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.
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"
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.
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
@@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.
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.
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.
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....
@@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.
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).
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.
@@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
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.
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.
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
@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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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…
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.
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.
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
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.
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?”
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.
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.
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!"
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
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 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
@@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
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?"
This shows how twitch chat/youtube chat just become sheeps when a person on a screen has one opinion. yk for a fact most of them arent even listening to the songs they just hear big man say " I no like" and they become hooting monkeys repeating the same thing
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.
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
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
@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.
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
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."
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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
@@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
@@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.
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.
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
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".
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?
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…
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
@@personmens 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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Hey @bradtasteinmusicofficial Im a big AJR fan and I very much disagree with your video. I loved it though because it has given a chance to think and type out a lot of thoughts on this album. With that being said im going to go through each song and tell you how i interpret the meaning to maybe help argue why people who enjoy AJR enjoy AJR. DISCLAIMER I AM NOT TRYING TO FORCE YOU TO LIKE AJR I AM MERELY GIVING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. Maybe Man: This song is about Jack having a bunch of different thoughts and solutions to his issues only to realize that they wont work after thinking about it. In the end the thoughts spill over and theres too much in his head to form a coherent thought anymore (1, 2, pandemonium). Also each stanza is a nod to each song in the album so it also acts as a table of contents for the rest of the album. Touchy Feely Fool: This song is about being stuck in something you know you should distance yourself from but you cant. This could be a toxic relationship, friendship, or anything you have the ability to leave but cant or wont. This song doesnt have too much to say about it but i think the ending is it slowing down with these worries about being stuck and just thinking that someday he will be able to leave/move on. Yes I’m a Mess: This song acts as a sequel to Touchy Feely Fool since they go into each other pretty seamlessly. This song is about wasting your life away to forget about all the problems going on instead of facing whats actually happening. This being said it is one of my least favorite songs AJR has made (since Living Room). A lot of people liked it but i wasnt HUGE on it, i still like it but i do tend to skip it. The Dumb Song: This song is kinda a “Hate letter” about jack having big dreams but people keep telling him it will never happen, He’s to dumb to do it. An example of this can be found in lyrics like “Honey, it's no big deal We'll get you back to college, you could study somethin' real” and “You make my lunch today I would do it, but I couldn't work my microwave” he's saying that he would do all these things people are asking him but like they say hes “too dumb”. Inertia: Im not going to say a lot because you were spot on with what it was about. Jack wants to do stuff to help world/big issues but he cant because he feels stuck and small in the world so it would be too hard. The metaphor of wanting to be big as his house comes in here because he wants to be big enough to help but hes just tiny and mad. Turning Out Pt III: This song doesnt do it for me i dont really get it, i was never huge onf the turning out trilogy so yeah this one is pretty literal witht he lyrics and doesnt hit me the same way the rest of the album does. HITBOMB: you were pretty spot on in these lyrics as well. HITBOMB is about having a little empty space and filling with temporary fixes so no matter how far he goes its still there. The DJ is Crying For Help: this song is about wasting your “Glory Days” too long adn wanting to start your life too late and you cant get on to your feet.i always felt like this song didnt go anywhere but i think that was the point still doesnt land like i thing they wanted it to. I still enjoy it its just not their best. I Won’t: This is supposed to be the “Dance Song” of the album its about getting influenced by advertising while performing live. I dont really know how to word my interpretation of it but i love this song. Sorry that i cant really say much about it. Steve’s Going to London: This song is about being an artist. More specifically writing meaningful music in a market oversaturated with meaningless music. I LOVE this song and its one of my favorite AJR songs. The struggles of writing music is difficult for Jack in a world full of music that just has nonsense lyrics. The song that means nothing is the chorus not the whole song. God is Really Real: Im not gonna commentate on this one, its pretty self-explanatory and doesn't need me to talk on. 2085: This song is what the entire album has lead to, it talks about having all the experienc of the album later in life. Growing old and growing with experience. Then it transitions to the ending the changes into the continuation of the opening song starting where the last one cut off. Saying that now after reflecting through life (the album) Jack finally knows who he is. So yeah thats what i think of the album. Again not trying to make you like it just trying to show you why other people like it. Anyway… so… hows your day going…
My opinion, from someone who’s basically on the other end of the spectrum (a die-hard AJR fan), I absolutely love this album and pretty much every thing AJR has ever done. I respect your opinion though obviously, and it makes sense you don’t like them if you don’t like this kind of music. I personally relate to a lot of AJR’s lyrics, and I love their sound very much. Anyway, I won’t rant about it 🫠
Bro is just sitting there hating just to hate, doesn't even try to actually listen. Just trying to be a smart ass thinking of every single way he can complain. I honestly can't comprehend how he can be like "These lyrics are terrible" but doesn't even hear the references or anything and just takes them literally as if every other artists says everything literally and not figuratively. Bro doesn't even give them a chance and walked into every song is gonna be the worst thing hes ever heard. This guy is honestly the perfect image of AJR haters, most hate them for no reason and literally hate just to hate and won't give any of it an actual chance.
