u/leavingthekultbehind

What do you do when your biggest hit is a song that you and your little sister made 14 years prior, COVID shuts down the world, and you guys seemingly abandon the genre that fans had become accustomed to after your long awaited comeback to music? You make a great fucking album.

On May 7th, 2021, the sister duo Aly & AJ released their first studio album in 14 years, “A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun”

Although the sisters had made their pop comeback in 2017 with the heavily 80’s synth pop inspired 10 Years EP and later followed it with the similarly sounding Sanctuary EP in 2019, the duo decided it was time for a new sound.

Instead of reusing synths, they picked up the guitars. This album, much focused on soft rock, a little pop and a touch of country, has the vibes of California written all over it. Slow Dancing, the first single released for this album is an indie folk inspired ballad that transport you to the feeling of being home alone with the person you love most. The following single Listen!!! touches back on that classic pop rock sound that the duo was known for during their time with Hollywood Records. Pretty Places, heavily inspired by the lacking ability to travel during COVID express the longing to travel and well… see pretty places. Don’t Need Nothing (my personal favorite), has the whimsy refrain that the album is titled after.

Although this album did get love from niche pop circles and indie communities alike, I always felt like album should’ve been the one to bring them back to the mainstream. It’s genuinely one of my favorite albums of the COVID era, and while the duo still releases music, they have gone further down the country genre which isn’t really my taste personally.

Some discussion questions

What was your first impression of the album?

Do you still listen to this album or Ally and AJ?

Which song stood out the most and why?

Were there any skips for you?

Do you like the new direction Aly and AJ have gone with their music since this album’s release? Did you prefer their synth pop sound that they did before this album?