Ever since Aly & AJ’s triumphant return in 2017, fans of the sister duo have been losing their minds over their musical reunion – us included! Their Ten Years EP solidified their arrival into the music scene they dominated back in the mid-aughts with a more profound, eighties-inspired sound that fits them so well that it feels like pure magic.
Now with their new EP, Sanctuary, Aly and AJ Michalka are ready to dominate your senses with a rather sensual take on confessing one’s sins, trying to preserve one’s essence, and the absolute bliss of true love all rolled up into a satisfying sixteen minutes. One thing is for sure: if you’re not craving an album after this one, check yourself.
Opening up with first single, “Church,” sinfully-good synths come into play while the duo does some soul-searching for things they do in the name of love. Hey, we don’t judge. However, the judgements of others are a major theme in “Don’t Go Changing.” While it’s so easy to get caught up in the game of perfection, especially on social media, it’s important to remain true to yourself while shoving the rulings of others where they belong.
“Star Maps” gives off an aura of danger set to a haunting backdrop while “Not Ready To Wake Up” most likely has Whitney Houston smiling down from the heavens. Mash this one up with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and you’ve got yourself the ultimate 80’s dance party, disco ball included, of course.
Closing out our short but sweet journey is title track, “Sanctuary” in all its glittering synth glory. Lyrics like, “You deserve all my love / All my adoration” only sums up how we feel about these women and this new release.
The message Aly & AJ have always shared within their music since the beginning was always about being inclusive and honest. The Aly & AJ fanbase is a strong community and that’s something to marvel over. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to have this EP on repeat all summer long.
Sanctuary is available now here.
Sanctuary – and the Ten Years extended play, for that matter – are such mature movements away from Aly and AJ’s past lives as teen musicians. The songs are fresh and nostalgic at the same time, and the final product doesn’t at all reflect the fact that it was created while Aly and AJ’s time was split between television and music. I wish more people were paying attention to these two!