@@Joem2648why are you both so mad that somebody doesn’t have the exact same opinion as you? Not everybody has to enjoy what you enjoy. Idk if this is what the band’s fans behave like I can understand why he’s acting the way he is and I don’t think I’ll ever bring myself to try them out bc I want to completely swerve this toxic-ness
Brad is absolutely high. This album is pure beauty. Which I've come to expect from AJR.
Still love ya though, Brad! 😊
Average Jeremy W
Jeremy is the light that contests brads darkness
He got pinned lol
At least we can now confirm that Brad respects peoples opinions
Jeremy the goat with a W review
Every AJR song sounds like it's supposed to end with fireworks
i dont think a band has ever more embodied the quote "please clap"
It's like hiring a clown to perform at your grandma's funeral to cheer everyone up
And the nice guy finally kissing Stacy!
@@AProbablyPostman the neotheater world tour even ended with fireworks
i would like to personally thank AJR for the conception of the mr krabs soundbyte
For recording sounds from SpongeBob? 😂 Wow incredible. Ingenious.
the one that goes AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
ahhhhhhhhAHHHHHAAAAAahhhh
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
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.
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"
Precisely
That last analogy is so damn accurate
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.
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
Once again let's be honest, we all knew Brad was going to hate this album.
We also all knew it was gonna be a bad album
@@hootowlme Not true (just my opinion it’s fine, not like it)
True
@@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.
I had hopes, people who critique AJR say it's amazing
Brad just cause ajr hate themseleves now doesnt mean you can hate ajr 😔
Underrated comment lol
as an ajr fan, this comment is actually funny
@@helpui you don't exist
@@Patisaloser Jesus christ let him have an opinion
@@helpui Same man
Boogie2988's self-loathing put to Imagine Dragons
if wings of redemption had hobo Johnson lyricism with jon bellion production
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.
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.
For all the talk about people supposedly review bombing things their favorite content creator doesn’t like, I’ve never actually seen it happen
Easy, don't have a conscious! 😜
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....
@@smidlem1117 You’re right I literally have never seen that happen
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.
I'm working on that too
this is usually me too but unfortunately he may be right with this one
@@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.
It’s not that hard, just listen to a song, if you like what it sounds like then listen to it more
that's a great mindset that a LOT of people could adapt too.
Apparently Brads fanbase constitutes the whole AJR fanbase too
You’re laughing, he couldn’t work the microwave and you’re laughing
My biggest gripe with AJR is how they wear all their trauma, grief, pain and sadness like it’s an article of clothing.
But didn't you hear? Trauma shorts and Depression Shoes are all the rage now!
@@derekblan6426and an anxiety necklace, because it suffocates and chokes you
@@BigSleepy985 so cocquette 😍😍
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
@@AudreyLunaGarner it's like using it as means to be different, like when you're in primary school and you want attention
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).
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.
@@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
Some of it feels very Passion pit and I can't hate it, but yeah insincere is the word I would use for sure
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.
We wish everyone who hated the group would be that civil about how they go about it.
brads channel is amazing, you have fans and haters of AJR coexisting and peacefully discussing it 😂
the constant random swearing on a lot of the songs is also such a mood killer lol
Yeah, as an AJR fan the swearing at random times really throws off the smoothness of the song. Kind of like jumps out
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.
