I listened to the new AJR album

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The Maybe Man has many of the same issues as every single other AJR release, but with an overall less melodramatic feel. However AJR seems to only know how to deal with melodrama and not real life drama. It makes this album extremely hard to stomach
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Intro 0:00
1. Maybe Man 6:04
2. Touchy Feely Fool 13:07
3. Yes I'm A Mess 18:46
4. The Dumb Song 21:25
5. Inertia 24:31
6. Turning Out Pt. iii 29:19
7. Hole in the Bottom of My Brain 38:36
8. The DJ is Crying for Help 43:07
9. I Won't 44:59
10. Steve’s Going to London 48:12
11. God is Really Real 54:37
12. 2085 58:52
SPOILERS
Favorite Songs: The Dumb Song
Least Favorite Song: 2085
2/10

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Brad is absolutely high. This album is pure beauty. Which I've come to expect from AJR. Still love ya though, Brad! 😊

[@leonsalgeuro]

Another Jeremy W

[@Winter_Broke_The_Code]

Average Jeremy W

[@spaghetti_noodle2454]

Jeremy is the light that contests brads darkness

[@HaileysCometYT]

common Jeremy W

[@kravmaga4093]

He got pinned lol

[@AProbablyPostman]

Every AJR song sounds like it's supposed to end with fireworks

[@obsidiancrow450]

i dont think a band has ever more embodied the quote "please clap"

[@MicahRibbentrop]

It's like hiring a clown to perform at your grandma's funeral to cheer everyone up

[@mattgroening8872]

And the nice guy finally kissing Stacy!

[@anorak4557]

i would like to personally thank AJR for the conception of the mr krabs soundbyte

[@thebugbouncer]

For recording sounds from SpongeBob? 😂 Wow incredible. Ingenious.

[@choreograft]

the one that goes AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@thebidding.870]

ahhhhhhhhAHHHHHAAAAAahhhh

[@sHinobu2969]

I just wish that part of the song was the bridge instead of the chorus. The actual song of "the good part" was kind of disappointing

[@hunter4034]

Once again let's be honest, we all knew Brad was going to hate this album.

[@hootowlme]

We also all knew it was gonna be a bad album

[@hunter4034]

@@hootowlme Not true (just my opinion it’s fine, not like it)

[@tylerhackner9731]

True

[@hunter4034]

@@Kobai36 dude I’m not trying to attack anyone I’m just expressing my opinion and I’m not trying to say that anyone’s opinion is wrong. Sorry if I came off as insulting.

[@Pawlsar]

I had hopes, people who critique AJR say it's amazing

[@talynhastime9343]

AJR’s sound feels like a time capsule of that 2010-2012 era where Millennial quirky indie folk and alt rock was really big. I’m not saying I hate it, but that’s what the sound and vocals remind me of. It’s very much reminiscent of a particular era in the same way that grunge or hair metal evokes a certain period of time. AJR’s music is to my brain what fat free popcorn is to my stomach. Light, dissolvable, not quite filling.

[@pollengoth]

AJR sounds like the most facebook, homegoods, kroger commerical ass music. Every song sounds like leftovers from a watered down owl city, mgmt, 21 pilots and had the oh so quirky writing style of hobo Johnson but somehow manages to be extremely inoffensive despite throwing out cuss words like a 15 year old theater kid who wants to make the musical have more "edge"

[@whoandgo]

Precisely

[@WiloPolis03]

That last analogy is so damn accurate

[@OrgaNik_Music]

It would be a lot more tolerable if there were only a couple of songs in this style per album, but this faux-deep fake emotion gets really tiresome when every single song is recycling the exact same gimmicks.

[@ComedyVault101]

Every AJR song sounds like they tried to imitate Vessel but failed miserably. As a Twenty One Pilots fan, Vessel is sickly sweet and quite cringey, but you can't deny there are lyrical and musical gems on there, and there is real talent behind it. AJR just feels like they copied all the bad and none of the good

[@TophatOfficialMusicYT.]

Brad just cause ajr hate themseleves now doesnt mean you can hate ajr 😔

[@mrscardycreeper8972]

Underrated comment lol

[@helpui]

as an ajr fan, this comment is actually funny

[@Patisaloser]

@@helpui you don't exist

[@SuperHeroLogan6]

@@Patisaloser Jesus christ let him have an opinion

[@AldensAJRNews]

@@helpui Same man

[@marteerens]

Boogie2988's self-loathing put to Imagine Dragons

[@wadejg_blaze0n213]

if wings of redemption had hobo Johnson lyricism with jon bellion production

[@lipartist]

Disrespectful to Jon bellions production honestly ​@@wadejg_blaze0n213

[@WhatTheForge]

Thank you so much for the disclaimer at the beginning of the video brad. I genuinely don't understand how someone can review something in good conscious without listening to it.

[@thefrichstanator]

Facts. Reviewing or making a judgment on an album you didn’t personally listen to has “I saw it on TikTok/read it on Facebook so it must be true” energy. Obviously no one is saying you can’t agree with Brad, but be sure you agree because you came to that conclusion by yourself after doing some research and not because you base your opinions on what internet people say.

