Honest Review: Aly & AJ - "Insomniatic"

[00:00:00] Chantel, why didn't you call me yesterday? Why would I? We're filming the episode today. Normally, I would just forget that except for the fact it was my birthday, my f***ing birthday. And if that intro didn't give you a clue as to what we're talking about today, allow me to tell you. Today we're reviewing Insomniatic by Aly and AJ. Yes, and special shout out to our Patreon producers, Emily, George, Lily, Louie, and Juliet. And this topic was

[00:00:31] chosen by Louie. Thank you so much. And you can also choose episode topics by joining our Patreon at patreon.com slash CCTV pops. Thank you, Louie, for the suggestion. Yes, I appreciate your support. Remember, we also have a free tier. So definitely come by and come chat with us and our fellow CCTV crew members. That's right. So I actually didn't know much about Aly and AJ before doing this album. I was not living

[00:01:01] in America during this era of Disney stars. Yeah, that's valid. So and I don't think they did much outside of the US. When I went down kind of the Wikipedia and kind of the biographies and stuff. It's they did do some promo in the UK, but I do not remember them never doing much in Asia. So yeah, I remember the song because I think the song did do really well. But I don't really know much about them otherwise. So I'm coming in with very just kind of open

[00:01:31] mind and fresh ears. Oh, respect. Respect. I mean, you do have a great, great musical taste. You're an Avril fan, you know? Yes, I do love this era of pop rock. So this is quite up my alley. Yes. Yeah, totally. So you're not like completely coming in here like, I don't know what the F I'm listening to. Which is great because I hate when I'm talking to people. They're like, well, I don't get it. And I'm like, you don't get it because you don't get it. What's wrong with you? But yeah, your taste is great. So I think you would definitely have some good reviews.

[00:01:58] I was curious to hear what you had to say about a lot of it because I was like, oh, oh, I don't know if he likes this. You know, I grew up with the Disney umbrella being very strong back in the day. Like if you weren't watching, obviously Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, you're watching Disney. And Disney had something that the other two did not, which is bangers from their artists. Even if it was like contrived and boardroom pop, call it boardroom pop. It was still like very much geared for like, what are the kids going to like?

[00:02:28] I remember seeing Allie, they call her Alison Meshaka. And she was on, I think, Phil of the Future. So I got to know her via that way. And I kind of followed her acting career more than her music career, which is disservice and disrespectful. But yeah, the last thing I remember about Allie was that she was on Wildcats, that cheerleading show on the CW. But yeah, I mean, their songs were the constant plug of music in between like the commercial breaks and whatnot.

[00:02:57] So instead of using like bumps or whatever, they would play the songs. Yeah. And I remember seeing some of their songs here and there. So I'm not like a huge fan, but I am cognizant of them and their singles and like some of the album tracks that we're going to talk about today.

[00:03:10] Yay! Okay. So Insomniatic is a pop rock album by Allie and AJ, and they are the sibling duo who was signed to Hollywood Records, which is a label established by Disney.

[00:03:22] The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, and we will now go track by track discussing the production, vocals, lyrics, and give our ratings for each song. And best believe you are free to join us. If you disagree with us, tell us why. If you agree with us, tell us why.

[00:03:37] Yeah. So we're starting off with the first single from the album, Potential Breakup Song, which was released in June 2007 at peak at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[00:03:50] And more recently in 2020, it did have a resurgence on TikTok. So Allie and AJ did release a re-recorded version with some more explicit lyric changes too.

[00:04:02] I feel like the one you used earlier.

[00:04:05] Yeah, exactly. So what do you think of Potential Breakup Song?

[00:04:10] So yeah, you know, this song is a cult anthem heard around the Disney kid universe. I feel like there's not a single Disney kid or kid that grew up around this time that doesn't know the song.

[00:04:20] Especially the line like, it was my birthday, my stupid birthday. That is so passive aggressive.

[00:04:25] The line lives in the hearts of all of us to this day, you know?

[00:04:29] I mean, even with the 2020 recording, the girls change it to like, to like my effing birthday.

[00:04:33] And I love that because when you're young, you're a kid, you're like, it was just my stupid birthday, I guess.

[00:04:38] You know, but when you're older, you're just like, it's my f***ing birthday.

[00:04:40] Yeah.

[00:04:40] It was my f***ing birthday and you're an f***ing loser for forgetting it.

[00:04:44] But I remember hearing this song and being like, I don't know what about it was so like infectious and so good.

[00:04:52] Maybe it's the way they sing in the chorus. I don't know.

[00:04:54] But the whole song is just like this electropop, which the only electropop on the album, which stinks because it was this album was described as like electropop rock kind of situation on the album.

[00:05:06] And it's so fun. It's like wiry, has these crazy synths.

[00:05:10] And U.S. Today, I saw like a little quote. They said it reminds, the writer said it reminded me of Del Shannon's Runaway.

[00:05:18] And I can hear the similarity. Like there's a little bit of a franticness and like there's like this weird driving.

[00:05:25] The sound I'm making does not match at all, but I can hear the similarity.

[00:05:29] Have you heard Del Shannon's Runaway?

[00:05:30] I don't think so.

[00:05:32] If you listen to people like, oh yeah, I can kind of, I can kind of hear it.

[00:05:34] It's not like plagiarized. It's more just like, oh, is this what they were thinking of?

[00:05:38] The song was definitely edgy for Disney at the time.

[00:05:41] Like if you think about, you know, Hilary Duff being like one of the first ish beyond music, Biggie Mouse Club being like their first ish pop singer.

[00:05:50] Yeah.

[00:05:51] It's a lot more edgier than So Yesterday, where she's saying basically the same thing, but she's like more easy breezy, like AC radio, easy listening.

[00:05:58] They're like, no, we're breaking up.

[00:06:01] We're going to break up if you don't figure this crap out.

[00:06:03] Like this rock star Britney approach.

[00:06:05] And I think this, the girls really solidified their legacy as like cool girls with this track, you know?

[00:06:12] So it was like kind of cool and edgy, but also very like sing with a little bit of vocal fry and stuff like that, you know?

[00:06:19] What's going on?

[00:06:20] Yeah.

[00:06:20] Also, just so I make sure they were like 15 ish, right?

[00:06:25] Yeah.

[00:06:25] That's insane.

[00:06:26] Right.

[00:06:26] That's amazing.

[00:06:27] Because this is a solid, solid album.

[00:06:29] Like that's insane how young they were.

[00:06:31] That's amazing.

[00:06:32] Yeah.

[00:06:33] Yeah.

[00:06:33] So when I first heard this song, obviously I did know this one and with the TikTok resurgence,

[00:06:38] it was like kind of everywhere during the pandemic as well.

[00:06:40] So yeah, it's awesome.

[00:06:43] It does remind me of Ashley Simpson, actually.

[00:06:46] Oh, yes.

[00:06:47] It kind of gives like Lala, our boyfriend.

[00:06:50] Lala, Lala.

[00:06:50] Yeah.

[00:06:51] Which I loved those songs.

[00:06:53] Oh my God.

[00:06:53] Yes.

[00:06:54] So that's a good comparison for sure.

[00:06:56] But yeah, this is a pretty perfect pop rock electro song.

[00:07:00] Like every single melody is so catchy.

[00:07:04] Like from the Lala's to the verses, there's tension in the pre-chorus, there's head voice

[00:07:09] in post-chorus.

[00:07:10] So every part stands out on its own and it's super catchy.

[00:07:13] Yes.

[00:07:14] Yeah.

[00:07:14] So I love that.

[00:07:15] It's just good pop music writing, you know?

[00:07:18] Absolutely.

[00:07:18] Kudos to them.

[00:07:19] And it does balance the electronic elements well with the kind of rock elements.

[00:07:24] Like the electric guitar and the synth, they don't clash.

[00:07:27] Like it actually all works together.

[00:07:29] And you mentioned it earlier, like that sound doesn't really follow through the rest of the

[00:07:33] album.

[00:07:34] Yeah.

[00:07:35] Unfortunately.

[00:07:36] And that's really, yeah, I'm probably going to repeat that later on.

[00:07:39] But yeah, I really like this song so much.

[00:07:42] And I understand why it is one of their biggest hits for sure.

[00:07:45] I like the 2020 re-recording too.

[00:07:48] They added more kind of 80s elements.

[00:07:50] Oh, yes.

[00:07:51] Yeah.

[00:07:51] To the production, which I like and it kind of makes sense.

[00:07:54] And their voices have developed super nicely as well.

[00:07:57] A lot more depth in their tones.

[00:08:00] It's not as bratty, I would say, in the execution.

[00:08:04] Yeah.

[00:08:04] It's just a little bit more.

[00:08:06] I don't know.

[00:08:07] It's a groan, which makes sense because it's like 20 years later.

[00:08:11] Literally.

[00:08:11] But yeah, I love this song.

[00:08:13] This is a good enough song that would make you want to hear what else they have.

[00:08:19] I agree.

[00:08:21] I wish I was writing like this when I was 15.

[00:08:24] I was not.

[00:08:24] I know.

[00:08:25] Oh my gosh.

[00:08:26] It's so, so good.

[00:08:27] Yeah.

[00:08:28] Oh, we didn't actually shout out the writers.

[00:08:30] So Allie and AJ wrote this along with Antonina Armando and Tim James.

[00:08:35] So yeah, that's awesome.

[00:08:37] They did an amazing job.

[00:08:38] I definitely give this a 10 because I feel like this just kind of sets the bar for

[00:08:41] their output.

[00:08:42] Oh yeah.

[00:08:43] I guess.

[00:08:43] I would say.

[00:08:44] Yeah.

[00:08:44] Especially with this being like their last Hollywood record album.

[00:08:49] So yeah, not bad ladies.

[00:08:50] Not bad.

[00:08:50] Second up is Bullseye.

[00:08:52] And it was written by Allie, AJ, Antonina, and Tim.

[00:08:57] So same names from before.

[00:08:59] I think the least amount of hands in the pot has helped them just listening to everything.

[00:09:04] But we'll get into a hell of a bit more.

[00:09:05] What do you think about Bullseye?

[00:09:07] This one's a fun one.

[00:09:09] I actually will have to say, I think maybe the first time I heard it, because I've just

[00:09:12] been listening to this album on repeat for the last like two weeks, basically.

[00:09:15] Right.

[00:09:16] It did not stand out to me at all, really.

