AJR, “The DJ Is Crying For Help” | Track Review 🎵

Alternative brother trio AJR remains true to self on “The DJ Is Crying For Help” while also bringing a newfound maturity of sorts. 

Some bands and musicians can be characterized as polarizing. Why are they polarizing? It can be the persona they present or their music itself – the quality, the content, etc. Alternative bro trio 🎙 AJR is a prime example of a polarizing collective, whether that is the intent or not.  In the case of AJR, it is often the dramatic, sometimes overblown nature of their instrumentals, as well as a consistent, plight of the millennial narrative that draws both praise and skeptics. Once more, on 🎵 “The DJ Is Crying For Help”, those Met brothers do what they do – ornate production (eventually) and millennial references.  Still, to their credit, they show more maturity and to some extent, contrast, compared to what we are accustomed to.

If nothing else, the song title, “The DJ Is Crying For Help,” stands out. While this DJ is mentioned in the song, he’s not necessarily intended to be a literal DJ – AJR is being metaphorical and symbolic to a degree.  Still, even if life must finally begin for 🎙 Jack Met and co – “You got older cause you’re good at life / I’m all seventeen at thirty-five” – this is still true to who the band is. For example, “Everyone’s trippin’ on pills’ is millennial to the n^th degree.  Still, follow-up with the next lyric, “but now they’re prescribed too,” as well as “and everyone’s stackin’ their bills / But not ‘cause they like to,” and there is an enhanced element of maturity.  No worries though, we still get some salty language (“Yeah, I fucked up, but I did it my way”, and a colorful sound palette that grows in scope as the record progresses.

Final Thoughts 💭 

So, how does 🎵 “The DJ Is Crying For Help” stack up? I actually find the concept fascinating.  I like the idea that AJR tackles growing up and all the responsibilities that go along with it.  It’s not necessarily brand-new for the collective, but, it feels at least slightly different on this particular song.  It is perfectly executed by AJR? No, but there is something intriguing about this record, flaws, and all.

🎙 AJR • 🎵 “The DJ Is Crying For Help” • 🏷 AJR • 🗓 11.18.22

[📷: AJR Productions LLC, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]