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
@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
Honestly the swearing doesn’t bother me at. There just words to me. They emphasize certain things and that’s about it.
watched this high and got scared at 22:47 felt like he was speaking directly to me
the reason the dumb song is listenable is because it's a Suddenly Ska moment. nothing is better than a Suddenly Ska moment
AJR is like if Pixar and Tally Hall had a child but they drank and did drugs the whole 9 months of pregnancy
that's the most precise description I've seen yet, congratulations
I love that you worded this like they both got pregnant
Only weed and downers though nothing too hard
15:08 Proof that AJR can write The Sound of Silence but Simon & Garfunkel couldn't write Touchy Feely Fool to save their life
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
honestly same. I really liked intertia!
@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"
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.
@@sHinobu2969 Really like only those 3 songs. But I REALLY like them!
brad got them “we are now in cruising altitude” headphones
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.
Same. It’s all so pathetically shallow
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.
yeah i agree, but tbh ajr fans all seem like such nice people, i feel bad for not liking it.
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.
@@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…
If this album was called “The man who may Be a Butterfly” it would be a 10
Perish monster! Go back to fantano's comment section!
It's never been funny. Trying it here doesn't make it funnier.
@@giulianogisotti4107If it was called "It never been pimpy. Trying to do it to a butterfly doesn't make it pimpier" it would be a 100
Why do the best headphones have to look so dorky
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.
Comically large headphones
Actual AJR line
look at them from the side they're the coolest thing ever lol
Brad turns on chat and the first thing I see is “worse than 9/11” 💀
Chat dropping mad bars
"I wish I was gay" 😂
Why all their album covers look like the ai Disney posters?
😂😂😂
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.
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
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"
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.
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?”
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.
@TheOfficiaIPixar No I was referring to OP, they said the social commentary sucks
@TheOfficiaIPixar you just repeated the original comments whole point
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.
“1, 2, PANDEMONIUM!!” 🤓🤓
“Oh my gawd…jack play that back” 🤓🤓
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!"
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
you’d be surprised at the number of sheltered children in the world
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
Because their music is incredibly beautiful and relatable.
@@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
@@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
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
DJ KHALED
10:06 Bro I thought he said "gay" too and I laughed so hard
Both words work either way, which makes even funnier
Also I laughed even harder when that goofy drop came in at 10:49. ONE! TWO! PANDEMONIUM!!!
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?"
i think this is the most accurate review of god is really real.
Damn those headphones are intricate. Looks like you have a saw trap on your head
MAn, when Brad was talking about the first AJR album, born and bred, I thought he was saying "born inbred".
He was saying "born *in* bread"
Bread like money, saying AJR was born into money (trust fund rich white kid line that Brad loves throwing out)
This shows how twitch chat/youtube chat just become sheeps when a person on a screen has one opinion. yk for a fact most of them arent even listening to the songs they just hear big man say " I no like" and they become hooting monkeys repeating the same thing
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.
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
Ass Juice Rejects.
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
@@jenconvertibles Especially when they go, "AAAAAAHHHH," with an auto tune monkey's voice.
@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.
ajr is the "clapping when the plane lands" of music
wow his criticism on those last two tracks was spot on and perfectly described the band’s main issue
First time ever hearing AJR. It really just sounds like Fun. at home
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
Ready, Aim, Ignite made by AI
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.
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.
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.
@@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.
@@henryharden “your opinion is objectively wrong” great analysis there, dingo
@@henryharden Your final sentence is very immature.
@@jonathannoble7845 What makes it a clumsy metaphor? i thought it did fine as a metaphor
41:32 the thneedville comparison was wildddd
The doomer era of ajr is somehow even worse than any other era
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."
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.
frrrrrrrrr
try nct specifically nct 127 hehe
@SpaceisLifeYT jack stauber is everything ajr wishes it could be
All these songs sound like four middle schoolers trying to recreate ghost town by Kanye
after i heard the first minute of the album i was like "yeah, brad's gonna hate this"
It's like when pet dogs who have wanted for nothing their entire lives sit in the floor repeatedly sighing
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
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.
I woke the wife up with this thing earlier today and now my penance is listening to Javelin 3 times.
after my wife listened to this, I’ve begun to relate to a crow looked at me even more!
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
Thanks
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
Gotta love how the first song is literally ABCDEFU chords and melody
although they are very similar, they aren't the exact same.
edit: last chord is not the same
Mom doesn't let me stay out past 6pm type music
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
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
@@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
@@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.
@@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.
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
😂😂
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.