[00:09:19] But it has since become one of the ones that get stuck in my head randomly.

[00:09:23] Ah, got you.

[00:09:24] Got you.

[00:09:25] And it has grown on me now more.

[00:09:27] It definitely feels like a song that's made for tour.

[00:09:30] Like this would make a great concert opener the way that it's super fun to sing along to.

[00:09:35] There's a lot of drama in it.

[00:09:37] There's an electric guitar solo, which I love.

[00:09:39] And more pop songs need that in general.

[00:09:41] Oh my God.

[00:09:42] Yes.

[00:09:42] Why the hell?

[00:09:44] Yeah.

[00:09:44] And the bass line is just awesome.

[00:09:47] Yeah.

[00:09:47] It just sets the vibe super effectively.

[00:09:50] And again, I still can't believe that they were only like 15.

[00:09:53] Yeah.

[00:09:54] And they could play their own instruments too.

[00:09:56] So whatever they were getting and giving at the same time, like the creative inputs

[00:10:00] and output was just super stellar.

[00:10:02] And I think with this song, it definitely creates a good picture.

[00:10:05] Like I don't, I do wonder like what goes on, especially as you have these two teenage

[00:10:09] girls who see like their old souls.

[00:10:12] I don't want to be like, oh, you're mature for your age.

[00:10:13] Because I hate people say that.

[00:10:14] It's weird.

[00:10:14] But like they have this old soul about them, whatever their influences were, you can hear

[00:10:19] in their vocals.

[00:10:20] Like even though they were singing, it's like, oh, you hear like vocal flips with AJ specifically.

[00:10:27] Her flipping from her chest to voice, her head to chest voice is so good.

[00:10:32] And it's very distinctly her.

[00:10:34] I think the bass line is really dark and dangerous sounding.

[00:10:37] The distorted guitar makes it sound really gritty and cool.

[00:10:40] Again, just keeping that same energy from the previous track.

[00:10:44] Um, and like I said, they had a voice in their writing so early on.

[00:10:51] Like when you get to the bridge, like you didn't ask for my number.

[00:10:54] Yes.

[00:10:55] I heard that.

[00:10:56] I was like, that's hilarious.

[00:10:57] Why is she talking?

[00:10:58] And I got in when I got the, I got the gig.

[00:11:00] I got the gag.

[00:11:01] I was like, oh, that's, that's, that's really funny.

[00:11:03] It's funny.

[00:11:03] Yeah.

[00:11:04] You didn't ask for my number.

[00:11:05] That whole part is fun.

[00:11:07] I can imagine, like you said, being in a arena stadium at a concert, like a little venue,

[00:11:12] being with my friend.

[00:11:12] Like you didn't ask for my number.

[00:11:16] You know, making it a thing.

[00:11:17] It creates a moment.

[00:11:19] And that's, what's really important as like an artist and already right there.

[00:11:22] Sabrina, Sabrina Carpenter does that.

[00:11:24] I'm not sure if you've seen her with Christina and they were saying what a girl wants.

[00:11:27] Yes.

[00:11:28] Oh my gosh.

[00:11:29] It's what I need.

[00:11:30] And she said it the way she would say it on her own track.

[00:11:32] And just like that, she made it Sabrina Carpenter-y.

[00:11:36] So they did that here.

[00:11:37] There's a guitar break at the end of the bridge.

[00:11:39] Cause you know, they can actually play it.

[00:11:40] So yeah, this one was fun and I think it kept the momentum up really well right after.

[00:11:46] Yes.

[00:11:47] It potential.

[00:11:48] Yeah, for sure.

[00:11:49] Awesome.

[00:11:49] So what do you rate this?

[00:11:50] I'm going to give it an eight because I feel like there's a song that kind of reminds me

[00:11:53] of this one that's stronger on the album.

[00:11:56] Okay.

[00:11:56] I'll go 8.5.

[00:11:58] Yeah.

[00:11:59] Moving on to Clojure, which was done by the same four people, Ali, AJ, Antonina and Tim.

[00:12:06] All right.

[00:12:07] So this one is a bit of a dud for me.

[00:12:10] I have to say.

[00:12:12] Yeah.

[00:12:12] Bit of a dud.

[00:12:13] Yeah.

[00:12:14] I agree.

[00:12:15] I find the chorus just mildly annoying.

[00:12:20] And the hook just, I see what they're trying to do to try and make it a hook with the,

[00:12:24] you know, closer to Clojure kind of thing.

[00:12:26] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:12:27] But it just doesn't do anything for me.

[00:12:30] Yeah.

[00:12:30] Yeah.

[00:12:31] I like the piano moments in this one.

[00:12:33] I think that's a cool highlight.

[00:12:36] I think the chorus just is just meh.

[00:12:39] Like the chorus really dragged it down.

[00:12:40] Like I feel like it needed a second part where it like kind of sped up a little bit or something.

[00:12:44] Just to kind of, I don't know, give it a bit more.

[00:12:48] You know, I agree.

[00:12:48] I feel like this was the one I was looking for something to hook me.

[00:12:53] I was looking for something that made me go, hmm, what's that?

[00:12:57] Or wow.

[00:12:58] But it's tough.

[00:12:59] Like usually if I'm not into the verses, I wait for the pre-hook to loop me in.

[00:13:03] But even with this song, there is not really a definitive point where I would know where the pre-hook is.

[00:13:12] Like there's an abrupt break in between the verses and the chorus.

[00:13:16] Yes.

[00:13:16] Like they say, and it goes boom, like the music's going and it goes boom.

[00:13:20] No, listen.

[00:13:21] It's like, no.

[00:13:22] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:13:25] No, not my favorite by them.

[00:13:27] I feel like this may have been one of those.

[00:13:28] We got like how many more slots to fill on this album, which I got.

[00:13:32] That's what it feels like.

[00:13:33] And it's super short as well.

[00:13:34] I will say the storytelling on this song is something that I really enjoy.

[00:13:39] But relatability wasn't enough to swing me back in.

[00:13:41] This just feels like a last thought of a track.

[00:13:44] And honestly, it just shows.

[00:13:46] Yeah.

[00:13:46] Just a little fillery in this case.

[00:13:48] I do think this is one of the songs that could have benefited from the more electronic elements.

[00:13:55] I think if they added some synths to this, at least it would have helped it stand out a bit more differently.

[00:14:00] Bumping to elevate it, even at the end.

[00:14:02] We all know both ad-libs.

[00:14:04] There was nothing at the end to even give it like a big dot period, you know?

[00:14:08] So I think that kind of went into it.

[00:14:12] What did you rate this one?

[00:14:13] Because I gave it six.

[00:14:15] Oh, yeah.

[00:14:16] I'll match you with the six.

[00:14:17] Yeah.

[00:14:18] Yeah.

[00:14:19] Up next is...

[00:14:20] You can't see me on YouTube.

[00:14:23] I did a division sign because it's stylized as a division sign.

[00:14:28] So, yeah.

[00:14:28] Next song is Division.

[00:14:29] And it was done by the same suspect.

[00:14:33] Yes.

[00:14:33] Which is fine.

[00:14:34] Which is fine.

[00:14:35] Yeah, no.

[00:14:35] I love that.

[00:14:36] That's great.

[00:14:37] Yeah.

[00:14:37] This one, you know, I feel like it did what the other song was trying to do.

[00:14:42] This song has the kick that closure was missing, which is also why I'm like, is this the last

[00:14:47] song on the album?

[00:14:48] We were like, oh, we can just kind of fill it in there.

[00:14:49] I like the dreamy doo-wop-ishness of it.

[00:14:54] Doo-wop-ishness.

[00:14:55] I find myself making up words on this show.

[00:14:58] That works.

[00:14:59] You know, doo-wop-ishness.

[00:15:00] But yeah, I feel like the whole doo-wop vibe atmosphere, excuse me.

[00:15:07] It's dreamy.

[00:15:08] It brings that rock element in.

[00:15:10] It sounds like the song was made to feel like a dream that was ended by a harsh reality of a breakup.

[00:15:16] Once again, the storytelling is really good.

[00:15:18] I get the idea.

[00:15:19] And I can feel myself living through the lyrics.

[00:15:21] Like, I love the you're going to miss me bad.

[00:15:24] So funny.

[00:15:25] I had to laugh line because it makes the congratulations feel even more sarcastic in that second verse.

[00:15:31] Yes.

[00:15:31] And then also that line reminds me of the precious movie meme where she's like, you think you know

[00:15:36] everything with the degree?

[00:15:38] You've seen that meme, right?

[00:15:40] Yeah.

[00:15:41] It's like, you know everything with the degree.

[00:15:43] Oh, God.

[00:15:44] Yes.

[00:15:45] And I would say like a highlight is also their harmonies.

[00:15:48] It's like throughout the song.

[00:15:51] But it definitely elevates the song in the latter half as well.

[00:15:53] So I was definitely like, ooh, yes, your voice is their blend is good.

[00:15:57] Their harmonies are good.

[00:15:58] I was just like, well, we're going to get more of that.

[00:16:00] I'm like, you've teased me now.

[00:16:02] Hmm.

[00:16:03] The fun, my favorite lyrics in this are the bridge where they talk about graduation because

[00:16:08] it just, that's where their youth comes in because I'm like, oh my gosh, an adult

[00:16:11] would never write.

[00:16:14] And it's just so petty.

[00:16:16] And it's funny.

[00:16:17] I think that part is very funny.

[00:16:19] I really like this song.

[00:16:21] I think this is one of the standouts on the album.

[00:16:23] Yeah.

[00:16:24] I just, I think the way it builds is just so cool because if you just listen to the

[00:16:28] intro where it's like all twinkly, you don't like, you don't really know where it's

[00:16:33] going really.

[00:16:34] And then it kind of builds a bit.

[00:16:36] It stays, it starts off quite sweet.

[00:16:37] There's some strings, but then the chorus gets really intense and dramatic.

[00:16:42] Right.

[00:16:42] Right.

[00:16:42] So I just love that kind of ride that you get taken on.

[00:16:46] This was one that I did kind of keep looking forward to each time I listened to the album.

[00:16:51] So I give this one a nine.

[00:16:52] This one's up there for me.

[00:16:54] Oh, nice.

[00:16:54] Nice.

[00:16:55] I give this one.

[00:16:56] Ooh.

[00:16:58] You know, I'll match you.

[00:16:59] I'll match you.

[00:17:00] I'll match you.

[00:17:01] Yeah.

