# OK Orchestra > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/OK_Orchestra > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/OK_Orchestra.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_Orchestra > Source revision: 1350598967 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = OK Orchestra | type = studio | artist = [AJR](/source/AJR_(band)) | cover = AJR - OK Orchestra.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2021|3|26}} | recorded = 2019–2021 | studio = | genre = | length = 45:48 | label = * AJR * [BMG](/source/BMG_Rights_Management) | producer = * [Ryan Met](/source/AJR_(band)) | prev_title = [Neotheater](/source/Neotheater) | prev_year = 2019 | next_title = [The Maybe Man](/source/The_Maybe_Man) | next_year = 2023 | misc = {{Singles | name = OK Orchestra | type = studio | single1 = [Bang!](/source/Bang!_(AJR_song)) | single1date = February 12, 2020 | single2 = [Bummerland](/source/Bummerland) | single2date = August 31, 2020 | single3 = [My Play](/source/My_Play) | single3date = December 22, 2020 | single4 = [Way Less Sad](/source/Way_Less_Sad) | single4date = February 17, 2021 | single5 = [World's Smallest Violin](/source/World's_Smallest_Violin) | single5date = March 26, 2021 }} }} '''''OK Orchestra''''' (stylized in [all uppercase](/source/All_caps)), often abbreviated as '''''OKO''''', is the fourth studio album by American [pop](/source/Pop_music) band [AJR](/source/AJR_(band)). It was released on March 26, 2021{{Cite news|date=2021-03-22|title=AJR Hits Its Stride on New Album 'OK ORCHESTRA'|url=https://americansongwriter.com/ajr-hit-their-stride-on-new-album-ok-orchestra/|access-date=2021-03-25|work=[American Songwriter](/source/American_Songwriter) |language=en-US | first=Jacob | last=Uitti }}{{Cite interview|interviewer=Marianne Eloise | subject=AJR | date=March 26, 2021|title=AJR knew exactly what they needed to say on 'OK Orchestra'|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/ajr-ok-orchestra-ryan-met-interview/|access-date=2021-03-26|work=[Alternative Press](/source/Alternative_Press_(magazine)) | language=en-US}} under [BMG](/source/BMG_Rights_Management) and the band's own label, AJR Productions. The album was supported by five singles, "Bang!", "Bummerland", "My Play", "Way Less Sad", and "World's Smallest Violin". The album was produced by group member Ryan Met. ==Background== During a majority of the production of ''OK Orchestra'', the album was titled ''Mad Orchestra'', with AJR intending to make a "[Bang!](/source/Bang!_(AJR_song))"-esque "dark and evil sounding" album. The band later decided on a more "melancholy, longing, and hopeful" sound, thinking of the negative mental repercussions that would come with writing a dark album. They replaced the album's "Mad" prefix with "OK" to represent the album's theme of "being worried about becoming irrelevant and obsolete" in the future but feeling OK in the current moment.{{cite AV media |last=AJR|date=March 30, 2021 |title=AJR Breaks Down Their New Album "OK ORCHESTRA" |medium=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pfg6AJ8WCc |access-date=October 15, 2023 |time=1:33 |publisher=[Zach Sang Show](/source/Zach_Sang)}} In an interview alongside [Rivers Cuomo](/source/Rivers_Cuomo), AJR confirmed that the title of ''OK Orchestra'' was not based on either [Radiohead](/source/Radiohead)'s ''[OK Computer](/source/OK_Computer)'' or [Weezer's](/source/Weezer) ''[OK Human](/source/OK_Human)'',{{cite AV media |last1=AJR|last2=Cuomo|first2=Rivers|date=June 4, 2021 |title=AJR & Rivers Cuomo Talk "All My Favorite Songs", How They've Inspired Each Other & Collaborations |medium=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYx6mvH7EYI |access-date=October 16, 2023 |time=26:25 |publisher=[Zach Sang Show](/source/Zach_Sang)}} the latter of which features the band on a remix of the track "[All My Favorite Songs](/source/All_My_Favorite_Songs)". ==Promotion and release== In February 2020, AJR released the album's first single, "Bang!", which became one of the trio's biggest hits ever in 2021 and in their entire time playing music. The single was originally intended as a track for a deluxe version of ''[Neotheater](/source/Neotheater)'', however this never came to fruition and the song eventually became the lead single for the forthcoming album.