[@someone7554]

For all the talk about people supposedly review bombing things their favorite content creator doesn’t like, I’ve never actually seen it happen

[@Remedy462]

Easy, don't have a conscious! 😜

[@smidlem1117]

it would be especially awkward if Brad regularly did that himself with an audience of thousands who have been primed to be primarily negative verging into toxicity... can't imagine that....

[@someone7554]

@@smidlem1117 You’re right I literally have never seen that happen

[@MisterMosfet]

Apparently Brads fanbase constitutes the whole AJR fanbase too

[@j-mc2144]

I actually actively watch Brad on albums I know I'll disagree on so I can practice having my own opinion despite reviews and critics.

[@Glowing_Iris]

I'm working on that too

[@superpsychic]

this is usually me too but unfortunately he may be right with this one

[@Glowing_Iris]

@@superpsychic To an extent yea. Some songs I'll admit are a bit repetitive, but it depends on the reason you listen to AJR. I listen to them for the instrumental and to laugh and relate to the lyrics. I'd rather listen to something that will make be laugh about my sadness, than something that will make me sulk in it.

[@eVCANN]

It’s not that hard, just listen to a song, if you like what it sounds like then listen to it more

[@snkelol]

that's a great mindset that a LOT of people could adapt too.

[@NaikoArt]

brads channel is amazing, you have fans and haters of AJR coexisting and peacefully discussing it 😂

[@xGRF1]

If this album was called “The man who may Be a Butterfly” it would be a 10

[@aCookedFella]

Perish monster! Go back to fantano's comment section!

[@giulianogisotti4107]

It's never been funny. Trying it here doesn't make it funnier.

[@leonardocarvalho7306]

It's kinda like transforming "middle class sheltered kid"-branded social anxiety into superficial pop songs. It's comforting in a sense because of how easily you can relate and their sound is easy to listen to. The subjects they tackle are somewhat interesting but they do it in a way that just comes off as annoying/insincere, yet at the same time you can't help but feel like they're trying. Anyways I can understand why people would enjoy them, idk if it's necessarily an age bracket kind of thing even though it does sound like something a teenager would eventually grow out of (no shade though).

[@cosmo7437]

this was my exact thought; i could have seen myself absolutely liking this when i was like 12 or 13. the sound is super generic early 2010 indie sound which is kind of overdone. like i don’t viscerally hate it nor think it’s offensive but it’s also just so bland considering the taste that i have now compared to when i was maybe younger. definitely get the appeal even if it sparks absolutely nothing for me.

[@riley2243]

@@cosmo7437wait you got it. the one ajr fan i know is EXACTLY what you described - middle class, sheltered from music and entertainment until a few years ago, and has clung to ajr as one of his all time favorite bands. i think it also helps bc they take a ton of inspiration from music from 10-12 years ago and if you were really sheltered at that time then that’s either all you could listen to or what you couldn’t. they fill that hole (in the bottom of his brain) from that sheltering

[@dade1603]

Some of it feels very Passion pit and I can't hate it, but yeah insincere is the word I would use for sure

[@lucyw4195]

Yeah, if I was in middle school I would probably like this. I think another key to AJR's fanbase is that they haven't heard any other music in this genre. As an adult, I can identify the obvious influences -- most of these songs sound like worse versions of Vampire Weekend, Tally Hall, Twenty One Pilots, or Bright Eyes tracks -- but young people won't have that context. imo most of the good things about this album are just things I like about the genre, and aren't unique to AJR at all.

[@haxrex8]

We wish everyone who hated the group would be that civil about how they go about it.

[@sup3riorsausage174]

You’re laughing, he couldn’t work the microwave and you’re laughing

[@BigSleepy985]

My biggest gripe with AJR is how they wear all their trauma, grief, pain and sadness like it’s an article of clothing.

[@derekblan6426]

But didn't you hear? Trauma shorts and Depression Shoes are all the rage now!

[@BigSleepy985]

@@derekblan6426and an anxiety necklace, because it suffocates and chokes you

[@outdatedmeme4963]

​@@BigSleepy985 so cocquette 😍😍

[@AudreyLunaGarner]

Isn’t that kinda the point of music? Like a way to express yourself? I doubt they just walk around in public and scream this stuff out

[@camzilla_does_music834]

​@@AudreyLunaGarner it's like using it as means to be different, like when you're in primary school and you want attention

[@matheusc.7614]

the constant random swearing on a lot of the songs is also such a mood killer lol

[@gaminggod1495]

Yeah, as an AJR fan the swearing at random times really throws off the smoothness of the song. Kind of like jumps out

[@novamythic_8]

Im an AJR fan but its really off putting when songs like Yes I’m A Mess just drop two curse words at once and then never went back too it. I don’t mind it if it’s consistent like in I Won’t but when it’s just like a singular curse word like in Inertia (which is a song I like a lot) it throws me off. I know nothing about music but idk it’s odd.