[00:17:01] I think this is one of those songs that definitely highlights their ability to bring their personalities

[00:17:08] into the song and not just be another like boardroom pop song.

[00:17:12] Next up we have Like It or Leave It.

[00:17:15] Again done by the same four people.

[00:17:17] We love it.

[00:17:18] Yeah.

[00:17:19] They really knew who they wanted to put this cohesive project together.

[00:17:23] I wonder how they got that to happen, you know?

[00:17:26] Because, you know, with like Disney, they're very much like, oh, this is who you're going

[00:17:29] to write with.

[00:17:30] I mean, to be fair, sometimes it's actually cheaper to just kind of have two because then

[00:17:35] you kind of just lock them in for.

[00:17:37] Yeah.

[00:17:37] That rate.

[00:17:38] Yeah.

[00:17:39] Yeah.

[00:17:40] Yeah.

[00:17:40] That's sometimes a factor as well.

[00:17:42] But I really like these songs.

[00:17:44] So they chose them well.

[00:17:45] Indeed.

[00:17:46] What do you think of Like It or Leave It?

[00:17:48] Ah, this song is the unapologetic anthem.

[00:17:51] Right.

[00:17:52] I like the plucky sound of the guitar.

[00:17:54] I'm not even sure.

[00:17:55] Like, I'm not well versed in strumming and playing styles, but it sounds like someone was

[00:17:59] like plucking out the strings with their fingers and not using so much of like the pick.

[00:18:02] The pick.

[00:18:02] Yeah.

[00:18:03] Yeah.

[00:18:03] So I like that.

[00:18:03] I like the back and forth between the acoustic and the electric guitar.

[00:18:07] It creates like this fun battlefield feel.

[00:18:10] And it also, the girls match the energy with their vocals.

[00:18:15] So super, super happy to see that the song isn't overpowering them.

[00:18:20] Because you know how sometimes productions like overpower singers.

[00:18:23] You're like, girl, do something.

[00:18:25] Give us up.

[00:18:26] They gave us something.

[00:18:27] I really appreciate it.

[00:18:29] And again, their bridge is epic.

[00:18:31] I wish I knew how to describe it more than just saying like we were racing toward that

[00:18:36] ultimatum, like where you must take it or leave it.

[00:18:39] Like the song just builds so much good tension.

[00:18:43] And that's why it's so important to have a bridge.

[00:18:44] This song is what, like three minutes and 17 seconds.

[00:18:48] And they can manage to fit a very, very compelling bridge and still punctuate what they're saying.

[00:18:54] Like, hello, without you, I'll be fine.

[00:18:55] Like, I don't want to be without you.

[00:18:57] But honey, take it or leave it.

[00:18:58] Like it or leave it.

[00:18:59] And I love that sentiment.

[00:19:00] I love how the song carries the emotions of what they're trying to say.

[00:19:05] They perform the heck out of it.

[00:19:06] I was watching, I was trying to like watch some old videos, found some performing on Six Flags, you know.

[00:19:13] And they do a really good job.

[00:19:15] They believe what they're singing.

[00:19:16] And I believe that they were singing too.

[00:19:18] So this one's a tasty little morsel.

[00:19:21] I love that.

[00:19:22] This one's up there for me as well on this album.

[00:19:26] It's just such a good example of this type of sound.

[00:19:29] Yeah.

[00:19:30] And they just do such a good job of it.

[00:19:33] Like this, in this song, they, again, kind of balance the sweetness and the angstiness really, really well.

[00:19:40] They're her.

[00:19:41] And, you know, we talked a bit about like the talky bits and stuff in other songs.

[00:19:44] But in this one, it's super effective.

[00:19:46] Yeah.

[00:19:46] And it really does add just a whole other dynamic to their songs when they add these kind of talky moments as well.

[00:19:54] Because it does feel more conversational.

[00:19:56] Yeah.

[00:19:57] But, you know, their voices aren't that different.

[00:20:00] And they don't have like a ton of different variety in their tones.

[00:20:06] So being able to then add the talking and the whispering, that helps add to the variety.

[00:20:11] Totally.

[00:20:12] So I think that's just really smart in the way they did that.

[00:20:14] And yeah, definitely the bridge is so cool.

[00:20:18] The way it kind of, it's so fast.

[00:20:20] And yeah, like you said, there's just a lot of tension there.

[00:20:22] But their enunciation is really good.

[00:20:24] So you still know what they're saying.

[00:20:25] Yay!

[00:20:26] Yeah.

[00:20:26] This is actually one of my favorites on the album.

[00:20:29] Like I would totally use this like as an example of how good this era of like pop rock was.

[00:20:36] Yeah.

[00:20:36] I would actually give this one a 10.

[00:20:38] Yeah, this one's a 10 too.

[00:20:39] This is a nice little like follow up if they had, if I had my choice to Potential.

[00:20:45] It's one of those songs where I'm like, this could have been a single.

[00:20:47] Yes, definitely could have been a single.

[00:20:49] I completely agree.

[00:20:49] Yeah.

[00:20:50] Definitely.

[00:20:51] All right.

[00:20:52] Up next is like, whoa.

[00:20:55] And it was done by the same team.

[00:20:58] And this was released as a second single from the album in 2008.

[00:21:01] And it was their final single release under Hollywood Records.

[00:21:05] Right.

[00:21:06] It peaked at 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[00:21:09] And they actually re-released a recording of it in 2022.

[00:21:13] So this one got some new life breathed into it as well.

[00:21:17] So how do you feel about the original?

[00:21:18] Oh, I can see why this was chosen as a single.

[00:21:25] Yeah.

[00:21:26] Like the chorus is super simple.

[00:21:27] It does match more of the Disney quote unquote sound, I guess, because it is more poppy and

[00:21:35] it's not as angsty as some of the other songs on the album.

[00:21:39] So I can see if some of their original fans would be turned off by potential breakup song.

[00:21:44] Like maybe their younger ones.

[00:21:46] Oh, yeah.

[00:21:46] Yeah.

[00:21:47] Then this, I see why they felt this might appeal more to the younger kind of Disney poppy audience.

[00:21:55] But yeah, I think for my own taste, though, the song is just okay.

[00:21:58] I like the verses and the bridge more than the chorus.

[00:22:01] The chorus, I don't know, just doesn't really make much impact for me.

[00:22:07] You know?

[00:22:07] Yeah.

[00:22:09] Yeah.

[00:22:10] Yeah.

[00:22:10] So this isn't one that I would likely listen to very often.

[00:22:16] Yeah.

[00:22:16] Yeah.

[00:22:16] It was a little lazy in terms of like chorus effort.

[00:22:20] Yeah.

[00:22:21] Because I would say lazy because they don't use as many words to articulate their...

[00:22:26] Yeah.

[00:22:27] Yeah.

[00:22:27] That's what it is.

[00:22:27] It's catchy.

[00:22:28] It's not like, you know, potential says all the words.

[00:22:30] This is a potential break.

[00:22:33] You hear melody as well.

[00:22:34] This one is just a bunch of, well, well.

[00:22:37] It's very like comic book-esque.

[00:22:39] Yeah.

[00:22:39] Which is fine.

[00:22:41] But it's one of those things where I can see your point.

[00:22:44] You know, back during the time where Disney would actually like plug their artists with

[00:22:49] the commercial breaks, I remember the song vaguely.

[00:22:52] The Whisper singing is like interesting because it made them sound a little smoky, you know?

[00:22:57] Again, it gave like a rock star Britney kind of situation going on.

[00:23:00] So it was still pop.

[00:23:01] It's a little like rock and a little edgy.

[00:23:03] It wasn't super bright.

[00:23:05] Um, so, you know, I think the chorus being more sung in the chest voice helps make it

[00:23:12] explode a little bit more in terms of energy.

[00:23:15] So I do appreciate that energy was actually decent.

[00:23:18] I would say it doesn't hold like a candle to a song like Bullseye, but I do enjoy this

[00:23:22] one.

[00:23:22] Their bridges at this point now have become something that I look forward to.

[00:23:26] And this one, although not their best, it felt like a sensory overload.

[00:23:30] It had whooshing sounds.

[00:23:32] Like it was just a lot going on.

[00:23:34] But it definitely encapsulated the feeling of someone having a first crush or first love

[00:23:39] or whatever it is that they're describing in the song.

[00:23:41] So I think sonically, it definitely encapsulates the emotions well.

[00:23:48] I don't think like lyrically it's their best or like melodically is their best.

[00:23:55] It did feel like it was one of those sessions where it's like, okay, we have to write a

[00:23:59] single for Disney radio.

[00:24:00] Yeah.

[00:24:01] It does feel like that.

[00:24:02] Like it needs to be something happier.

[00:24:03] And it needs to be something super catchy for little kids to catch on to.

[00:24:07] Yeah.

[00:24:08] That's what it feels like.

[00:24:08] Well, well.

[00:24:09] I will say though, it has grown on me.

[00:24:11] Yeah.

[00:24:12] Like through listening to it, but it's not super instant.

[00:24:16] It wasn't super instant for me, which I think is probably why it didn't do as well.

[00:24:21] Maybe as a single.

[00:24:22] Interesting.

[00:24:23] And we actually didn't talk about the potential breakup song music video, which I thought

[00:24:28] was effective for that.

[00:24:29] It was simple, but it was effective.

[00:24:30] But for this song, it's literally the same concept, but like instead of it being black

[00:24:35] and like darker, it's like light colors.

[00:24:39] Yeah.

[00:24:39] It was a little lazy.

[00:24:40] It was so lazy.

[00:24:41] It was so lazy.

[00:24:42] It was so lazy.

[00:24:42] I was like, you're doing another photo shoot studio with the different mics.

[00:24:45] Like, okay.

[00:24:46] Come on.

[00:24:46] Like they really could have just done something.

[00:24:48] Not them, but like, I feel like whoever put it together was being really lazy.

[00:24:51] Yeah.

[00:24:51] It was lazy.

[00:24:53] It was very lazy.

[00:24:54] Oh, I hate that.

[00:24:55] I don't know.

[00:24:56] I think it's a song.

[00:24:57] It's fine.

[00:24:58] I don't think it's a bad song.

[00:25:00] Yeah.

[00:25:00] I just think it's just a little, I don't want to say reductive because I don't know their

[00:25:04] previous material that well, but maybe just in terms of like them maturing, this song

[00:25:09] does feel like a bit of a step back from potential breakup song.

