Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met (AJR) released their newest album “Neotheater” last Thursday, April 25, and the day after the release, the collection of songs became the #1 alternative album on the iTunes charts.

Less than a week later, I have already fallen in love with the twelve-track album because of its unique song topics as well as the creative use of vocals and various instruments.

This is the third album that the brothers have released in their career, including “The Click” and “Living Room.” This album beats both of the band’s previous albums by a long shot, with new songs as well as follow-ups to previous songs from other albums.

On a recent Instagram post, the Met brothers explained that “every song on this album has a piece of another song in it,” meaning that each song has a little Easter egg in it, whether it be a lyric, or a similar guitar riff. For example, the lyric “’cause everything is going great” is in both the songs “Birthday Party” and “Break My Face.”  

Each of the twelve songs that are on the album have a different vibe to them; there are upbeat songs like “The Entertainment’s Here” and “Next Up Forever,” but there are also some songs that will get you in your feels like “Turning Out, Pt. ii” and “Dear Winter.”

I have been a fan of AJR since January of last year, and since then, I have been to one of their concerts and listened to all three of their albums on repeat many times. Out of all three of their incredible releases, “Neotheater” is more unique and the best out of all of them.

A handful of my favorite songs on this new album include “Karma,” “Next Up Forever,” “Break My Face,” and “Turning Out Pt. ii.”

My favorite thing about AJR is that their songs are about things that typical artists are either too afraid to write about, or they don’t think to write about first. This includes topics such as going to therapy or regretting losing one’s virginity.

My favorite song on the album is “Karma.” Jack Met, the brother who does most of the vocals, said that he wrote this song after feeling “blindsided because we went so long without success… My entire mindset was ‘I’m doing everything right, why am I not feeling better?’”

Three days after the band announced the tracklist for “Neotheater,” they also released their list of tour dates, consisting of 39 different cities, including a Portland stop on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Theater of the Clouds.

If you are looking for some new music to listen to, AJR might be the band for you, especially if you enjoy artists such as Jon Bellion, Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, and Panic! At the Disco.

Overall, this album is the band’s best release yet. I rate it a 10/10, and everyone should give it a listen, because it will never go out of style.