[@haliee]

that's the problem i have with ajr! it's the jon bellion all time low effect. i'll be vibing to one of their songs then there's a line or random swear words that awkwardly stands out

[@NahImGoodChief]

@SpaceisLifeYT its a vibe thing, they play up the theater and metaphors then randomly shove in a curse word, which literally have meaning, its not a softy thing its a vibe thing and cursing isnt bad they should be used in the right context

[@alexnauru7692]

Honestly the swearing doesn’t bother me at. There just words to me. They emphasize certain things and that’s about it.

[@judesijuju4570]

AJR is the musician equivalent of Disney adults

[@ikebroflovskiunofficial]

"but this don't feel like disney"

[@valoregal]

it's literally music made by and for disney adults

[@krinkles147]

im about to go darth, about to go disney

[@CubedWatermelon-uy6ok]

This makes me mad

[@calebthegoat2561]

No

[@lizardhats8637]

the reason the dumb song is listenable is because it's a Suddenly Ska moment. nothing is better than a Suddenly Ska moment

[@lesclaypoolonbass9431]

Why do the best headphones have to look so dorky

[@varunnarain50]

That’s mostly because aesthetics are secondary to the function of the headphones. Aesthetically pleasing headphones sound like dogshit usually. While the Meze Empyrean aren’t my headphones of choice, they still heavily outperform 99% of the consumer grade garbage on the market.

[@tenworms]

AJR is in that special class of music where I literally cannot access the frame of mind necessary to enjoy them. I am completely incapable of understanding the appeal at all, they just present ideas musically and lyrically that make me feel so embarrassed when I hear them, I wish I could be more measured and give them whatever credit they might be due, but they seem to appeal specifically to emotions that I have literally never experienced.

[@kattyberg246]

Same. It’s all so pathetically shallow

[@jeremyusreevu237]

I'm pretty much the opposite. I'm literally in the exact frame of mind necessary to enjoy AJR, to the point where I genuinely can't understand how someone could hate them.

[@ackee39]

yeah i agree, but tbh ajr fans all seem like such nice people, i feel bad for not liking it.

[@SaVanityVan]

I think it takes a very particular kind of sheltered person to be a fan of this music. I also get the impression most of their fans are kids who are sad despite never having had any actual problems.

[@W4TSKY]

@@jeremyusreevu237 They seem like nice people, like I genuinely don’t think anyone could hate them if they got to know them AS PEOPLE, but their music genuinely baffles me in it’s appeal and popularity. I’m not even a Billie Eilish fan but she is able to convey the same emotions AJR desperately tries to in a much more mature, focused and far less cringe inducing way than these guys and she’s like 10 years younger than them…

[@someone7554]

watched this high and got scared at 22:47 felt like he was speaking directly to me

[@maddyscarcity]

brad got them “we are now in cruising altitude” headphones

[@cdvideodump]

15:08 Proof that AJR can write The Sound of Silence but Simon & Garfunkel couldn't write Touchy Feely Fool to save their life

[@HaileysCometYT]

I loved this album sm and I’m an AJR fan, I also love Brad. I respect your opinions on this album even if I don’t agree with them. Defintely their best album yet and defintely my favorite album of the year.

[@pizzacrescent1080]

I’m just glad the fans and haters can coexist and disagree peacefully in this community. Seeing the stream made me anxious of what would happen in this comment section.

[@oscar278]

What’s your top five for the year?

[@broadwaydummy15]

​@@pizzacrescent1080also as an AJR fan; exactly! It seems like people love to go for each other's throats in these comments... but it's not that deep?? If you enjoy it, cool. If you don't, cool. It's not that complicated... Lol

[@KAGEYDAWSON]

@@pizzacrescent1080 respect 👍

[@iyoiyo270]

​@@DaFuqTrashnah

[@Koogai]

AJR is like if Pixar and Tally Hall had a child but they drank and did drugs the whole 9 months of pregnancy

[@moratolca]

that's the most precise description I've seen yet, congratulations

[@nomihabo9752]

I love that you worded this like they both got pregnant

[@dragonlord595]

Only weed and downers though nothing too hard

[@areminfoxxtrot1064]

"I wish I was gay" 😂

[@iusedtomakefandubswheniwas3052]

Joking aside, I genuinely don't understand why AJR is so successful, I don't know if his fans live in a completely different context than mine or there is something I'm missing. I guess this touches the hearts of some select group idk

[@wadejg_blaze0n213]

you’d be surprised at the number of sheltered children in the world

[@Snocone333]

quite a few of these bands feel that way, but hey cant account for taste. A lot of what came to replace the 00s on alternative radio is like this. Imagine dragons, Fun., 21 Pilots so on so forth. Like how do any of them make sense post 2016 especially

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Because their music is incredibly beautiful and relatable.