{{Cite web |last=Pettican |first=Luke |date=2020-05-14 |title=AJR |url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2020/05/interviews-ajr/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=EUPHORIA. |language=en-US}} On August 31, 2020, they released the album's second single, "[Bummerland](/source/Bummerland)", a song about the band sarcastically expressing their feelings on the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). On December 20, 2020, they announced that ''OK Orchestra'' would be the name of their upcoming album, while also releasing the third single from the album, "[My Play](/source/My_Play)". It was put up for pre-order on [iTunes](/source/iTunes)/[Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music){{cite web|title=OK Orchestra by AJR|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ok-orchestra/1544797363|website=[Apple Music](/source/Apple_Music)|language=en-us|access-date=2021-02-04|archive-date=July 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707145218/https://music.apple.com/us/album/ok-orchestra/1544797363|url-status=dead}} and showed that the album contained 13 tracks. AJR released the album's fourth single "[Way Less Sad](/source/Way_Less_Sad)" and its [music video](/source/music_video) on February 17, 2021,{{Cite news|title=AJR Share New Song 'Way Less Sad' From Upcoming New Album 'OK Orchestra'|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-02-17-ajr-share-new-song-way-less-sad-from-upcoming-new-album-ok-orchestra/|access-date=2021-02-17|first=Taylor | last=Fields | work=[iHeartRadio](/source/iHeartRadio)|language=en}}{{Cite press release |title=AJR Releases New Single And Video "Way Less Sad" |via=Volatile Weekly |url=https://volatileweekly.com/2021/02/ajr-releases-new-single-and-video-way-less-sad/ |date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-20 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526164143/https://volatileweekly.com/2021/02/ajr-releases-new-single-and-video-way-less-sad/ |url-status=dead }} On March 21, 2021, AJR launched OKO World, an interactive experience playable on their official website.{{cite tweet | user=AJRBrothers | author=AJR | title=OKO World has arrived. Go to http://ajrbrothers.com to take your first tour and see when each door will open. Best experienced on a computer to explore the world. | number= 1373764498864021506 | date=March 21, 2021 | access-date=March 30, 2021 }} AJR released a music video for "OK Overture" and "[World's Smallest Violin](/source/World's_Smallest_Violin)" the same day the album was released. On June 23, almost three months later, they released a music video for "[3 O'Clock Things](/source/3_O'Clock_Things)". Two months afterwards on August 12, a music video for "Christmas in June" was released which featured footage filmed at the Wonderstruck Festival in [Cleveland](/source/Cleveland). On February 9, 2022, AJR released a music video for "Ordinaryish People". ==OK Orchestra Tour== {{main|OK Orchestra Tour}} On March 31, 2021, the [OK Orchestra Tour](/source/OK_Orchestra_Tour) was announced by AJR. A majority of 2022 tour dates in the US went public on April 11 and September 23,{{Cite web|first=Victoria|last=Goodwin |url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2021/04/11/ajr-announce-ok-orchestra-tour-2022/|title=AJR announce OK Orchestra Tour 2022|website=Melodic Magazine|date=April 11, 2021|access-date=November 26, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Hopkins|first=Earl|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/2021/09/20/ajr-perform-columbus-2022-next-years-north-american-tour/8419009002/|title=Pop trio AJR adds Columbus concert to next year's North American tour|website=[The Columbus Dispatch](/source/The_Columbus_Dispatch)|date=September 20, 2021|accessdate=November 26, 2023}} with an additional 12 dates in 2021 being published on July 27, 2021.{{cite web |last=Evans|first=Ken|url=https://mix957gr.com/ajr-bringing-the-ok-orchestra-tour-to-grand-rapids/|title=AJR Bringing The OK Orchestra Tour To Grand Rapids in September|website=Mix 95.7|date=July 12, 2021|accessdate=November 26, 2023}} The tour sold over 350 thousand tickets across 50 shows in the US.{{cite web |url=https://www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com/news/detail/ajr-first-ever-arena-tour|title=Multi-platinum Chart-topping Band AJR First-ever Arena Tour Release the Maybe Man|website=[Wells Fargo](/source/Wells_Fargo)|date=November 10, 2023|accessdate=November 26, 2023}} A concert from the European Leg of the tour was supposed to happen on October 22, 2022, at the 1930 Moscow Concert hall in Moscow, Russia. It was supposed to be the final concert of the tour. This concert was then cancelled due to the [Russian invasion of Ukraine](/source/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine) on February 25, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2022-02-25 |title=AJR Cancels Russian Tour Due to Ukraine Invasion — Will