OK Orchestra (Splatter Vinyl)

The fourth album from New York trio AJR, 2021's OK Orchestra finds them further expanding their rambunctiously inventive, diaristic brand of pop. Self-produced, the album again features an impressive mix of instruments that goes far beyond the usual guitar-bass-drums aesthetic, and finds AJR dipping into brassy jazz ("3'O'Clock Things") and orchestral pop ("My Play"), not to mention the sundry elements of electronic and hip-hop production that run throughout. We even get an ambitious blend of everything on the anthemic "Ordinaryish People" which features percussion contributions by members of the conceptual Blue Man Group. These are buoyant, likeably earnest songs in the tradition of bands like Fun. and Ben Folds Five. As with much of AJR's past work, there's a sense on OK Orchestra that the band (made up of siblings Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met) are gifted, twentysomething kids just trying to make sense of the chaotic world they find themselves coming of age in. It's also one that's informed by a witty sense of irony as they transform mundane details about struggling to make connections with friends and lovers into relatable touchstones. On "3'O'Clock Things" they sing, "If I keep on talking politics, my friends will dip, they're over it/If I keep on talking politics, I'm Hamilton (without the hits)." It makes sense that AJR would reference Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical. Much like Hamilton, or Miranda's biopic musical In the Heights, OK Orchestra isn't just full of hit-worthy pop hooks, it's stage-worthy, ambitious, and full of insights driven by AJR's personal experience.

- Matt Collar - allmusic.com