[00:25:12] Yeah.

[00:25:13] But I don't mind it.

[00:25:14] So yeah, I'll give it a 7.5.

[00:25:16] I'll leave it at a 7 for now.

[00:25:18] And this may, I don't like the song.

[00:25:19] I just feel like it's pretty average.

[00:25:21] And then the song, we'll talk about it when we get to the end end of this.

[00:25:24] Yeah.

[00:25:25] I feel like it is, like you said, kind of something they would have released previously.

[00:25:28] And then the song they released previously is stronger than, you know what I'm saying?

[00:25:31] So yeah.

[00:25:32] Yeah.

[00:25:33] I'll leave my 7.

[00:25:34] I'll leave it there.

[00:25:35] Okay.

[00:25:36] All right.

[00:25:36] Moving on.

[00:25:37] We have the title track of the album.

[00:25:39] It is Insomniatic.

[00:25:40] And this time it was only written just by Allie and AJ.

[00:25:44] Yeah.

[00:25:44] Which is interesting.

[00:25:45] Yeah.

[00:25:46] How do you get these two teenagers to write a fully actualized song like this and have

[00:25:51] it be good?

[00:25:52] Awesome.

[00:25:53] That song is awesome.

[00:25:54] Yeah.

[00:25:55] Hello.

[00:25:56] This song would have been so good for the Twilight OST.

[00:26:00] Ooh.

[00:26:02] Oh man, you're right.

[00:26:03] It would have been one of those songs, especially with the theme of it, like vampires and things

[00:26:07] like that.

[00:26:08] And sparkly men.

[00:26:09] Was he not sparkly?

[00:26:10] He wasn't sparkly.

[00:26:11] He was dazzling.

[00:26:12] He sparkled, right?

[00:26:13] He sparkled.

[00:26:14] I just think it was sparkling.

[00:26:15] They called it sparkle.

[00:26:16] Yeah.

[00:26:17] Dazzling.

[00:26:18] Glittering.

[00:26:19] I don't know.

[00:26:19] Glittering.

[00:26:19] Glimmering.

[00:26:20] Not glimmer.

[00:26:20] Glimmering.

[00:26:21] No.

[00:26:21] Glimmering is something else.

[00:26:22] That's something else.

[00:26:23] Okay.

[00:26:23] Anyway, it would have fit like one of those scenes where she's going to class and like,

[00:26:27] you know, the hallway, the hallway music, you know?

[00:26:30] Yeah.

[00:26:32] Yeah, they, like you said, they don't really have that much difference between their vocal

[00:26:39] tones, but their stylings are different.

[00:26:41] Like you have AJ who does the vocal flips throughout this album.

[00:26:45] The duo does a great job of distributing vocals and letting each sister's tone shine.

[00:26:50] But when they sing together in unison, it sounds so haunting.

[00:26:54] It gives me Veronica's a little bit.

[00:26:56] Oh yeah.

[00:26:56] Yeah.

[00:26:56] You know, so like they blend very seamlessly.

[00:26:59] Even when they perform live, I'm like, you guys are really like listening to each other.

[00:27:02] And I love that.

[00:27:02] It's not like I'm trying to outpower my sister here because I'm the star.

[00:27:05] It's like, no, we are a group.

[00:27:06] We're a unit.

[00:27:08] I think the bridge guitar moment.

[00:27:10] Oh my goodness.

[00:27:11] Love it.

[00:27:11] It's so wiry.

[00:27:12] Yes.

[00:27:13] And it's kind of like leaning towards psychedelic rock.

[00:27:16] And I love the moment that we're getting there because there's a delirium that comes with not

[00:27:19] getting enough sleep.

[00:27:21] And again, this is one of those, like, I understand the lyrics.

[00:27:25] I understand the sonics.

[00:27:26] I'm creating a world.

[00:27:27] I'm creating a space.

[00:27:28] And in under three minutes, you're able to create this very passionate, but not like

[00:27:39] lusty song that has like the angst and the danger and the smokiness, the sensuality.

[00:27:48] I don't know how to describe it, but like there's an angst.

[00:27:51] We'll use the word angst, you know, that I can relate to now, even still.

[00:27:56] You know, you can be like 16 year old and 20, whatever, 30 something, whatever.

[00:28:00] And be like, you know, I don't remember how I felt like this.

[00:28:01] I like this song.

[00:28:02] You all feel like I'm listening to a child, you know, like a child's rock song, Kidz Bop

[00:28:06] or something.

[00:28:07] You know, I think, I think more so in the execution, you can kind of tell they're teenagers

[00:28:10] maybe.

[00:28:11] Yeah.

[00:28:12] But I agree with you.

[00:28:12] Like lyrically, it is still relatable as an adult.

[00:28:15] Yeah.

[00:28:16] I think in the way they're singing it where it's like still slightly slurred, you know,

[00:28:20] like that feels very young.

[00:28:22] Yeah.

[00:28:23] Yeah.

[00:28:24] Yeah.

[00:28:25] Totally.

[00:28:25] Yeah.

[00:28:26] But again, you can still understand what they're saying.

[00:28:28] It's not like the slurring that we're getting now.

[00:28:31] Oh, Lord.

[00:28:31] Don't have me started.

[00:28:34] I love the second verse of this.

[00:28:36] I don't know.

[00:28:36] I think it's just, it's really cool.

[00:28:37] Just the way they built it all up.

[00:28:39] And there's like the way they did the timing of it is a bit odd.

[00:28:43] Like as a drummer, I was like, oh wait, I kind of got thrown off by it.

[00:28:48] And I thought that was cool.

[00:28:49] Actually, this is definitely a song I would have loved as a kid.

[00:28:53] But not as a kid, as a teenager.

[00:28:54] Like I think I would have really liked this one.

[00:28:56] So yeah, I feel like I could have been a fan of them.

[00:28:59] But it just never got to me in Asia, really.

[00:29:03] But yeah, this is a really great one.

[00:29:05] Again, another one that grew on me quite a lot.

[00:29:07] Like I think I liked it when I first heard it.

[00:29:09] But another one that like each time it came on, I was kind of like, ooh, it's this one.

[00:29:14] Yeah.

[00:29:14] You know?

[00:29:15] Yeah.

[00:29:15] Yeah.

[00:29:15] It gives me like charmed vibes too.

[00:29:17] Like.

[00:29:18] Yes.

[00:29:18] Buffy.

[00:29:19] T3 club.

[00:29:19] Yeah, Buffy.

[00:29:20] Yeah.

[00:29:20] Totally.

[00:29:21] Yes.

[00:29:22] Yes.

[00:29:23] All those old like mystical teen dramas.

[00:29:27] All right, y'all.

[00:29:29] Oh yeah, what's the rating that you give us?

[00:29:30] I was going to skip this whole rating.

[00:29:32] Yeah.

[00:29:32] Oh, me?

[00:29:33] Oh, I will give it a nine.

[00:29:35] How about you?

[00:29:35] Me too.

[00:29:36] I'm trying to give it a nine in the screen.

[00:29:37] But the Zune is blocking it out.

[00:29:39] Yeah.

[00:29:40] I like this one.

[00:29:40] I feel like when their strong songs are strong, they're strong.

[00:29:44] Yes.

[00:29:45] I still don't feel like there's a potential breakup like match.

[00:29:49] No.

[00:29:49] Potential breakup song is definitely the clear big single on this.

[00:29:54] Yeah.

[00:29:55] But again, going back to what we were saying, I think if you did produce them a bit more similarly.

[00:30:01] Uh-huh.

[00:30:02] You know?

[00:30:02] Like I think if you did make an electropop version of Like It or Leave It.

[00:30:07] Yeah.

[00:30:07] You know?

[00:30:07] I think that could have been a single.

[00:30:10] But yeah, the rest of these songs are just kind of more just rock pop.

[00:30:15] Not many electronic elements.

[00:30:17] So I don't know.

[00:30:18] Just an interesting choice, I guess.

[00:30:20] Yeah.

[00:30:20] That's valid.

[00:30:21] That's a fact.

[00:30:22] Yeah.

[00:30:23] I don't know.

[00:30:23] It's hard.

[00:30:23] I think I kind of potential breakup song is just kind of like there.

[00:30:27] And the rest of the album is more cohesive without it, actually, I would say.

[00:30:31] And maybe the last song as well.

[00:30:32] But yeah.

[00:30:32] Oh, yeah.

[00:30:33] Valid, valid.

[00:30:34] Yeah.

[00:30:34] All right.

[00:30:35] But up next is Silence.

[00:30:36] And it was done by the Meshaka family consisting of Ali, AJ, and their mother, Carrie.

[00:30:43] I love that.

[00:30:44] Yeah.

[00:30:44] It's amazing that they got their mom to co-write on this album.

[00:30:47] How cool.

[00:30:47] It's amazing.

[00:30:48] Yeah.

[00:30:48] I got her credit.

[00:30:49] Go ahead, mom.

[00:30:50] I'll get your crone.

[00:30:51] Get your crones.

[00:30:52] Um, so this one is interesting because it sounds a little like, I don't want to say it sounds

[00:30:58] like an older person wrote it, but it just sounds like, okay, hear me out.

[00:31:03] You know how everything has like this driving rock and you can tell it's very rock influenced?

[00:31:08] Yeah.

[00:31:09] This one feels like it was trying to introduce elements of like folkier.

[00:31:17] It's definitely pop, but something about it is very quirky and acoustic driven.

[00:31:21] It's definitely different from the rest so far.

[00:31:24] Yes.

[00:31:24] There's like chimes.

[00:31:25] It sounds like something that, um, you give me your sweater cause I love the way you call

[00:31:31] me, baby.

[00:31:32] More like an Ingrid Michaelson.

[00:31:33] You know, the, ah, the way you love me, the way that I am, the way I am, it has like the

[00:31:38] folky pop cafe kind of feel to it, which is fine.

[00:31:43] But again, I feel like that's an easy listen.

[00:31:45] It's AC radio, very adult-ish.

[00:31:47] Um, but then you have like electronic elements and synths in there that kind of elevate it

[00:31:52] to like, not elevate, like kind of reduce the age demographic that it's supposed to

[00:31:58] be targeted to.

[00:31:58] Um, I think it is very creepy.

[00:32:03] Aside from my little, my little slight read of the song, the song is melancholic and a

[00:32:08] little creepy sounding.

[00:32:09] Um, it reminds me of those miserable breakups that teenagers go through.