[@guccimaneshakingassintheclub]

@@jeremyusreevu237 have you listened to d’angelo? Pink Floyd? Radiohead? Ajr isn’t beautiful music it’s for people who have only heard and never actually listened to music

[@dotdankory]

@@guccimaneshakingassintheclub Music is a very broad term, gatekeeping 'Real music' to select bands is not a good idea if you want to be open to new opinions and ideas Imagine explaining what pink floyd is to some folk singer in rural Asia

[@mortalandfragile]

First time ever hearing AJR. It really just sounds like Fun. at home

[@Snocone333]

if someone told me that at least 10 years later someone would still be making a knockoff of Fun. i would be shocked and not believe it

[@sambackward12]

Ready, Aim, Ignite made by AI

[@key7864]

Brad turns on chat and the first thing I see is “worse than 9/11” 💀

[@Lusc1nt]

Chat dropping mad bars

[@cito7288]

56:42 there I am Gary, there I am! But to reiterate and expand on what I was trying to say before, I think God is Really Real is one of the few tracks where AJR's lyrical bluntness actually works more in favor of the song rather than against it (though the social commentary lines suck hard). The cursing to me actually delivers some impact here compared to when it's used in other AJR songs, as losing loved ones often comes with an inability to properly articulate emotions. Adding in unnecessary "fucks" into the song feels like they're mad, but don't know how or where to direct their anger. But I do agree that AJR trying to fit such a personal and emotionally driven event into a pretty generic sad song lessens the impact of it a lot.

[@pizzacrescent1080]

In defense of the social commentary, I think it’s to show that they don’t really care about all that when their dad is dead. Another comment also pointed this out, which is basically “How would they navigate the world without the person they loved most?”

[@gregvs.theworld451]

I think the in track voice cracks unironically help too. You can tell it's a tough song for the singer to perform, which makes you feel the emotional state and get the sympathy from the song. I think there's something to be said there about how much emotion we as audiences ask singers to give to us in the name of their art, but on the other hand I don't think the voice quivers were an intentional choice. Ultimately AJR did choose to release the track, but it does make me wonder whether it's something we should be listening to, y'know? Like whether it's right to find entertainment in the in progress trauma of a perfect stranger. Interesting idea to ponder.

[@pizzacrescent1080]

@@FrrStinky No I was referring to OP, they said the social commentary sucks

[@gyro999]

@@FrrStinky you just repeated the original comments whole point

[@ShenDoodles]

Tally Hall and AJR have the opposite issues (I don’t consider TH’s as an issue, but yeah) where Tally Hall like their cryptic lyrics with deep meanings. I bring them up since they’re Brad’s other indie punching bags.

[@rrrednaxelaaa]

This album is very AJR core

[@RecRoomPlays]

you're one of a kind, brad, we can find nobody else like you, yeah EDIT: also, "the shape of punk to come" is an absolute masterpiece

[@oodlezofnoodlez5940]

Is the hole in the bottom of my brain supposed to be... a hole in the bottom of the sea reference...? The veggie tales song?? It has such a similar melody and the way he just keeps adding more stuff to the chorus each time he sings it feels like too much of a coincidence to me

[@samtinkle9076]

It seriously feels like that's the conceit of the song. They seriously said "let's dress this nursery rhyme up and see how many people notice/care"

[@mrscardycreeper8972]

I've been an AJR fan for quite some time, and honestly understand the hate they've recieved due to their simplistic, sometimes so inoffensive it FEELS offensive-type lyrics and of course their wobly, eccentric musical input. However, I like those things about them, and kinda expected people like Brad to hate these aspects (and ofc the new album). But just cuz others hate it DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD BECAUSE OF THEIR OPINIONS. I may find your takes annoying Brad, but your content continues to amuse me. Love ya! Edit: I'm very disappointed in my fandom for throwing blame at Brad for people disliking AJR albums on a stupid website. Even I can admit AJR isn't growing all that much and people need to stop saying things like "Bro really gave a bad rating on AJR's dad's death." People like this are ticking me off, especially on AOTY. Brad has been steering his community away from irrationally hating AJR and their fans, the least we can do is respect his opinions and LEAVE. HIM. ALONE. He's just a guy giving his two cents on an album you either like or don't like. Grow up.

[@aaronyoung1559]

im in the same situation as you. AJR in my opinion is so genuine and actually care and yes, simplistic lyrics but man i grew up with so many of there songs being so relatable that i appreciated them. Ill love them no matter what anyone says, but Brad is pretty amusing lol

[@Remedy462]

Ass Juice Rejects.

[@jenconvertibles]

im glad you can enjoy their music. i think for lots of people (including me) its not really the lyrics that are the main turnoff for AJR's music, its that i hate how it sounds. but thats music being subjective i guess

[@Remedy462]

@@jenconvertibles Especially when they go, "AAAAAAHHHH," with an auto tune monkey's voice.

[@mrscardycreeper8972]

​@jenconvertibles I get that. Everyone's tastes are different. Like when Brad was annoyed by the clapping from Touchy Feely Fool (I guess the beat is some sort of musical stereotype) it reminded me of how I used to hate a majority of hip hop due to similar trap beats used in must rap songs. I've since changed my opinion and enjoy a lot of hip hop music, my point is that (like a LOT of people in these comment sections are saying) music is indeed subjective, and dissing others for their takes is very disrespectful I'd say. I rather enjoy discussing our differences and how interesting they make us than hate on one another for not liking a song someone else likes.