Others Follow? |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/ajr-cancel-russian-tour-ukraine-invasion-1235190607/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} ==Reception== {{Music ratings | title =''OK Orchestra'' ratings | rev1 =[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | rev1score ={{Rating|4|5}} | rev2 =''Spectrum Culture'' | rev2score ={{Rating|1|5}} }} A.D. Amorosi of ''[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))'' described the album as "harmonically vocalized, hyper-memoir-centricied, atmospheric mélange of pop, hip-hop, and doo-wop with quirky rhythms and a salting of smart-assed [They Might Be Giants](/source/They_Might_Be_Giants) for tart taste". In a review for [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic), Matt Collar wrote that "''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", rating the album 4/5.{{cite web |last1=Collar |first1=Matt |title=OK Orchestra Review by Matt Collar |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ok-orchestra-mw0003469475 |website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |access-date=24 September 2022}} Thomas Stremfel of ''Spectrum Culture'' received the album less positively, rating the album a 25/100 and stating that "hearing the terrible production and cringe-inducing songwriting of ''OK Orchestra'' without warning makes for an undeniably engaging listen... Year-end album lists should be filing restraining orders against this album, but that doesn't mean you can't listen to it for a cheap laugh."{{cite web |last1=Stremfel |first1=Thomas |title=AJR: OK Orchestra |url=https://spectrumculture.com/2021/05/11/ajr-ok-orchestra-review/|website=Spectrum Culture |access-date=24 September 2022 |date=11 May 2021}} === Accolades === The album was nominated for Top Rock Album at the [2022 Billboard Music Awards](/source/2022_Billboard_Music_Awards) alongside other bands [Twenty One Pilots](/source/Twenty_One_Pilots), [Coldplay](/source/Coldplay), and [Imagine Dragons](/source/Imagine_Dragons).{{cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |title=Billboard Music Awards 2022: Full Winners List |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/billboard-awards-2022-winners-list-1235266875/ |website=Variety |access-date=March 7, 2024 |date=May 15, 2022}} ==Commercial performance== ''OK Orchestra'' debuted at number 10 on the US [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200) dated April 10, 2021, becoming AJR's second top-10 album. It earned 32,000 [album-equivalent unit](/source/album-equivalent_unit)s, including 13,000 pure album sales.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9551049/rod-wave-soulfly-tops-billboard-200/|title=Rod Wave Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'SoulFly'|magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=April 4, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021}} Although ''OK Orchestra'' placed at number 55 on the midweek [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) dated March 29, 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart-update/20210329/7502U|title=Official Albums Chart Update Top 100: 29 March 2021 – 04 April 2021|publisher=[Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company)|access-date=March 31, 2021}} it did not place in the final listing on April 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20210402/7502|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100: 2 April 2021 – 8 April 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=April 3, 2021}} Much of the album's popularity has been attributed to the singles "Bang!", "Way Less Sad", and "World's Smallest Violin". ==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''OK Orchestra'' track listing | total_length = 45:49 | all_writing = Adam Met, Jack Met, and Ryan Met, except where noted. | title1 = OK Overture | length1 = 4:31 | title2 = [Bummerland](/source/Bummerland) | length2 = 3:09 | title3 = [3 O'Clock Things](/source/3_O'Clock_Things) | length3 = 3:47 | title4 = [My Play](/source/My_Play) | length4 = 3:10 | title5 = Joe | length5 = 3:33 | title6 = [Adventure Is Out There](/source/Adventure_Is_Out_There) | length6 = 3:32 | title7 = [Bang!](/source/Bang!_(AJR_song)) | length7 = 2:51 | title8 = The Trick | length8 = 2:51 | title9 = Ordinaryish People | note9 = featuring [Blue Man Group](/source/Blue_Man_Group) | length9 = 3:40 | writer9 = {{hlist|A. Met|J. Met|R. Met|Jeff Quay}} | title10 = Humpty Dumpty | length10 = 3:38 | title11 = [World's Smallest Violin](/source/World's_Smallest_Violin) | length11 = 3:01 | title12 = [Way Less Sad](/source/Way_Less_Sad) | length12 = 3:28 | writer12 = {{hlist|A. Met|J. Met|R. Met|[Paul Simon](/source/Paul_Simon)}} | title13 = Christmas in June | length13 = 4:40 }} ==Personnel== Credits adapted from [Tidal](/source/Tidal_(service)).