[00:32:12] Like, I mean, I never had a boyfriend in high school.

[00:32:14] Um, but the song has that feeling where it's like, you see them in the halls and you can't

[00:32:18] speak to them.

[00:32:18] So you hang, you hang your head really low or like, you don't, you see them and you

[00:32:22] kind of run in the opposite direction.

[00:32:23] It's kind of that, like, oh, my life without him is so sad and I have to see him every day.

[00:32:30] Um, I think the highlight for my song, for the song is, um, definitely in that pre-hook,

[00:32:36] like the instruments there and then the bridge, uh, because like there's this pathetic hope

[00:32:40] that AJ has in her voice.

[00:32:42] And that's also present in the pre-hook.

[00:32:44] That's like so relatable.

[00:32:45] It's like, I want this to work.

[00:32:46] I really do.

[00:32:47] I hope this will, you know, we can go back together.

[00:32:49] And I'm like, oh, um, the outlier, I would say is the violin because nothing else on this

[00:32:54] album really has a violin part.

[00:32:56] And then like the song just plays out with this miserable little string situation, which

[00:33:01] isn't bad, but it just sounds miserable.

[00:33:04] Um, and it fits, I guess, the whole theme of the song and the sadness of it.

[00:33:09] But for that to be the only violin on this album, I don't know how I feel.

[00:33:14] Interesting.

[00:33:15] Yeah.

[00:33:15] Definitely production wise.

[00:33:16] This song stands out on the album.

[00:33:19] I think vibe wise it works, but you can definitely tell it's not the same team that worked on

[00:33:24] the song.

[00:33:25] Uh, I will say, I think I like the production of this song more than I like the melody

[00:33:31] of the vocal parts.

[00:33:33] Valid.

[00:33:34] Yeah.

[00:33:34] Because I think the production is actually very cool.

[00:33:36] There's like a distortion to it that does give it kind of a bit more darkness, some like

[00:33:42] sense of emptiness.

[00:33:44] Yes.

[00:33:44] But then I think the strings then add kind of a sweetness and a beauty to it as well

[00:33:48] and a etherealness to it.

[00:33:50] Yeah.

[00:33:51] So I don't know.

[00:33:51] I think it's just different.

[00:33:52] Like it stands out in a good way on the album, I think.

[00:33:54] Yeah.

[00:33:54] It's not bad.

[00:33:54] It's just something sonically different.

[00:33:56] Yeah.

[00:33:57] It's not bad.

[00:33:57] It still has the same kind of energy with the rest.

[00:34:01] Yeah.

[00:34:01] The melody, like of the vocal parts, not the most memorable for me.

[00:34:05] I agree with you.

[00:34:05] I think the execution of it is good.

[00:34:07] I think just the actual melody itself is just not the most.

[00:34:11] I don't know.

[00:34:11] I like, I can't sing it back to you, but I can think like right now I'm, I'm

[00:34:16] remembering the instrumental, but I can't sing the vocal parts to you at the

[00:34:21] moment.

[00:34:22] So.

[00:34:22] Got it.

[00:34:22] Got it.

[00:34:23] Got it.

[00:34:23] Yeah.

[00:34:23] I appreciate that there's kind of just this more vulnerable song on there.

[00:34:29] Yes.

[00:34:29] Yeah.

[00:34:30] And yeah, I do think it plays like a good part, like on this album.

[00:34:34] Yeah.

[00:34:34] I think so.

[00:34:35] Yeah.

[00:34:36] Oh, no.

[00:34:36] I gave it a 7.5.

[00:34:37] It's like right below you.

[00:34:38] I don't hate it.

[00:34:40] I was just like, huh, this is the only song that sounds like this on this

[00:34:43] album.

[00:34:44] Yeah.

[00:34:44] So, yeah.

[00:34:45] I like when songs have a little bit of a, not a callback, but something that

[00:34:50] kind of matches it, but either is better.

[00:34:52] That's fair.

[00:34:52] You know?

[00:34:53] Yeah.

[00:34:53] But yeah, not bad.

[00:34:54] Not bad.

[00:34:55] The next one.

[00:34:56] The next song is If I Could Have You Back.

[00:34:59] And this was done by Ali, AJ, and Dan Wilson.

[00:35:03] This one is okay for me.

[00:35:05] I think I just like the way the guitar sounds, like whatever effect they put on

[00:35:10] it makes it sound distorted and kind of like, I don't know.

[00:35:14] It's a nice little distortion there.

[00:35:16] This one's a little bit meh in terms of creativity.

[00:35:18] I feel like the previous song does a good job of already saying what the

[00:35:21] song is expressing.

[00:35:23] Like, you remember I said like, oh, I like something that matches like sonically, not

[00:35:27] like lyrically or thematically, but like this song, like silence already says what needs

[00:35:32] to be said.

[00:35:33] This song comes right after and has the same kind of theme for me.

[00:35:37] Yeah.

[00:35:38] Where it's like, I miss you.

[00:35:39] Let's try again.

[00:35:40] But it's just a little bit more cold and electric because you have this vocal filter, guitar

[00:35:48] filter, the satin, the third filter.

[00:35:50] I'm like, I will say that I enjoy the bridge.

[00:35:53] Like that's the highlight of the song.

[00:35:54] But I feel like it feels like a little out of place in this pop rock track because now

[00:36:00] you have like all this video game sound effects that would have probably been better as like

[00:36:04] a fully actualized song of utilizing those electronic elements of like a video game song

[00:36:10] or synthesizer with rock as opposed to this one isolated moment on the track in the bridge.

[00:36:17] But the bridge is fun.

[00:36:17] Like, again, I look forward to their bridges, so I'm not disappointed.

[00:36:20] I just feel like it felt a little like spliced in like Frankenstein, but not like in a clever

[00:36:25] way because none of the words thematically go in that direction anyway.

[00:36:29] You know?

[00:36:29] So, eh, eh, eh.

[00:36:31] It's okay.

[00:36:33] It's okay.

[00:36:34] Yeah.

[00:36:34] I agree with you.

[00:36:35] I think the song is only okay.

[00:36:36] It just feels a little generic.

[00:36:39] Generica.

[00:36:40] Yeah.

[00:36:40] Yeah.

[00:36:41] Like, this could have been sung by anyone kind of thing.

[00:36:44] Yeah.

[00:36:46] The vocal effect on the chorus annoys me.

[00:36:49] Oh, I'm going to ask her what she thought about that.

[00:36:50] Yeah, that annoys me.

[00:36:51] And it annoys me more and more each time I hear this song, actually.

[00:36:54] It doesn't sound real.

[00:36:55] Because it's like, is it an auto-tune or is it just a processing?

[00:36:58] Or is it both?

[00:36:59] Like, I don't know what they did to it, but it takes away kind of the rawness of it.

[00:37:05] Yeah.

[00:37:05] So then, I don't know, it's just a bit robotic.

[00:37:08] Yeah.

[00:37:08] And the attitude kind of gets lost in it.

[00:37:11] So the K.I.

[00:37:11] That's so important for pop rock songs.

[00:37:14] The attitude and the passion kind of, you know, comes through.

[00:37:18] Yeah.

[00:37:19] So I just do not understand that as a choice.

[00:37:21] I find that very odd.

[00:37:23] And I'm pretty sure I would rate the song like one or two points higher if they did not

[00:37:27] have that vocal effect on it.

[00:37:29] Oh, interesting.

[00:37:30] Okay.

[00:37:30] I actually like the bridge and the video game sounds and kind of the whole like kind of

[00:37:34] tornado kind of thing that's going on.

[00:37:36] Yeah.

[00:37:36] Because, I mean, the first line in the bridge is it's game over.

[00:37:40] And then you get all the video game sounds and stuff.

[00:37:41] So I think that's cool.

[00:37:44] And I think it kind of saves the song a little bit.

[00:37:48] Right.

[00:37:48] Because, yeah, I think just as a, yeah, just as a song, it sounds like it could be like,

[00:37:52] I don't know, a Kelly Clarkson demo or it could be, yeah, like a pink demo.

[00:37:57] I don't know.

[00:37:57] It just kind of sounds just generic for that time.

[00:38:00] These types of songs.

[00:38:02] So, yeah, I'll give it a 6.5.

[00:38:05] Oh, I took away my 0.5.

[00:38:07] I gave it a 6.

[00:38:08] Okay.

[00:38:08] Yeah.

[00:38:09] I like that video game.

[00:38:10] But, again, just use that as like the theme of your song.

[00:38:13] Like Bullseye was very much on the nose about targets and hitting and dangerous.

[00:38:17] If you're going to use that game over and have all that sounds, why not just rework the

[00:38:20] song to actually have like electro pop elements and really go for the whole like, you know.

[00:38:26] So I'm going to give me something silently to play with here.

[00:38:28] Okay.

[00:38:28] Yeah.

[00:38:29] That's fair.

[00:38:31] All right.

[00:38:31] Up next is Blush.

[00:38:33] And Blush is written by the sisters.

[00:38:36] And this song was on the original release, but was removed from the album on later pressings.

[00:38:43] And it also is not on streaming.

[00:38:45] So apparently, according to Genius, it was because the lyrics were too suggestive.

[00:38:50] Now, looking back on this, I can understand it completely because they were not geared toward

[00:38:56] anybody else except the kiddos.

[00:39:00] But, even if it is, listen, it's edgy for a Disney crowd.

[00:39:04] Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, maybe you can get everything, maybe.

[00:39:07] But even then, Nickelodeon might be pushing it too.

[00:39:09] But I can understand it's a little edgy.

[00:39:10] Like going to bed with someone on an album about crushes and breakups.

[00:39:14] Absolutely not.

[00:39:17] Like, especially with a quote, especially with something that says like, and I quote, you

[00:39:22] know, makes them uncomfortable.

[00:39:24] Like, ooh, you know, like what was being said?

[00:39:28] Like the line, take me under with you, but I'll only let you go so far.

[00:39:32] I like that.

[00:39:33] I like the sentiment.

[00:39:35] Like the song is a bit of an internal slash external battle that so many young people face.

[00:39:40] Super, super relatable.

[00:39:41] But I think just too much on the nose in terms of, he's trying to f*** me and I won't let

[00:39:48] him, but I want to do it too.

[00:39:49] So you got to kind of, you know, urge me into it.

[00:39:51] You know what I'm saying?

