For over ten years, three brothers have released music under the band name AJR, which resounds across the world as one of the most familiar and catchy alternative bands out there.
Since 2014, Adam, Jack and Ryan Met have been a performing trio for over twelve years, making and releasing music about some of life’s toughest struggles, including some of their own experiences.
On Sept. 5, AJR released their ninth album, “What No One’s Thinking,” to the world. Long time fans of AJR may find familiarity in this title, which harkens back to their 2016 EP, “What Everyone’s Thinking”. Their play on the title of this album brings forth new potential to the band’s unique musical storytelling.
The band comments on the intensity of this album during an interview with Arizona’s Alternative. “We realized we were suppressing a lot of stuff … [This album is] not only the most honest music we’ve ever made, but like, the most direct. It literally feels like a diary entry.” Jack said.
This past July, the band teased the upcoming release of this EP by publishing one of its songs, “Betty,” which gave the listening audience a taste as to what this new album was going to deliver emotionally.
Through a rollercoaster of subjects, lyrics, instrumentals, and vocals, AJR once again delivers true to life music in five new songs for anyone willing to listen.
The album begins with “The Plane That Never Lands,” a song describing a person’s desire to delay their return to a complicated adult life. This is displayed through the hopes of our narrator in the lyrics, highlighting this desire, such as, “I wish this plane would never land,”“I hope my taxi never comes,” or even “I hope this elevator breaks.”
“The Plane That Never Lands” is encased in a lighthearted melody, giving the song a gentle feel through impossible wishes. The song dips your feet into the classic AJR feel, starting softly before the big bang later on.
The second song in the album, “A Dog Song,” is a song one should listen to with tissues at the ready. It highlights the point of view of the band’s dog and how he sees the world he shares with his owners. The dog’s unknowing idea of the harsh world he’s living in touches the listener’s heart, for these furry friends don’t always have the same idea of life as their owners.
In the chorus of the song, the innocence of the dog shines through the most: “Can we pause right here, right now?” The dog still wishes for its happiness, even as the family moves houses, faces loss or even fights at times.
AJR member Ryan was very excited about this song’s release in particular, talking about the writing process in an interview with The River. “We could lean into the gimmicky dog stuff, or we could write this in a really emotional way that actually might make people cry … Here’s how our dog views us in his nativity and his innocence and the stuff we go through,” he said.
The third song is the earlier released “Betty,” the album’s only single which talks about the fear of relationships, dating and marriage and the commitment that comes with it. Instead of the honeymoon phase, “Betty” covers the more ugly and complicated side of relationships. In the lyrics, these uncomfortable moments in relationships are centered many times.
Some examples include “Next time you see your folks at dinner, just ask your mom to please stop pointing at your finger” or in the chorus, “I know your friends say ‘when you know, you know’, I just don’t know right now.”
The fourth song is “I’m Sorry You Went Crazy,” a song sarcastically reminiscing about a past relationship. While the previous track covered the harder side of relationships, this track covers picking up the pieces once it’s all said and done. Laced with half-hearted apologies and stabs at the ex, this song works as a great post-breakup tune.
In the same interview with Arizona’s Alternative, Jack mentions how “Betty” and “I’m Sorry You Went Crazy” are on a different branch of a typical love song tree. “We’ve never been interested in just writing a love song, ’cause it’s just been done a million times … It would feel a little performative to … it’d feel a little, honestly, disingenuous of like, ‘All your problems will be solved by falling in love!’” Jack said.
These two songs focusing on love are written to give listeners a different perspective than other, more hopeful love songs. While the subjects are sadder than most, it is still an honest view that AJR aimed to portray in these songs on the album.
The final and longest song on the album is titled “The Big Goodbye.” Starting off with a fast paced call of an auctioneer, the song develops and grows into a more orchestral sound — one that AJR is very well known for.
Given the name “The Big Goodbye,” many have speculated that this hints to the band’s finale, though Jack and Ryan have both confirmed this is not the case. Instead, this song focuses on the bittersweetness of success and fame.
The lyrics give the listening ear a glimpse of the band’s views toward their fame, and, while grateful, it comes with the harsh reality that the most familiar thing in their lives, home, never felt like home prior to their explosion in the musical industry.
Specifically in the chorus, this is boldly sung: “Tell me why, why I’m all in my head, why you’re all on my mind” or “Someone tell me why, why my town feels like home for the first time in years”.
The album solemnly ends on “Then my whole life can sound like this,” a line repeated often in the song followed by booming music, finally followed by silence.
Even though the album is still young, “The Big Goodbye” has become the band’s second most listened to song on Apple Music since the release. Through multiple social media platforms, the band and fans alike have all promoted this album, even after the drop.
“What No One’s Thinking” leans into some of life’s most taboo moments and memories in an agreeable and feel-good way, giving relatability and comfort in the world’s silent, unspoken anxieties about the human condition and living life to its fullest.