{{cite web |title=Credits / OK ORCHESTRA / AJR |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/174275317/credits |publisher=[Tidal](/source/Tidal_(service)) |access-date=April 1, 2021 |date=March 26, 2021}} '''AJR''' * Adam Met – bass guitar, instruments, vocals * Jack Met – lead vocals, instruments * Ryan Met – vocals, [production](/source/Record_producer) {{small|(all tracks)}}, instruments {{small|(2, 7)}}, [programming](/source/Programming_(music)) {{small|(2, 4, 12)}} '''Additional personnel''' {{div col}} * [Chris Gehringer](/source/Chris_Gehringer) – [mastering](/source/Mastering_(audio)) * Joe Zook – [mixing](/source/Audio_mixing_(recorded_music)) * Alba Avoricani – additional vocals {{small|(1, 3–6, 8–13)}} * Ruth Kornblatt-Stier – cello {{small|(1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10)}} * Danny Ferenbach – violin {{small|(1, 3–6, 8–13)}}, trumpet {{small|(12)}} * Emelia Suljic – violin {{small|(1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10)}} * Andrew Sobelsohn – [slide guitar](/source/slide_guitar) {{small|(1, 6)}} * Barbara D Dirickson – [narrator](/source/Narration) {{small|(1)}} * Chris Berry – drums {{small|(3, 6, 13)}} * Josh Plotner – flute {{small|(3)}}, clarinet {{small|(13)}} * Arnetta Johnson – trumpet {{small|(3, 9, 13)}} * [The Beu Sisters](/source/The_Beu_Sisters) – vocals {{small|(3)}} * Bas Janssen – trumpet engineer {{small|(3)}} * Kenny Urban – beatbox {{small|(5)}} * [Charlie Pellett](/source/Charlie_Pellett) – additional vocals {{small|(7)}} * JJ Kirkpatrick – trumpet {{small|(7)}} * [Blue Man Group](/source/Blue_Man_Group) – ensemble {{small|(9)}} * Jeff Quay – percussion {{small|(9)}} * Mike Jones – [sousaphone](/source/sousaphone) {{small|(9)}} * Kamila Stankiewicz – artwork * Chris Cerrato – design * Jader Souza – design {{div col end}} ==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''OK Orchestra'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak
position |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|27|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|10|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|3|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|4|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=October 10, 2023}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|1|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardVinyl|16|artist=AJR|rowheader=true|access-date=October 10, 2023}} |} {{col-2}} ===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''OK Orchestra'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}} | 199 |- ! scope="row"| US Independent Albums (''Billboard''){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums/|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}} | 34 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard''){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-alternative-albums/|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}} | 19 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums (''Billboard''){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-rock-albums/|title=Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}} | 37 |} {{col-end}} ==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''OK Orchestra''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=AJR|title=OK Orchestra|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=January 18, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=AJR|title=OK Orchestra|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2022|access-date=December 12, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}} == See also == * [List of 2021 albums (January–June)](/source/List_of_2021_albums_(January%E2%80%93June)) ==References== {{Cite news|last=Amorosi|first=A. D.| date=2021-03-26|title=Indie-Pop Brother Band AJR Is A-OK With the Lustrously Theatrical 'OK Orchestra': Album Review|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/ajr-band-ok-orchestra-album-revew-1234938983/|access-date=2021-03-26|work=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine)) |language=en-US}} {{AJR}} {{Authority control}} Category:2021 albums Category:AJR albums Category:Orchestral pop albums Category:Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [OK Orchestra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_Orchestra) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_Orchestra?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.