@@cito7288Its sarcasm the low rating shows us that
@@cito7288 it's what Fantano said at the end of his TPAB review
The Dumb Song is like if AJR went ska, which would probably make for a way better album of stuff like that
Reading through this comment section is a test of self-restraint.
ajr is the imagine dragons of music
it’s not that bad tbh, it’s just like, “why would i listen to this?”
nvm, u right
Because it's amazing.
@@jeremyusreevu237 👹😣🤓🤓🧍♂️🤓😜❤️🤓😉🤓😉
This album is very AJR core
WE JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️
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
Good list. Mine would be Touchy Feely Fool, Maybe Man, and Inertia.
Inertia is definitely up there for me too
I like it, I think mine works definitely be Inertia, maybe man, and turning out
chat was awful today, im glad this vod showcased the funny parts !
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".
Baseado
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?
Hey uhhhh I totally agree but uhhhh what is that pfp man??? Could be taken very very wrong………..
Yea bro tf is that pfp
I’m autistic so my brain is always off 😂
I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt but that pfp looks kinda suspect
I'm convinced brad loves torturing himself 🤣
Torturing yourself with AJR is like trying to cut paper with a pillow.
nah he loves money and trolling in the chan sense
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…
its the same with imagine dragons, they seem like nice enough guys but their music fucking stinks
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
so you're saying is one time they got mad, and just from that you're saying that they are completely unfriendly people?
thats a pretty fair thing to be annoyed by@@personmens
@@personmens 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.
Brad with this headache core again
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
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
You know after all this time, I'm starting to get the feeling that Brad maybe doesn't enjoy AJR music 🤔🤔🤔
AJR is the equivalent of a Caucasian man showing you a video of Fireworks on his Iphone 8
the swans reference in the middle of the dumb song caught me so offguard help me
lol me too. Somehow, I missed at first till I saw this comment.
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
literally!!!! man doesn't understand that compensatory gear won't fix 320kbps mp3 files lmaoooooooooooooo
@@smidlem1117 not even 320kbps, iirc spotify compresses their stuff to 96kbps due to the sheer amount of content they have
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.
My roommate found out my girlfriends favorite band was AJR and his response was “AJR fans are bearded furries”
I have no idea wtf it is yall find "relatable" about this mindless, soulless drivel 🤣
i truly dont understand why people like AJR. the music just doesnt appeal to me AT ALL. more power to the fans though i guess LMAO
Honestly you will never know what someone else is thinking and that is fine
You can literally say that to any song or artist. It all comes down to preference
Because their music is meant to represent growing up and remembering what it was like being a kid.
Keyword: "to me"
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
19:41 not gonna lie, the 2x speed is a banger.
I love how this comment section is just AJR fans and haters debating whether this album is good or not.
(my opinion: love it)
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
AJR is the musician equivalent of Disney adults
"but this don't feel like disney"
it's literally music made by and for disney adults
im about to go darth, about to go disney
This makes me mad
No
AJR sounds like they still have the emotional and mental maturity of 18 year olds
As a 19 year old fan who found this album to be decent, I see this as an absolute win.
Tbh 18 year olds can do much better than this
thats giving it a bit too much credit
"I'm all 17 at 35"
I'm 18 and i liked the album so ig it's perfect for me lol
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.
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.
I can’t believe people on AOTY were giving this 100
There's a hole
There's a hole
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea
We getting out of the pandemonium with this one
Oh my gosh, Brad, play that back
“don’t review things bad brad cuz people might agree” lol
Brad looks like a fucking transformer wiht those headphones on lol
> $3000 headphones
> uses spotify
AJR is the emoji movie of music
Omg that is so real
Hey @bradtasteinmusicofficial
Im a big AJR fan and I very much disagree with your video. I loved it though because it has given a chance to think and type out a lot of thoughts on this album. With that being said im going to go through each song and tell you how i interpret the meaning to maybe help argue why people who enjoy AJR enjoy AJR.
DISCLAIMER I AM NOT TRYING TO FORCE YOU TO LIKE AJR I AM MERELY GIVING A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
Maybe Man: This song is about Jack having a bunch of different thoughts and solutions to his issues only to realize that they wont work after thinking about it. In the end the thoughts spill over and theres too much in his head to form a coherent thought anymore (1, 2, pandemonium). Also each stanza is a nod to each song in the album so it also acts as a table of contents for the rest of the album.
