Written by Richie Oliver
Since the band’s inception in the early 2000s, AJR has found new prominence in the viral music scene, with their single “Bang!” going viral on the video app TikTok. On March 26th, 2021, they released "OK ORCHESTRA", the band’s fourth album.
Classified in the pop genre, AJR’s newest album utilizes other music forms and melodies. All in all, it creates a collection of songs that is both pop and not pop at the same time.
This album is infused with so many different sounds, but each sound plays on the other. While the ears become inundated with sound, the listener still wants more, making this album worthy of "repeat listening. "
“Bummerland,” the second song on the album, focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the band, and it’s a great way of reaching out to a contemporary audience that’s going through the same thing. “Better nix my summer plans” sings the band, radiating with the listener, and making the band that much more relatable.
Another standout on the album is “Bang!,” the band’s first single released for this full-length. With allusions to a number of past AJR songs, “Bang!” utilizes horns in an amazing manner, creating a fusion between pop, funk, and even a bit of jazz.
AJR even finds collaborators in the form of the Blue Man Group on the song “Ordinaryish People,” and their solo section is the high point of the song. Hearing those makeshift instruments really adds to the overall feel of the track.
"OK ORCHESTRA" is a banger of a pop album, pulling from many different sounds and influences, creating an inescapable soundscape that latches onto the brain stem. You’ll be singing along to these songs for weeks to come.
AJR’s "OK ORCHESTRA" can be found on all popular streaming services; you can support the band by following them on Twitter @AJRBrothers and picking up some merch from their official store. Feel free to share your thoughts on the record with us by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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