[@dr.cornwater2886]

As a complete outsider to AJR, their music sounds like it's for children or people with extreme arrested development. They take anything they want to say and boil it down to the understanding of a 15 year old theater kid. It's the music made by and for people who've never actually experienced any real aspects of life so they have to frame "The Real World" like they do in children's movies or shows for anything to make sense. Even while expressing deep grief about the potential loss of their father gets put through a perspective that reminds me of a kid in a Disney movie. The emotions that people say are here are the empty hollow versions of them that these adults who've never had to worry about anything in their lives can gather via the children's media they consumed as kids. This might sound really mean, but this is what honest criticism is. Asking someone who takes music seriously to turn their brain off or to not think too deep about it don't even know what the definition of "criticism" is. It's incredibly frustrating to see people giving you a hard time about not liking this bc you use your brain.

[@CerebralChaos]

Eh. I wouldn't call myself an AJR fan, but I think it's weird to unironically criticize people for liking a certain type of music and associating a certain type of music with broader personality characteristics. It's really not much different from claiming that people who like food that you'd consider bland are just shallow people. I'm not saying there's not any correlation or that there aren't people who like AJR who are very shallow and sheltered (I'm sure many of them exist), but I'm sure there are also plenty of people who listen to and like AJR but also have had deep life experiences and emotions. Personally, I think it makes more sense to stick to criticism of the music but also to recognize that music taste is completely subjective and that liking or not liking certain music shouldn't be viewed as a proxy for who someone is.

[@jonathannoble7845]

@@henryharden “If I was cocaine or a bottle of jack” is absolutely a 15 year old theater kid thing. It’s gesturing towards something adult but it’s a clumsy metaphor that doesn’t really say anything very clearly.

[@verraque]

@@henryharden “your opinion is objectively wrong” great analysis there, dingo

[@purple1441]

@@henryharden Your final sentence is very immature.

[@derekblan6426]

@@jonathannoble7845 What makes it a clumsy metaphor? i thought it did fine as a metaphor

[@nacremeadow]

the thing about ajr's lyricism is that they will use a literary device (e.g. a metaphor) and then proceed to explain the metaphor in detail to you in the following lyrics. it's very infantilizing, and rips away any of the possible subtext their songs could have.

[@charlesnathansmith]

It's like when pet dogs who have wanted for nothing their entire lives sit in the floor repeatedly sighing

[@snoww9807]

Damn those headphones are intricate. Looks like you have a saw trap on your head

[@sHinobu2969]

I hadn't heard of AJR until I saw Brad's reviews of them , thought 'ehhh Brad clearly doesn't like it but that's not too bad actually' and really ended up enjoying listening to this album by myself

[@Amber-py5ts]

honestly same. I really liked intertia!

[@sHinobu2969]

@Amber-py5ts "God is really real" made me cry the first time I heard it. I also really like "Inertia" and "Steve's going to london"

[@riley2243]

that’s the importance of listening to these albums on your own, i suppose. i’m more neutral on this one than anything but it is great when you find things you enjoy in an album after listening by yourself.

[@Joem2648]

to be fair i think brad has a bias against ajr for whatever reason seperate from the songs, He was dogging on how cringy the lyrics are and then during the 2085 part a song he said "he was a big fan of" was a lady singing about how "it feels good when hes inside" ??????

[@SomeCuteCat]

Why all their album covers look like the ai Disney posters?

[@austinperezgk1]

😂😂😂

[@chutesladders]

While AJR may be improving in sound and quality, I highly doubt that I'll ever live to see the day that they'll write actual good lyrics

[@TBW4412]

Lyrics are talking about things that people actually feel in real life like it’s real and relatable

[@oper10]

I don’t think they care to tbh. From what I’ve seen of their teasers leading up to album release, they start with the instrumental (whatever they think sounds interesting) then slap some lyrics on top to call it a song. Some are into it, some aren’t.

[@SaVanityVan]

oh honey@@TBW4412

[@TBW4412]

@notyourdayes it is bro. They care about making songs their fans relate to

[@ClownGutzz]

They write about their life, so if you don’t like it, you’ve just lived a very different life I guess

[@pk251]

wow his criticism on those last two tracks was spot on and perfectly described the band’s main issue

[@xenarthhh]

after i heard the first minute of the album i was like "yeah, brad's gonna hate this"

[@NotlM]

The AJR experience: "Alright, this song already sounds like ass. Actually, you know what? Maybe I judged it too early-HUDNFINFVOMFVFDM WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? EWWWWWW!"

[@gracelinhthuy]

41:32 the thneedville comparison was wildddd

[@gregvs.theworld451]

MAn, when Brad was talking about the first AJR album, born and bred, I thought he was saying "born inbred".

[@slightlyaboveaveragebutaverage]

Mom doesn't let me stay out past 6pm type music

[@hawtdawg877]

10:06 Bro I thought he said "gay" too and I laughed so hard Both words work either way, which makes even funnier

[@hawtdawg877]

Also I laughed even harder when that goofy drop came in at 10:49. ONE! TWO! PANDEMONIUM!!!

