Album Review: AJR’s Latest EP: What No One’s Thinking

AJR, a New York-based indie pop band that has slowly made its way to fame over the last 20 years, released its second EP titled “What No One’s Thinking” on September 5th, 2025.

The letters in AJR stand for Adam, Jack, and Ryan, the names of the three brothers who started the band. They began their musical career in 2005, producing music in their living room. AJR is publicly recognized for the honesty and transparency in their songs, which many fans appreciate and can relate to. For many, AJR puts into words the feelings that they cannot describe. AJR’s music helps their fan base feel less alone in life, making them realize that there are many people out there who experience similar situations, but are just too afraid to admit it.

“What No One’s Thinking” was an EP that was crafted based on the emotions that the AJR brothers realized they were repressing and had been brought up in their therapy sessions. I consider this EP to be filled with some of the most emotional, raw, and brutally honest songs that the AJR brothers have ever written.

Below are my interpretations and additional thoughts on the five songs from the EP:

1. “The Plane That Never Lands”

In the first track of the EP, “The Plane That Never Lands,” the singer talks about being willing to deal with things that he views as inconvenient and unpleasant. The list goes on and on. From saying that he’d be “fine to wait in line with all [his] heavy stuff” to saying that he hopes his elevator breaks, he doesn’t care if he ends up getting home late because of those setbacks. The mood of the song changes entirely the moment the singer says that he “hopes his lover is sleeping by the time he gets back home.” It’s not until then that the singer finally explains why he hopes many inconveniences happen to him, because at least dealing with them is better than facing what he isn’t ready for yet. The music softens momentarily when the singer acknowledges what he knows he’ll hear eventually: “You don’t really wanna marry me, do you, dear?” The song ends with a hanging note to signify that the singer is left hoping he can evade the truth and continue living in moments when he doesn’t have to deal with the harsh reality of his lover not fully committing to the relationship. In a more general sense, the song is about doing everything you can to avoid the truth and your problems, even if they’re inevitable. In the singer’s case, he hopes he deals with constant setbacks and inconveniences to “avoid” the truth. For others, that avoidance may look like filling their days with tasks such as cleaning, hobbies, or even doomscrolling on their phones. At the end of the day, running away from your problems doesn’t solve them, nor can you run from them forever. Although facing your problems may be intimidating, it is better to confront them head-on instead of trying to delay the inevitable.

2. “A Dog Song”

“A Dog Song,” as the name suggests, is a song told through the perspective of a dog. The song itself is not about the dog’s life, though; it is about aspects of the singer’s life being told through the lens of their dog. According to Ryan, in a backstage interview hosted by 107.5 FM The River, the song is about “how our dog views us in his naivety and his innocence and the stuff we go through.” “A Dog Song” is a way for the singer to unpack what they have been going through. In the song, the dog notices how their owner comes back home looking sad, which is the singer’s way of saying that they have been going through a rough time. The listener doesn’t know what may be a contributing factor to the singer’s sadness until the dog talks about the moving process that the singer went through. The dog complains, saying he hopes that they don’t move again because half of his belongings were lost in the moving process. But the real gut kicker is when the dog asks, “And where did your dad go? Did they also lose him?” The dog doesn’t know the answer to the question, but he gives his owner a stick, hoping it’ll make him feel better. (Talk about man’s best friend, isn’t that just adorable?). Although what happened to their dad is not stated in the song, as a 5-year-long AJR fan, I can provide that (depressing) answer. AJR lost their father to lung cancer in the summer of 2023, and they even wrote a song, “God Is Really Real,” in remembrance of him, their number one fan, Gary Metzger (may he rest in peace). Based on that information, “A Dog Song” is about how AJR’s life has been since the loss of their father, but it’s not all depressing. Towards the end of the song, the dog acknowledges that he doesn’t know what his owner is going through, but he assures him by saying, “Buddy, wherever you’re going, I’m going too.” Overall, the song is about the singer dealing with hardships and how their dog has always been there for them despite those hard times. The song makes pet owners reflect on how much their pet has been there for them, no matter what. So, pet owners, go show your fur babies some love; they’ve always been your number one supporters.

