Aly and AJ
Insomniatic

Release Date: 2007 | Tracklist

Yes, the primary reason I purchased this is CD is the fact that half of the Aly & AJ pop duo was the co-star of the Disney Channel show Phil of the Future, which happens to probably be the best Disney show ever. That, and the fact that the lead single, “Potential Breakup Song,” is insanely catchy.

Insomniatic is Aly & AJ’s second album after 2004’s Into the Rush. For the most part, they take on a pop-rock sound although a few all-out-pop songs are thrown in the mix. To my surprise, there were actually some pretty good tracks on here besides the aforementioned single. Despite some extremely lame moments, Aly & AJ’s Insomniatic could be one of the best pop albums of 2007.

Musically, this album is nothing special: at all. But, that said, the Michalka sisters are surprisingly good songwriters (impressively, they are at least partially credited for every song). Yes, most of the songs are written about guy problems, and being a 20 year-old guy I found it somewhat difficult to connect with the meanings, but the lyrics are heartfelt nonetheless. Also, Aly and AJ are both very good singers. They don’t show off at all, but the trading-off of vocals and harmonizing help to keep the album interesting.

Most of the songs on this album are excellent. Some of the standouts are “Potential Breakup Song,” “Silence,” and “If I Could Have You Back.” Most people have heard the synth-heavy, Aly-fronted single “Potential Breakup Song” with the chorus that will stay in the listener’s head for days. This is great song, despite the less-than-perfect lyrics, and it is an exceptional way to open the album. Another highlight is the ballad, “Silence,” which consists of dual vocals over a piano and various synthesized instruments. Songs like “Closure” and “If I Could Have You Back” bring out the pop-rock side of the album with distorted guitars and infectious sing-a-long choruses.

However, there are some elements that bring the otherwise stellar album down. The second track “Bullseye,” is downright bad. The lyrics are dumb and the vocal lines are just lame. The song begins with the following lyrics over an electronic beat “Everybody’s tryin’ to get to me, every guy is out for the kill, I’m the type of girl worth pursuing, but I won’t be caught standing still.” The song later continues on to a chorus that is just as bad. It sounds like a typical song that one could find on MTV or the top 40 radio station. “Like Whoa” is also a song that follows in the vein of “Bullseye” but it isn’t quite as bad, as it scores some points with its groovy chorus.

Despite those two lackluster songs, Aly and AJ’s Insomniatic is an underrated pop-rock album with solid songwriting, stellar production, and first-rate vocals. It’s time for the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears to move over a let an actually talented artist(s) take the top pop album spot for 2007.

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3.2 good

Rank: #0 for 2007