[@mr.mistersquidspongesquare9652]

i like usage of weird sounds in songs. some of my favorite songs are experimental and may sound annoying to others to a degree. but something about the way AJR does it feels generic at the same time. every song has the same vibe and it doesn't use its weirdness properly. its out of place and feels disingenuous. im sure there is emotion behind their songs, i just dont feel it.

[@megarat1777]

frrrrrrrrr

[@rxmz2386]

try nct specifically nct 127 hehe

[@crustychickenfinger85]

@SpaceisLifeYT jack stauber is everything ajr wishes it could be

[@mattgroening8872]

All these songs sound like four middle schoolers trying to recreate ghost town by Kanye

[@DJKhaled1]

DJ KHALED

[@imsoggybread5689]

I woke the wife up with this thing earlier today and now my penance is listening to Javelin 3 times.

[@wadejg_blaze0n213]

after my wife listened to this, I’ve begun to relate to a crow looked at me even more!

[@brand-o-n2878]

I just wanna make one comment on God is really real. I think it's the only time social commentary might work on this album. Tbh I didn't get it until life struck but I think the point they're trying to make is "Oh look the world keeps on turning, things keep on moving...but my dad just died" I think they're trying to pose the question "how the heck do I keep up with the world when the person I love most isn't around anymore?"

[@ChickenPvps]

i think this is the most accurate review of god is really real.

[@studentlogan]

ajr is the "clapping when the plane lands" of music

[@dsnever3041]

The doomer era of ajr is somehow even worse than any other era

[@Remedy462]

Yeah, people that make bad music still make bad music! You think they would've had someone to listen and say, "Hey, this sounds annoying or dumb or misdirected."

[@Veteran622]

I'm a huge AJR fan, and I absolutely love this album. But I respect and understand that you personally don't. I'm just glad you gave them a fair shot and weren't so horribly cruel to them and the album, and encouraged your fans to listen to it themselves and not review bomb it because of your opinion. Even though people probably still will (and have, I think), it's at least good to know you don't condone any of that. And while I obviously don't agree with your points, I do understand them and can see where you come from. Was a fun review, and I got to be there live partially, lol

[@box0choco593]

That's fair. I personally have a pretty neutral view on this album and ajr in general. But for some reason it's cathartic to hear someone dunk on something. Even if it's something I enjoy, if a person is entertaining personality wise, I don't care how much they tear it apart.

[@shio5848]

Honestly, it's albums like this that people use as benchmarks in musical history, and it just happens to be fantastically enjoyable as well. 4/10

[@brianalvarez6977]

😂😂

[@cito7288]

Unsure whether you’re being serious, but how would this be considered a benchmark in musical history? Benchmark albums are ones that receive almost unanimous praise and/or cause cultural shifts, which, even if you love AJR, you have to admit that neither of those criteria are going to apply here.

[@escapefr0mslender]

@@cito7288Its sarcasm the low rating shows us that

[@ekibrekelmans5447]

@@cito7288 it's what Fantano said at the end of his TPAB review

[@Biggergamba]

I personally thought this was their best album yet, despite it not being too different from OK Orchestra and honestly most of their previous works. But idk, their sound is addictive and catchy and it’s some of my last remaining guilty pleasure pop reminiscent of the later 2010s. I don’t expect Brad to ever like their work but I kinda got burned out of being affected by it after the Neotheater review. Their sound is strangely as niche as it is accessible and idk I find it kinda neat. Personally rate the album a 7/10, def worth at least one listen.

[@acidicdiamond]

“1, 2, PANDEMONIUM!!” 🤓🤓

[@mattgroening8872]

“Oh my gawd…jack play that back” 🤓🤓

[@lucymorrison]

We getting out of the pandemonium with this one

[@W4TSKY]

AJR seem like nice people, like I genuinely don’t think anyone could hate them if they got to know them AS PEOPLE, but their music genuinely baffles me in its appeal and popularity. I’m not even a Billie Eilish fan but she is able to convey the same emotions AJR desperately tries to in a much more mature, focused and far less cringe inducing way than these guys and she’s like 10 years younger than them…

[@bigbrothertw]

its the same with imagine dragons, they seem like nice enough guys but their music fucking stinks

[@mensatico]

The most famous clip of these guys is a fan bringing a sign to their show that says "You're not Tyler Joseph lol", and the singer throws a three minute tantrum. So I'm not sure they are nice people, they seem very immature and my opinion is that their songs display that immaturity for their feelings

[@helpui]

so you're saying is one time they got mad, and just from that you're saying that they are completely unfriendly people?

[@bigbrothertw]

thats a pretty fair thing to be annoyed by@@mensatico

[@nida4602]

@@mensatico No horse in this race since I'm neutral on AJR, but I think that's a weird metric to judge them on. For example, Radiohead had a clip that went semi-viral in which Thom has a temper tantrum due to Jonny not being able to play Idioteque correctly live on stage, but Thom's not really considered by many as a drama queen or immature.