3. “Betty”

“Betty” was the lead single for the EP, released on July 9th, 2025. This song is pretty straightforward regarding what it’s about. It’s about the singer not being ready to commit to “forever” with their lover. It is mentioned that the singer’s lover isn’t pleased with their uncertainty and has become distant. Throughout the song, the singer begs their lover to give them a chance to think it through, to give them time before they can confidently say “yes” to marriage. The listeners don’t know whether the lover will give the singer a chance, which is what makes the ending unclear. The song, despite being rather specific, has an important message: don’t feel pressured to agree to an engagement. The singer stands by their answer of not being ready, despite their lover’s clear disappointment. The singer acknowledges that they are not yet ready for “forever” and doesn’t rush it. Although this song isn’t relatable to everyone, many AJR fans have opened up, saying that they, too, have dealt with similar issues when faced with the idea of being with someone “forever.” “Betty” has provided those fans with comfort because they know they are not the only ones uncertain about agreeing to an engagement, nor are they cruel for their hesitation.

4. “I’m Sorry You Went Crazy”

“I’m Sorry You Went Crazy” is a very heartfelt song, and it can be deeply felt while listening to it because it is written effectively. Throughout the song, the singer, as the name implies, feels sorry for the person they’re singing about as they slowly spiral into a worse state. The song is about witnessing someone you used to love get worse over time, but there is nothing that can be done about it because they refuse to seek help. All that can be done is watch from afar and wish that things could’ve been different. There really is nothing that can be done, no happy ending that can be achieved in these situations. However, the creation of this song allows those dealing with a heartbreaking situation like the one mentioned to be comforted, knowing that they are not alone. What makes this song hold much deeper meaning is its potential origin. Fans theorize that what influenced the creation of this song was AJR’s mother, Laurie Marvald. She was the original manager of the band and was actively involved in their musical career when it first began. AJR would even publicly thank their mom on their social media accounts, and after every album they’d write. That relationship eventually changed when she publicly announced that she was no longer associated with AJR. It was a sudden change, and one that fans were not offered much explanation for. The singer mentions how the person they’re referring to hasn’t reached out to them, not even for their birthdays. There is a clear distance in the bond between the singer and the subject, similar to what is seen with AJR and their mother. The band has been private about their mom, so all fans can do is theorize without getting concrete answers. Maybe this theory is correct, maybe it’s not, but it’s still an emotional and relatable song nonetheless.

5. The Big Goodbye

“The Big Goodbye” seems like a very final song, but no, it is not about AJR retiring and no longer writing music. It is rather about the end of an era, the end of the “little life” AJR used to lead, and “the shows that no one came to.” AJR acknowledges that they are living up to the dream they had as kids, but they realize that, now that they’ve accomplished their dream, it doesn’t feel like they thought it would. The majority of the song dwells on AJR’s nostalgia, missing what they’ve already seen “a million times.” Yet, there’s also the need to move forward: “don't look back, just drive.” The song ends with a final note about hopefully one day singing about the accomplishments they’ve done, rather than what they miss, showing that they want to move on. Generally, the song is about longing for what used to be, despite having reached the dream that you always wanted to live up to. Maybe your dream feels different from what you imagined it to be, but it’s likely because you were used to one way of living for so long that anything different feels alien to you. However, if you spend more time missing what your life used to be like, then you won’t be able to enjoy what you have reached now. There’s nothing wrong with missing the past, but you can’t keep living in it. Take life one step at a time, and learn to be proud of your achievements and for having accomplished your dreams. “Don’t look back, just drive.”

Fun AJR Fact: “The Maybe Man” album, released on November 10, 2023, was originally supposed to have thirteen tracks, but AJR decided to omit the last track and release it on a different occasion because it did not fit the vibe. “The Big Goodbye” was supposed to be the thirteenth track of “The Maybe Man” album, and now fans finally get to listen to it as the last track of the “What No One’s Thinking” EP. It also took AJR five years to complete the song!

“What No One’s Thinking” is a very unfiltered EP that delves into the lives of the AJR brothers, but it can be relatable to anyone who listens to the songs. AJR is all about putting the thoughts and feelings that people experience into song form so that others find comfort in knowing that it’s not just them. AJR’s fans, including myself, fell in love with their music because of how honest they are with us. It takes a lot of strength and courage to do that as an artist, to expose yourself for the whole world to see, and yet they do it because they want to be authentic to their fans.

I will always find comfort in AJR’s music, and they will always be my favorite band because of everything they’ve helped me through, and I’m sure that’s the case for the majority of fans. I hope that after reading this article, and if you decide to give their EP, along with other songs a listen, AJR may provide the same comfort for you. Thank you, AJR, for sharing with the world “What No One’s Thinking.”