dealing with all the insecurities and uncertainties young adults face. The Maybe Man is a relatable listen for university students, showcasing how the novelties of becoming an adult can wear off over time.
The second track, “Touchy Feely Fool,” is a personal favourite of mine, not only because I enjoy its musical composition but also because of its relatable lyrics. The song is about letting go of a person or a situation constantly in their minds and how too much of their thoughts and feelings can be preoccupied because of this.
The band also details partying, drinking, and doing drugs to distract themselves from the confusion they feel. An example is the eighth track, “The DJ Is Crying For Help,” which is about leaving party life behind. The chorus, “I’m all 17 at 35, now I don’t know if there’s anything else, the DJ is crying for help,” perfectly captures this message. At some point, everyone has to move on and find their purpose in life.
“Inertia,” the fifth track on the album, stands out for this particular reason. The song spotlights the feeling of being stuck where you are in life.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines inertia as a “lack of energy; lack of desire or ability to move or change.” AJR perfectly describes this word in the song’s loud, booming chorus: “Where I am going is right where I am.”
Fans will also notice that every song on the album is labelled explicit, except for the seventh track, “Hole in the Bottom of My Brain.” This song directly opposes “Inertia,” as Jack sings that partying, love, money, and fame fill the hole at the bottom of his brain. In reality, he is looking for a temporary resolution.
By the last song on the album, titled “2085,” the band makes it clear that they are still a work in progress by repeating at the end of the song, “I wish I was me, whoever that is.”
Jack also sings, “You can be you, and I’ll be the rest / Maybe that’s who the hell I am.” This shows that while they are not finished growing as individuals, they are slowly starting to realize who they really are.
The Maybe Man is the ultimate anthem for young adults unsure about who they are and their futures. While it’s not an album filled with necessarily happy or positive songs, it truly captures the human emotions that the brothers were feeling. They do not hide from their emotions and stick to their trademark sounds, which not many artists can balance.