Music Review: AJR "I'm Ready"

AJR

I’m Ready

Album: I’m Ready EP

Year: 2013

        Ryan Met waits for his chance with the hottest girl at the club in the jumbled          “I’m Ready,”

         SpongeBob SquarePants exclaims “I’m ready” and it’s repeated over fuzzy synths, setting a outlandish tone. He watches as she makes her way to the dance floor. She’s smiling and waving at her friends while warding off the attention she’s receiving from the rest of guys along the way. He taps his fingers on the tables, wanting to get near her and talk to her. He hopes she would see him in the crowd, hold his gaze and acknowledge him. She would motion him over to join her. However, he knows he’s not good enough for her yet. But when he is, she’ll be posting on Twitter: #awesomenighthotguy. (“You're feeling good, you're feeling right/Across the floor, and I'm already losing my mind/Baby girl, looking fine/Watch you playing and playing and playing these guys/Catch my stare, little smile/Tell me that you're ready and you're feeling the vibe/Someday I'll be so damn sublime/We'll arrive behind a hashtag sign.”)

          In the pre-chorus, he says the night will be such a blur, he’ll remember that he had a good time with her. However, he won’t be paying enough attention to catch her name. (“I won't forget you, but I may/Forget your name/My lady.”)

          In the chorus, he remains at the table, wondering if tonight will be the one where she will approach him, asking him for a dance. It will be a memorable evening. They’ll go home sweaty and exhausted but exhilarated after meeting someone special. (“I know what you're thinking/When the bass starts ringing/Can you tell me when you're stoked to start?/Are you ready for tonight, setting it on fire/And we'll dance until we're dumb in the dark/My lady, I know what you're thinking/When the bass starts ringing/Can you tell me when you're stoked to start?/Are you ready for tonight, setting it on fire/And we'll dance until we're dumb in the dark/Are you ready?”)

        The SpongeBob SquarePants sample pops up again.

          He imagines her starting off the conversation with: “a woman and man are having sex..” She’ll talk about her love of football and ask him everything about his life. Then, they’ll be touching shoulders throughout the night. (“Break me down, dirty jokes/Watch me dear, and say what you wanna know (say what you wanna know)/Beauty lies, within the eyes/Of the beholder, I'll be holding you close all night.”)

               The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

          The SpongeBob SquarePants sample makes yet another appearance.

           In the bridge, he says he wants her to spend with his family and learn all his secrets. (“Break me down, I'm ready, break me down/Break me down, I'm ready, break me down/Break me down, I'm ready, break me down/Break me down, I'm ready, break me down.”)

           The pre-chorus and the SpongeBob SquarePants shows up again.

        A shortened bridge ends thes single. (“I'm ready/Break me down, I'm ready, break me down/Break me down, I'm ready, break me down/Are you ready?”)

The SpongeBob SquarePants sample has nothing in common with the rest of the single other than its title. It’s also an immature choice, given that SpongeBob is a cartoon and he’s trying to be sophisticated guy. It’s used too much and takes over the song. 

         AJR’s vacant vocals make really corny jokes and trip over the chair to get to the girl. Blending into the crowd, there isn’t a reason to take notice. There isn’t anything distinguishable about them other than that one brother who sings the “catch my stare” part.

           The average “I’m Ready” only has the novelty of the SpongeBob SquarePants sample going for it.