[@blinkx1070]

I have to imaging AJR's target audience are considered the "edgy" teens at Sunday school and has Live, Laugh, Love decor

[@gokuharagonta]

honestly even though I don’t like their music at all AJR fans have proven to be consistently the most polite people in your comment sections, i feel bad trashing too hard on the music because their fans are genuinely such nice people it kinda baffles me

[@NightlyCrane637]

Thanks

[@WuttaBeast]

It's because they are closet living losers, when they're insulted it just turns them on because it reminds them of their mother's treatment towards them lmao

[@maxwellpaynewell5305]

The Dumb Song is like if AJR went ska, which would probably make for a way better album of stuff like that

[@TwigCity]

Gotta love how the first song is literally ABCDEFU chords and melody

[@ChickenPvps]

although they are very similar, they aren't the exact same. edit: last chord is not the same

[@imanowlexterminator]

AJR sounds like they still have the emotional and mental maturity of 18 year olds

[@mrscardycreeper8972]

As a 19 year old fan who found this album to be decent, I see this as an absolute win.

[@rachelr8067]

Tbh 18 year olds can do much better than this

[@pap_pap]

thats giving it a bit too much credit

[@SweetTooth1102]

"I'm all 17 at 35"

[@joshuawarrington9417]

I'm 18 and i liked the album so ig it's perfect for me lol

[@NateIsLame]

I can’t believe this is the band people throw themselves at to defend??? Like??? Are we hearing the same music???

[@oisindyer-causton5621]

Brad using 3k dollar headphones on Spotify is like using a hydrogen bomb on a coughing baby, please for the love of god at least get Tidal, you will get so much more out of your headphones

[@smidlem1117]

literally!!!! man doesn't understand that compensatory gear won't fix 320kbps mp3 files lmaoooooooooooooo

[@oisindyer-causton5621]

@@smidlem1117 not even 320kbps, iirc spotify compresses their stuff to 96kbps due to the sheer amount of content they have

[@varunnarain50]

While I agree, Spotify premium isn’t outright terrible. But yeah, lossless music played back bit perfect is the ideal way to go about it.

[@mensatico]

Brad spoke PERFECTLY what I also feel with projects like this: if I have to turn off my brain to enjoy a song, that's a clear sign that something is wrong. If you can enjoy songs by amplifying your existence in that moment and receiving all that's there, why would you settle for songs that you have to turn off?

[@MooseMedley]

Hey uhhhh I totally agree but uhhhh what is that pfp man??? Could be taken very very wrong………..

[@DoomHydra]

Yea bro tf is that pfp

[@Fireroderickcummings]

I’m autistic so my brain is always off 😂

[@JustaNotherguy-pd7pw]

I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt but that pfp looks kinda suspect

[@maneyac16]

Oh my gosh, Brad, play that back

[@matblackadventures]

You know after all this time, I'm starting to get the feeling that Brad maybe doesn't enjoy AJR music 🤔🤔🤔

[@RedBeardMortis]

Idk what's worse. The fact that this album is considered their best work or the people who think Brad is too dumb to comprehend bad music

[@kodekYT]

I wouldn’t say dumb but Brad and his fanbase seem to have a superiority complex with specific artist like ajr to the point that they can’t actually accept when something is good unless they ACTIVELY are like “oh yeah first time listening” and then acting oblivious to the concepts which ajr had their music under pretense, brad im sure has much more understanding of music than I do but he seems to lack awareness of his followers and lets them and himself balance each other out to pretend they’re NOT shitting for the point of shitting

[@leftpinkytoenail3222]

it’s not that bad tbh, it’s just like, “why would i listen to this?”

[@leftpinkytoenail3222]

nvm, u right

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Because it's amazing.

[@leftpinkytoenail3222]

@@jeremyusreevu237 👹😣🤓🤓🧍‍♂️🤓😜❤️🤓😉🤓😉

[@Bowlpha]

i absolutely understand not liking this album. it definitely could be seen as basic lyrics attempting to seem deep, however, i find it relatable and i think the lyrics simplicity and lack of nuance in and of itself is what i see is something i can see in myself bc well, i definitely dont know how to express it lol. i dont want to rant, but the childish and dumbed down lyrics are what makes it kinda good imo

[@Czectly]

this kind of reminded me of the 1975 album being funny in a foreign language with the cringe lyrics it's like they're trying to be all deep and impactful but really aren't saying anything remotely thought invoking at all

[@Bowlpha]

@@Czectly yeah i totally get that, i dont listen to ajr much, but i just get the vibes that the lyrics are mostly ranting, like sometimes ill vent to a person and make dumb comparisons/ metaphors. maybe music is a dumb format for this type of content, but im no music critic, just a must enjoyer. also love the half alive pfp

[@kof867]

@@Czectly Thats a pretty good take however I’d still take the dumb pretentiousness of the 1975 over the cheesy melodrama of AJR any day of the week.

[@alexnauru7692]

@@Czectly I think I just like those kinds of lyrics cause in like both AJR and the 1975. Although I have to disagree with the not thought provoking part because there lyrics do provoke my thoughts which is why I like them.

[@Kiernimbus]

Reading through this comment section is a test of self-restraint.