[00:39:52] So like, yeah, I understand Hollywood Records is not ready, but I think their fan base was

[00:39:57] probably ready.

[00:39:58] I don't know.

[00:39:59] Maybe.

[00:39:59] I understand.

[00:40:00] I understand Disney and, you know, it was being very careful.

[00:40:05] Right.

[00:40:05] He wants to boink and I'm not really sure, but I want him to boink me, but I want him to ask

[00:40:09] me, but I'm uncomfortable.

[00:40:10] So I think just the way it was expressed was not the greatest.

[00:40:13] But aside from all of that, the song had great potential in terms of what it was doing,

[00:40:19] like the lyrical content.

[00:40:20] It's a little bit of a serious moment.

[00:40:22] And the song has this gorgeous string section that adds a great deal of tension that definitely

[00:40:27] fits because it's a serious thing, especially when you're a young woman, young lady, a young

[00:40:32] girl going past the adolescent stage or going through it and you have a crush and blah, blah,

[00:40:38] blah.

[00:40:38] You know, I mean, I wasn't doing that when I was in high school, but there are tons of

[00:40:41] people who are, who could relate to this.

[00:40:44] So kudos to them for expressing it.

[00:40:48] For expressing it.

[00:40:49] The song sounds really mature.

[00:40:50] So I guess in a way, I guess Silence did have a song that kind of matched it in terms of like

[00:40:58] grandiose, not grandiose, like older sounding AC radio string accompaniment.

[00:41:05] I guess it had something that matched it, but this song lyrically wasn't like, and melodically

[00:41:10] wasn't like, wow, why'd you take this off the album?

[00:41:13] It was just like, oh, okay.

[00:41:14] It's off the album.

[00:41:15] Yeah.

[00:41:15] Like, I'm going to be honest.

[00:41:16] I was only listening to this album on Spotify.

[00:41:20] So like, so I didn't actually know this song existed until a few days ago when we started

[00:41:25] prepping our notes and stuff.

[00:41:29] Valid, valid.

[00:41:30] Okay.

[00:41:30] Valid salad.

[00:41:31] So I have not listened to the song as much as I have the rest of the album.

[00:41:34] So to me, it feels like an outlier on the album just because I didn't know it was supposed

[00:41:38] to be on that.

[00:41:39] So there's really, it's really hard for me to take that bias away, I think.

[00:41:43] So sorry.

[00:41:47] But the song is nice.

[00:41:49] Yeah.

[00:41:49] Like now that I listened to it, I think it does have a place on the album sonically,

[00:41:55] like not thinking lyrically.

[00:41:57] Because you're right.

[00:41:57] It does kind of partner well to silence.

[00:42:01] It's nice to have this kind of more just kind of acoustic moment.

[00:42:05] Yeah.

[00:42:06] From them as well.

[00:42:07] It kind of just adds to kind of the roller coaster that you want, like on an album, you

[00:42:12] know?

[00:42:12] Yeah.

[00:42:13] And the strings are nice.

[00:42:14] Like you said, I do wish there was some like soaring harmony here.

[00:42:19] Or just even if it wasn't a harmony, just more vocal, like back and forth between the

[00:42:27] two sisters.

[00:42:28] Yeah.

[00:42:29] I feel like that is what could have given it a bit more of a moment.

[00:42:33] Oh, yeah.

[00:42:34] Or made it a bit more of a moment.

[00:42:35] Yeah.

[00:42:37] Because without it, it's just a little like, okay, it's like a sweet acoustic-y track.

[00:42:42] Yeah.

[00:42:43] The thing that makes it like, wow, this is an Allie and AJ acoustic track is...

[00:42:46] Yeah.

[00:42:47] Like, I mean, this is where they could have maybe used that a bit more, but...

[00:42:51] That's valid.

[00:42:52] I mean, the lyrics are very much internal battle.

[00:42:54] It would have been great to kind of hear that internal monologue and the external, but I

[00:42:58] want to, but I can't.

[00:42:59] That sounds so dramatic.

[00:43:00] But the point is, it would have been fun to kind of hear that happening in some harmonies,

[00:43:03] like you said.

[00:43:04] Oh, yeah.

[00:43:05] Look at that.

[00:43:05] He's a songwriter, ladies and gentlemen.

[00:43:09] But yeah, so I'll give it a seven.

[00:43:11] I can barely remember this one.

[00:43:12] I'm going to give it a 6.5.

[00:43:14] Okay.

[00:43:15] Yeah, I'm going to give it a 6.5.

[00:43:16] So I gave the 0.5 from...

[00:43:18] If I could have you back as if there's like some dress hold or whatever.

[00:43:23] Yeah.

[00:43:24] Okay.

[00:43:24] Moving on to Flattery, which was done by the four people who did the majority of the album.

[00:43:31] So Antonina and Tim are back now.

[00:43:33] They have Flattery.

[00:43:35] Yes.

[00:43:35] What do you think?

[00:43:36] You know, this one is fun because it's about Joe Jonas.

[00:43:41] I did not know that.

[00:43:43] All right.

[00:43:44] So for those who don't know, including Chris.

[00:43:46] Yeah.

[00:43:46] What's the story?

[00:43:47] Give us a tea.

[00:43:48] Before Sophie Turner and Taylor Swift, there was AJ.

[00:43:52] And she and Joe Jonas dated when Nick and Miley were dating.

[00:43:58] But then he also was talking to like Selena at the time.

[00:44:00] So all that drama that was happening.

[00:44:02] Ooh, honey.

[00:44:03] Okay.

[00:44:03] And Ali, she wasn't into all that because she was older, I guess.

[00:44:06] Not older than everyone, but she basically was.

[00:44:07] She's like two years older than AJ.

[00:44:09] Okay.

[00:44:09] Yeah.

[00:44:09] That's a big difference when you're a kid.

[00:44:10] Yeah.

[00:44:11] Exactly.

[00:44:11] Exactly.

[00:44:11] Right.

[00:44:12] So that was the tea.

[00:44:13] All right.

[00:44:13] So now here people thought that AJ and Ali wrote potential about Joe.

[00:44:19] And like kind of like maybe some of it is true because at one point she confirmed that she mailed a slice of her birthday cake to Joe for missing it.

[00:44:27] You know, but Lattery was confirmed by the duo to be about Joe about maybe a year and a half, maybe two years ago.

[00:44:35] So yes, I will say that Taylor Swift, you had someone precursor to her.

[00:44:42] I'm writing about Joe.

[00:44:44] Joe.

[00:44:45] Wow.

[00:44:46] Yeah.

[00:44:47] What a mess that man is.

[00:44:49] But yeah, I think for me, the song is not saved, but the song is a platform for their voices.

[00:44:59] Meaning that the best part of the song for me is their vocal performance.

[00:45:03] Like AJ belts and it takes this song all the way home at the end.

[00:45:07] It's one of their better breakup songs on this album, which is why I feel like if I could have you back gems a little bit in comparison.

[00:45:16] This is one of those like in your, they have a lot of attitude and sass and their lyrics have all of that.

[00:45:22] It displays that they're a little sarcastic here and there and I appreciate it.

[00:45:27] But yeah, I think for me, sonically, not really that different into any like pop rock songs, but I just like their vocals on it.

[00:45:37] So I like the song a little bit more than I think I would have if it was like a solo singer or maybe it depends.

[00:45:43] But yeah, I think AJ belting it definitely makes you go, ooh, okay.

[00:45:48] We had a little guitar solo, not solo.

[00:45:50] It's not solo if other music is playing, but yeah.

[00:45:53] Yeah.

[00:45:54] Yeah.

[00:45:54] So like I said, I think overall sonically is pretty like, okay, it's a pop rock song, but their vocals is what kind of elevates it for me.

[00:46:01] And how do you feel about it?

[00:46:03] Because I feel like, you know, it's not bad.

[00:46:07] But so I think I like this one maybe more than you do.

[00:46:10] Yeah.

[00:46:10] I really like this one.

[00:46:11] It actually is a highlight for me, I think, on this album overall.

[00:46:14] Yeah.

[00:46:15] And I think it is because I just like the melody, honestly.

[00:46:18] Yeah.

[00:46:19] But yeah, I think it's cool the way it's written.

[00:46:22] Like there's a drive to the production and the verses and that the chorus kind of feels like it maybe was written slower, like as a ballad maybe.

[00:46:30] Oh.

[00:46:31] And then they sped it up and rocked it out for this kind of final version.

[00:46:35] I don't know.

[00:46:36] That's just what I heard or what I hear, I guess.

[00:46:41] For respect.

[00:46:41] Maybe just because I think the melody is very pretty, the chorus melody.

[00:46:45] So maybe it's the other way around.

[00:46:46] It just, it could be a ballad as well.

[00:46:49] But I just like the balance of how pretty the melody is with how kind of heavy the instruments are.

[00:46:58] Yes.

[00:46:58] The balance there, the balance is definitely there.

[00:47:01] And I guess the vocals is what made me go here.

[00:47:04] Yeah.

[00:47:05] For sure.

[00:47:06] Yeah.

[00:47:06] So I think the melody is what just kind of keeps me coming back to it, honestly.

[00:47:12] And yeah, so I will give this one a nine.

[00:47:14] I gave it an eight.

[00:47:16] Not too bad.

[00:47:16] Okay.

[00:47:17] Not too bad, right?

[00:47:18] Yeah.

[00:47:19] Okay.

[00:47:20] So last is not last.

[00:47:22] Next is I'm Here by the Sisters.

[00:47:26] And this one, we're getting close to the end of the album.

[00:47:29] At this point, I feel like they've made their point pretty apparent.

[00:47:34] Yeah.

[00:47:35] How are you feeling at this point?

[00:47:36] We're now toward like what, the second to last song on the album.

[00:47:40] With the next, with the last album, last song being a remix.

[00:47:43] So this is the last original track, I guess you could say, on the album.

[00:47:46] What do you think about this one?

[00:47:47] How did it make you feel?

[00:47:48] I like this.

[00:47:48] I think the way they, I think these last couple songs do really bring it home and kind

[00:47:53] of took the attention for me, honestly.

[00:47:56] Yeah.

[00:47:56] Because I will say, Silence and If I Could Have You Back, that's where they lose me just

[00:48:03] a little bit, I would say.

[00:48:05] Yeah.

[00:48:05] But these two, Flattery and I'm Here, they kind of bring me back.

[00:48:10] I think this one has also grown on me quite a lot.