Touchy Feely Fool: This song is about being stuck in something you know you should distance yourself from but you cant. This could be a toxic relationship, friendship, or anything you have the ability to leave but cant or wont. This song doesnt have too much to say about it but i think the ending is it slowing down with these worries about being stuck and just thinking that someday he will be able to leave/move on.
Yes I’m a Mess: This song acts as a sequel to Touchy Feely Fool since they go into each other pretty seamlessly. This song is about wasting your life away to forget about all the problems going on instead of facing whats actually happening. This being said it is one of my least favorite songs AJR has made (since Living Room). A lot of people liked it but i wasnt HUGE on it, i still like it but i do tend to skip it.
The Dumb Song: This song is kinda a “Hate letter” about jack having big dreams but people keep telling him it will never happen, He’s to dumb to do it. An example of this can be found in lyrics like “Honey, it's no big deal We'll get you back to college, you could study somethin' real” and “You make my lunch today I would do it, but I couldn't work my microwave” he's saying that he would do all these things people are asking him but like they say hes “too dumb”.
Inertia: Im not going to say a lot because you were spot on with what it was about. Jack wants to do stuff to help world/big issues but he cant because he feels stuck and small in the world so it would be too hard. The metaphor of wanting to be big as his house comes in here because he wants to be big enough to help but hes just tiny and mad.
Turning Out Pt III: This song doesnt do it for me i dont really get it, i was never huge onf the turning out trilogy so yeah this one is pretty literal witht he lyrics and doesnt hit me the same way the rest of the album does.
HITBOMB: you were pretty spot on in these lyrics as well. HITBOMB is about having a little empty space and filling with temporary fixes so no matter how far he goes its still there.
The DJ is Crying For Help: this song is about wasting your “Glory Days” too long adn wanting to start your life too late and you cant get on to your feet.i always felt like this song didnt go anywhere but i think that was the point still doesnt land like i thing they wanted it to. I still enjoy it its just not their best.
I Won’t: This is supposed to be the “Dance Song” of the album its about getting influenced by advertising while performing live. I dont really know how to word my interpretation of it but i love this song. Sorry that i cant really say much about it.
Steve’s Going to London: This song is about being an artist. More specifically writing meaningful music in a market oversaturated with meaningless music. I LOVE this song and its one of my favorite AJR songs. The struggles of writing music is difficult for Jack in a world full of music that just has nonsense lyrics. The song that means nothing is the chorus not the whole song.
God is Really Real: Im not gonna commentate on this one, its pretty self-explanatory and doesn't need me to talk on.
2085: This song is what the entire album has lead to, it talks about having all the experienc of the album later in life. Growing old and growing with experience. Then it transitions to the ending the changes into the continuation of the opening song starting where the last one cut off. Saying that now after reflecting through life (the album) Jack finally knows who he is.
So yeah thats what i think of the album. Again not trying to make you like it just trying to show you why other people like it. Anyway… so… hows your day going…
I can’t believe this is the band people throw themselves at to defend??? Like??? Are we hearing the same music???
My opinion, from someone who’s basically on the other end of the spectrum (a die-hard AJR fan), I absolutely love this album and pretty much every thing AJR has ever done. I respect your opinion though obviously, and it makes sense you don’t like them if you don’t like this kind of music. I personally relate to a lot of AJR’s lyrics, and I love their sound very much. Anyway, I won’t rant about it 🫠
I'd never heard of AJR until Brad. Red headphones all the way.
same
Bro is just sitting there hating just to hate, doesn't even try to actually listen. Just trying to be a smart ass thinking of every single way he can complain. I honestly can't comprehend how he can be like "These lyrics are terrible" but doesn't even hear the references or anything and just takes them literally as if every other artists says everything literally and not figuratively. Bro doesn't even give them a chance and walked into every song is gonna be the worst thing hes ever heard. This guy is honestly the perfect image of AJR haters, most hate them for no reason and literally hate just to hate and won't give any of it an actual chance.
Have you listened to ajr’s lyrics?? 😭😭
@@Joem2648He literally says he likes a song off of it. God you’re delusional
@@Joem2648why are you both so mad that somebody doesn’t have the exact same opinion as you? Not everybody has to enjoy what you enjoy. Idk if this is what the band’s fans behave like I can understand why he’s acting the way he is and I don’t think I’ll ever bring myself to try them out bc I want to completely swerve this toxic-ness
I have to imaging AJR's target audience are considered the "edgy" teens at Sunday school and has Live, Laugh, Love decor