[@JaredtheRabbit]

WE JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️

[@eggnuist]

chat was awful today, im glad this vod showcased the funny parts !

[@AsthmaticAxolotl]

As much as I don't agree with this, I gotta respect it. Also, I was not expecting this album to make Brad this mad lol

[@Remedy462]

You're a sweet and funny Axolotl. Don't change! ☺️

[@atticusbelota8625]

“don’t review things bad brad cuz people might agree” lol

[@nono-ky2yu]

> $3000 headphones > uses spotify

[@nico.atreides]

the swans reference in the middle of the dumb song caught me so offguard help me

[@abdokabany4807]

lol me too. Somehow, I missed at first till I saw this comment.

[@hawkeyedsentinel4648]

I'm convinced brad loves torturing himself 🤣

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Torturing yourself with AJR is like trying to cut paper with a pillow.

[@smidlem1117]

nah he loves money and trolling in the chan sense

[@ImAFish_420]

There's a hole There's a hole There's a hole in the bottom of the sea

[@gday2000]

Brad looks like a fucking transformer wiht those headphones on lol

[@georgeandfriendsadventures5073]

I can’t believe people on AOTY were giving this 100

[@nikaweekes7582]

Brad with this headache core again

[@alberth8125]

Hi Brad, listen to "Cálice - Chico Buarque", it was made during the 78's of Brazil, a time of oppression and corruption. You'll love it since you really liked "Construção".

[@cabecinha4987]

Baseado

[@euello5755]

loving this torture series, keep it up Brad!

[@dylanward9446]

As a huge AJR fan I swear all the AJR haters just piss me off but for some reason Brad’s reviews are so enjoyable 😂

[@jaysven6153]

Ur 12

[@Pawlsar]

Im older and I agree with this comment@@jaysven6153

[@lnfinity_and_Beyond]

@@jaysven6153 :(

[@margusiraptor9729]

I mean, there's too much to hate and cringe about, gotta respect that

[@Pedroninte6464]

If you mean enjoyable by enjoyable to hate

[@Techno_Tubing]

I love how this comment section is just AJR fans and haters debating whether this album is good or not. (my opinion: love it)

[@BJJohnson98]

Yeah I normally side with Brad on his takes but the way he talks about this album and the hypothetical people who like it makes me want to listen to it out of spite even though I’ve never heard of AJR before.

[@joshuawarrington9417]

actually this. this video kinda reminds me of watching thunderfoot on elon musk, where i can agree with almost everything he's saying and yet the sheer attitude of smug superiority makes me still dislike him

[@brand-o-n2878]

Brad: the cycle is going to keep happening Me: _giggles in future_

[@gregvs.theworld451]

There's a hole in the bottom of my brain There's a hole in the bottom of my brain There's a hole There's a hole There's a hole in the bottom of my brain

[@Vingari_]

I’ve been enjoying the album for the past day, so it’s super fun to watch it get absolutely decimated, because some of the criticism is actually fair, especially how it sounds similar to Shake It Off and Scaled And Icy. My top 3 is Inertia, Steve’s Going To London, 2085. The album as a whole actually made me feel hopeful as I have been down the depressing TOP rabbit hole for several months

[@jeremyusreevu237]

Good list. Mine would be Touchy Feely Fool, Maybe Man, and Inertia.

[@Glowing_Iris]

Inertia is definitely up there for me too

[@braydenscott1810]

I like it, I think mine works definitely be Inertia, maybe man, and turning out

[@LunaGB]

I think where The Maybe Man and A Moon Shaped Pool differ is authenticity. AJR just aren't able to immerse themselves in the character they're writing. Rather than allowing the audience to engage with negative emotions in a safe environment, they instead force these negative emotions onto their audience by talking down to them, and fail to forge any sort of connection with their audience. Like a lecture from an apathetic teacher, their philosophising more comes off like an obligation they're begrudgingly fulfilling, rather than a genuine attempt at changing your perspective on an issue.

[@dgiorr]

19:41 not gonna lie, the 2x speed is a banger.

[@MatiMuffin]

i guess im a lil stinky, cause there aint no way im listening to 2011 youtuber intro music

[@koasng2209]

Wouldn't it be cool if Brad reviewed an aphex twin album?

[@Gonzotwotimes]

When Brad pulled up Refused, I got so hype. Such a good album.

[@smexykins3065]

i wouldn't even mind the shitty lyrics if the MUSIC was good, but it's not even ENJOYABLE as an instrumental! like lyrics are the least important thing to me 80% of the time but wow adding them up with the awful instrumental is a disaster.

[@buzzbabyjesus]

I'd never heard of AJR until Brad. Red headphones all the way.

[@wheatleythebrick2276]

same

[@jareddraney]

This dude might be the most unenjoyable human to ever speak opinions publicly. He doesn't even try to respect it, he just hates thinking he's better than everyone else. Don't really understand his hate

[@acidicdiamond]

He’s just saying the album is bad which it is

[@jareddraney]

@@acidicdiamond not really I think it's pretty good He goes out of his way to be rude about it

[@paulwalker-qz7ob]

@@jareddraneyWah wah wah. Learn to accept criticism