[00:48:13] I just think it's a good pop rock kind of mid-tempo moment.

[00:48:16] I think the vocals are good in this.

[00:48:19] Again, there's more piano in this as well.

[00:48:22] Which is just, I don't know.

[00:48:24] I feel like they use piano very tastefully throughout this album.

[00:48:28] And so every time it gets a moment, it really stands out for me.

[00:48:32] Yeah.

[00:48:33] And yeah, it's melancholic, but there's an energy to it.

[00:48:36] And it's very different, I think, from Flattery.

[00:48:39] Yes.

[00:48:40] So, I don't know.

[00:48:41] I think this is another one of the better ones, honestly, on this album.

[00:48:45] Yeah, me too.

[00:48:45] I feel like this song feels like the most cathartic out of all of the...

[00:48:50] Which is good for a closer.

[00:48:52] Exactly.

[00:48:53] So, they did what they had to do.

[00:48:53] And I like that because it feels like the track listing was purposeful.

[00:48:58] So, that's important.

[00:49:00] But yeah, I feel like with this one, it's interesting because the chorus,

[00:49:07] it sounds like it should end midway, but then it starts up again.

[00:49:11] So, I don't know if that ties into the theme of the song of being past,

[00:49:15] like pushing past all those false starts in Life and Love,

[00:49:19] and then just going headfirst into the romance.

[00:49:25] That's cool.

[00:49:28] I like that.

[00:49:30] There's a little bit of a gallop.

[00:49:31] There's like a boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[00:49:34] That sounds crazy.

[00:49:35] That's not how it goes.

[00:49:36] But no, that is how it goes.

[00:49:37] I make it sound a lot more brighter than what it is.

[00:49:39] Yeah, right, right.

[00:49:40] It's a little gallop to the drums that I like.

[00:49:43] But yeah, I feel like with this one, it feels like a nice ender to a concert.

[00:49:50] Their vocals kind of sail in the chorus as opposed to all that really strong belty singing.

[00:49:56] They're singing in unison throughout.

[00:49:59] Not much harmony, but it's like a very united kind of front as you're confronting the song.

[00:50:05] Again, the bridge is so good because it changes the energy of the song.

[00:50:10] And it kind of gives you something to look forward to.

[00:50:15] And they really have lyrics that make me feel like they want to curse, but they can't because they're young.

[00:50:20] Mm-hmm.

[00:50:20] Like, yeah.

[00:50:22] Like, she's thinking about, like, that having a good reason.

[00:50:24] I feel like a damn good reason feels like it would have fit a little bit better.

[00:50:27] And so, you know what I'm saying?

[00:50:28] Like, things like that.

[00:50:29] Yeah.

[00:50:29] But again, I appreciate them tying everything up neatly with this song.

[00:50:34] Still having a great deal of energy.

[00:50:37] Tying in, like, the slower, more melancholic sounds with their more punchier tracks.

[00:50:42] And I think this is, like, a solid closer for an album.

[00:50:45] Yes.

[00:50:46] For sure.

[00:50:46] For sure.

[00:50:47] Yeah.

[00:50:48] So what do you rate it?

[00:50:48] I'm gonna give it a 8.

[00:50:52] Okay.

[00:50:53] I will go slightly higher and go 8.5.

[00:50:55] Yes, yes.

[00:50:56] Okay.

[00:50:56] So the next song is the final song on the album.

[00:51:00] This definitely feels like a label decision that was like, we need to have another song

[00:51:05] that the fans know on the cell phone.

[00:51:07] Right.

[00:51:07] Boardroom pop.

[00:51:08] Let's get it.

[00:51:08] You have to do a remix of a previous single.

[00:51:11] So they did Chemicals React, which was done by the same team, Ali, AJ, and Antonita,

[00:51:16] and Tim, known as Rock Mafia.

[00:51:19] Yeah.

[00:51:20] And yeah, so this was originally released as a single from their debut album in 2006.

[00:51:25] And this is a brand new remix, especially for this album.

[00:51:29] And they actually have re-recorded this more recently as well to release kind of on their own.

[00:51:34] So good for them.

[00:51:36] Did you know this song before?

[00:51:39] Yeah, this was the song that was like on the Disney Channel bumps I was talking about.

[00:51:45] Oh, okay.

[00:51:46] The commercial breaks.

[00:51:48] Okay.

[00:51:49] Very vaguely that I remember it though.

[00:51:51] Like I didn't remember the music video, but I remember hearing the song.

[00:51:53] And I would say that I like the original a little bit more because it sounds a little

[00:51:57] bit more raw and edgy.

[00:51:58] Like they just sound like they had a lot to prove with that first version of it.

[00:52:02] But this one sounds a lot more polished, which is fine.

[00:52:06] Sounds a lot more electronic, which I appreciate.

[00:52:09] Yeah.

[00:52:10] But yeah, I feel like it's a little like short too.

[00:52:14] Think about the song feels not abrupt, but the structure of it makes you wonder if the

[00:52:19] length and format of the song was like a slave to that Disney commercial section where it's

[00:52:26] like we show a verse and a chorus and then a bridge and then it's over.

[00:52:29] That's your commercial.

[00:52:29] Cool.

[00:52:30] Cause I feel like the verses are really short and the second verse and it's just

[00:52:34] hopped right into the pre right into the chorus.

[00:52:37] But yeah, no, this song at the time, like being into them was cool.

[00:52:41] Potential obviously was like the, who are they?

[00:52:44] But this one was like the, okay, there's potential there right after Hilary Delph.

[00:52:48] I mean, like this is what we got basically.

[00:52:50] And there's other artists.

[00:52:51] Yeah.

[00:52:51] We had like Raven and then some of the Disney singers or singers, you want to call them

[00:52:56] that.

[00:52:56] But this was like the actual, Hey, this was the actual, like, Hey, we actually play an

[00:53:01] instrument band, like precursor to Demi.

[00:53:04] Yes.

[00:53:04] Okay.

[00:53:05] Makes sense.

[00:53:05] Yeah.

[00:53:05] You know, it felt cool.

[00:53:06] Like the new version isn't bad, but something about the original just feels like, you know,

[00:53:12] love it.

[00:53:13] Yeah.

[00:53:14] I, I get what they were trying to do with the remakes was like you said, they did bring

[00:53:19] like a more electronic element to it, the baseline stronger.

[00:53:23] So it kind of just grounds it a bit more.

[00:53:24] It makes it slightly cooler because it's definitely not as bright as the original one, which definitely

[00:53:30] does sound like a Hilary Duff song.

[00:53:32] Definitely.

[00:53:33] Yeah.

[00:53:33] Not in a bad way.

[00:53:35] It just does.

[00:53:35] Yeah.

[00:53:35] Love Hilary, but yeah.

[00:53:37] Yeah.

[00:53:38] Yes.

[00:53:38] I had never heard this song before.

[00:53:40] So I actually, the first version that I heard was this remix.

[00:53:44] And then I kind of went back after I found out why it was a remix.

[00:53:49] You can definitely tell it's not from the same era.

[00:53:53] So in terms of it fitting the album, it doesn't.

[00:53:57] Yeah.

[00:53:58] I see what they try to do production wise to make it fit, but just, you can just tell

[00:54:01] like melodically and the way it's written.

[00:54:03] It's not, I don't know.

[00:54:04] Yeah.

[00:54:05] A different place a little bit, but I think it's fun.

[00:54:08] Like I think as a song, it's good.

[00:54:10] I can see why it was a single for them.

[00:54:13] Yeah.

[00:54:13] It just sounds way more Disney, you know?

[00:54:17] Yeah.

[00:54:17] So, so I think it's good.

[00:54:18] I just, it definitely feels like it was put on this album by not them.

[00:54:23] Oh, come on boardroom pop.

[00:54:25] Let's get it.

[00:54:26] Okay.

[00:54:27] I'll give it an eight.

[00:54:28] Like I think it's a pop song.

[00:54:29] It's, it's fun.

[00:54:30] Yeah.

[00:54:31] Yeah.

[00:54:31] I'll match you.

[00:54:32] I'll give it an eight too.

[00:54:32] I feel like again, just stronger songs on this album and for it to be a remix is okay.

[00:54:37] You know?

[00:54:38] Yeah.

[00:54:38] Yeah.

[00:54:38] Okay.

[00:54:39] So that concludes our review.

[00:54:41] So we will do of course our cut or keep section.

[00:54:45] Oh, yes.

[00:54:46] So if you had to cut a song on this album, what would you cut and why?

[00:54:51] I'm going to cut closure.

[00:54:52] And this one, the fastest like conclusion I've come to.

[00:54:55] Cause even with, if I could have you back, there's something about it.

[00:54:59] I'm at least trying to go back to with closure.

[00:55:01] It just feels a little like we need a track for the album for me.

[00:55:07] And it isn't as strong.

[00:55:09] Even if I could have you back has something that makes you go, okay, I want to come back

[00:55:12] to this closure.

[00:55:15] It doesn't really have that for me.

[00:55:17] I get the sentiment.

[00:55:17] I appreciate it, but other songs articulate it better.

[00:55:21] And nothing really hooked me in.

[00:55:23] Like I said before, it sounds like a last thought.

[00:55:26] Like let's put something else on the album.

[00:55:28] Is there anything else I could cut?

[00:55:29] Yes.

[00:55:29] But this was the one that came to my mind at first.

[00:55:32] Yeah.

[00:55:32] These are the two that I was considering as well.

[00:55:35] Yeah.

[00:55:36] They're also the two that I gave the lowest scores to.

[00:55:38] It's not really a surprise.

[00:55:39] That's valid.

[00:55:40] But yeah, I think they're both fillery.

[00:55:43] I think I'll just choose if I could have you back then because that autotune or whatever

[00:55:47] they did to that chorus is so annoying.

[00:55:50] I don't need to listen to that again.

[00:55:52] Yeah, that's valid.

[00:55:53] No, that's valid.

[00:55:54] That's not valid.

[00:55:56] Okay.

[00:55:56] We've got to only keep one song on this album.

[00:56:00] Oh, man.

[00:56:01] What would you choose?

[00:56:03] Okay.

[00:56:03] I won't choose potential breakup song because I feel like that's too obvious.

[00:56:07] No.

[00:56:07] Yeah.

[00:56:07] It is kind of an outlier on this album.

[00:56:10] Nothing else really sounds like it.

[00:56:12] It does feel like one of those moments where it's like, we don't have a single on this album.

[00:56:16] You need to go back into the studio.

[00:56:17] And then they came back with this.

[00:56:18] You know what I mean?

[00:56:21] Yeah.

[00:56:22] I don't know.

[00:56:23] Bit odd.

[00:56:23] But anyway, I will choose.

[00:56:27] Ooh.

[00:56:28] Okay.

[00:56:31] Between Insomniatic and Like It or Leave It, I would say.

[00:56:35] Between those two for me.

[00:56:36] Okay.

[00:56:38] Respect.

[00:56:38] But I'll go with Like It or Leave It.

[00:56:41] I just think it's a good example of, again, just that sound.

[00:56:45] Oh, yeah.

[00:56:47] Okay.

[00:56:47] That's valid.

[00:56:48] That's valid.

[00:56:48] Okay.

[00:56:49] Dang.

[00:56:51] Ooh.

[00:56:52] Okay.

[00:56:52] So, you know, I was in between Insomniatic also.

[00:56:59] And was it Bullseye?

[00:57:01] Mm-hmm.

[00:57:02] Yeah.

[00:57:02] I would say Bullseye because of that talkie bit because that's how they write their song.

[00:57:07] Yeah.

[00:57:07] You know?

[00:57:08] So, I'm going.

[00:57:09] Dang it.

[00:57:09] Ooh.

[00:57:10] It's so hard.

[00:57:12] Hmm.

[00:57:13] I would say Bullseye.

[00:57:16] I would use.

[00:57:17] I would keep that song.

[00:57:17] That song is good.

[00:57:18] It has a.

[00:57:19] So fun.

[00:57:20] Okay.

[00:57:20] It has their trademark writing style.

[00:57:24] So, we're going to.

[00:57:25] I like that.

[00:57:26] Yeah.

[00:57:26] Nice.

[00:57:27] Okay.

[00:57:27] So, final rating.

[00:57:29] Overall thoughts.

[00:57:30] Neither of us had ever heard this album before.

[00:57:32] Not at all.

[00:57:33] No.

[00:57:33] So, yeah.

[00:57:33] What do you think?

[00:57:35] Ali and E.J.

[00:57:36] To be so young and so talented.

[00:57:38] Lord.

[00:57:39] This one was a fun listen to.

[00:57:42] For sure.

[00:57:42] Because the Disney machine or the Disney umbrella Hollywood records.

[00:57:46] And they've pumped out what Hillary.

[00:57:48] Whose Metamorphosis album.

[00:57:50] I would say was really well curated.

[00:57:52] Considering that it's boardroom pop.

[00:57:56] I can listen to love the album.

[00:57:58] We should review it.

[00:57:59] And you have Demi.

[00:58:00] You had Selena in the scene.

[00:58:02] You have moments like that.

[00:58:04] In the Hollywood records.

[00:58:06] Like history.

[00:58:07] Where you're like.

[00:58:07] Okay.

[00:58:07] Listen.

[00:58:08] They had there.

[00:58:08] There was potential there.

[00:58:09] It may have been super sterile and kid friendly.

[00:58:11] But it was.

[00:58:12] It was good.

[00:58:13] And this album.

[00:58:14] Considering.

[00:58:16] Or just.

[00:58:17] Yeah.

[00:58:17] Considering what may have been like some restrictions.

[00:58:19] Was good.

[00:58:21] I do feel like.

[00:58:22] They were kind of scratching the surface.

[00:58:25] Of what they could do.

[00:58:26] Like.

[00:58:26] Vocally.

[00:58:27] Melodically.

[00:58:27] But then again.

[00:58:28] They were really young.

[00:58:29] And probably didn't.

[00:58:31] Consider exploring certain parts of their.

[00:58:33] Musical arrangements.

[00:58:34] Like with more harmonies.

[00:58:36] Or.

[00:58:37] You know.

[00:58:38] Even with AJ.

[00:58:39] Her.

[00:58:39] Her belts are so raspy.

[00:58:42] But she also has a high.

[00:58:44] A soprano voice.

[00:58:45] So it's really nice to hear.

[00:58:47] Like.

[00:58:47] I would have loved more moments like that.

[00:58:48] Because.

[00:58:49] They have that.

[00:58:51] Rock girl voice.

[00:58:52] But I feel like it wasn't used.

[00:58:53] As much as.

[00:58:54] As much as I wanted personally.

[00:58:56] Nothing bad.

[00:58:57] But like.

[00:58:57] Even as they're.

[00:58:58] They're older now.

[00:58:59] And they're harmonizing a lot more.

[00:59:00] They're being a little bit more creative.

[00:59:01] Yes.

[00:59:01] Like with their choices.

[00:59:02] So I think that was like.

[00:59:03] More of like an age thing.

[00:59:04] For sure.

[00:59:05] But yeah.

[00:59:05] Overall.

[00:59:05] Not bad.

[00:59:06] I mean.

[00:59:07] I think I would give it like.

[00:59:08] An overall score of like an eight.

[00:59:10] Yeah.

[00:59:10] Because it's not bad at all.

[00:59:13] Consider it was just like.

[00:59:14] What?

[00:59:14] Four or five of them.

[00:59:15] At a time writing.

[00:59:16] So.

[00:59:16] Kudos to them.

[00:59:17] Yeah.

[00:59:18] But I think I might actually go up to like.

[00:59:19] Eight point five.

[00:59:20] Eight point five.

[00:59:21] Yeah.

[00:59:21] I actually really enjoyed this project.

[00:59:23] Yeah.

[00:59:24] I definitely.

[00:59:24] Like I said.

[00:59:25] I think I would have liked them a lot.

[00:59:26] Like.

[00:59:27] When I was younger.

[00:59:27] Uh.

[00:59:29] So I'm glad.

[00:59:30] I am now hearing this.

[00:59:32] Uh.

[00:59:32] As an adult.

[00:59:33] I guess.

[00:59:34] Yeah.

[00:59:34] Um.

[00:59:34] I did go back and just try and listen to.

[00:59:38] Some other singles.

[00:59:39] From like previous.

[00:59:41] Yeah.

[00:59:42] The previous singles before this.

[00:59:43] Just so I could understand.

[00:59:45] Kind of.

[00:59:46] A trajectory.

[00:59:46] What they were about.

[00:59:48] Yeah.

[00:59:49] And yeah.

[00:59:50] This.

[00:59:50] I kind of love that they did.

[00:59:53] Uh.

[00:59:54] Just take.

[00:59:54] Take some risks.

[00:59:55] You can.

[00:59:55] You can hear.

[00:59:56] Oh yeah.

[00:59:56] The maturity coming in.

[00:59:58] And so it makes sense that they kind of left Disney after this.

[01:00:01] Yeah.

[01:00:02] For sure.

[01:00:03] Uh.

[01:00:04] I do think.

[01:00:05] I'm just going to rewrite some of the stuff I said.

[01:00:07] Kind of overall.

[01:00:08] Uh.

[01:00:08] Uh.

[01:00:09] I do wish it was more electro rock pop.

[01:00:12] Overall.

[01:00:13] Yeah.

[01:00:14] Um.

[01:00:14] As much as I love the pop rock sound.

[01:00:16] I think.

[01:00:16] Yeah.

[01:00:17] I don't know.

[01:00:18] It just.

[01:00:18] Potential breakup song is just.

[01:00:20] Sonically.

[01:00:20] Just such net wire.

[01:00:22] Uh.

[01:00:22] And I think that hurts the project overall.

[01:00:25] That it didn't all.

[01:00:26] Kind of have that.

[01:00:28] Element there.

[01:00:29] Uh.

[01:00:30] Yeah.

[01:00:31] I also.

[01:00:31] Yeah.

[01:00:31] I do wish there were more harmonies.

[01:00:35] Mm-hmm.

[01:00:36] Or just more vocal interaction between the two.

[01:00:40] Mm-hmm.

[01:00:40] Because I think if you weren't listening that carefully.

[01:00:42] Mm-hmm.

[01:00:43] To this.

[01:00:44] You might not actually know it's a duo.

[01:00:48] You know what I mean?

[01:00:49] Yeah.

[01:00:50] Their voices are similar enough.

[01:00:51] That if you weren't really paying attention.

[01:00:53] Yeah.

[01:00:54] Um.

[01:00:54] Or if you just don't really have.

[01:00:55] A real.

[01:00:56] An ear for.

[01:00:57] Kind of detail like that.

[01:00:59] Yeah.

[01:00:59] Like your vocal tones and stuff.

[01:01:01] Yeah.

[01:01:01] This could all be one person.

[01:01:03] No.

[01:01:03] That's valid.

[01:01:04] Oof.

[01:01:04] Yeah.

[01:01:05] Yeah.

[01:01:05] Yeah.

[01:01:05] Which.

[01:01:05] I don't love that.

[01:01:07] Like I.

[01:01:07] I.

[01:01:08] If you have two voices.

[01:01:09] Then utilize the fact that you have two voices.

[01:01:11] You know.

[01:01:12] Right.

[01:01:12] But like you said.

[01:01:12] They seem to be doing that more.

[01:01:14] Now.

[01:01:15] With their current music.

[01:01:16] So yeah.

[01:01:17] Maybe that was just a.

[01:01:19] That just wasn't something that they thought about at the time.

[01:01:22] Yeah.

[01:01:23] Yeah.

[01:01:23] We were young.

[01:01:24] But yeah.

[01:01:24] I enjoy it.

[01:01:25] I love this kind of pop rock sound.

[01:01:27] I feel like we're almost due for a full comeback of this again.

[01:01:31] Oh yeah.

[01:01:31] Because I feel like that's just how this goes.

[01:01:33] Yes.

[01:01:34] Like we had disco.

[01:01:35] We had the more kind of electronic dance stuff.

[01:01:38] We haven't had like a more rock.

[01:01:41] Yeah.

[01:01:41] The cycles come back around.

[01:01:43] And I do think it could be coming back around.

[01:01:45] I just saw Avril and Simple Plan.

[01:01:47] And they had an opener who was much younger.

[01:01:50] Oh yeah.

[01:01:50] But you could tell that they were influenced by that whole era.

[01:01:55] And I was like.

[01:01:56] Oh.

[01:01:57] This could be.

[01:01:58] Oof.

[01:01:58] This could come back again.

[01:02:00] Oh fun.

[01:02:01] Oh my god.

[01:02:02] Which I love that.

[01:02:02] So.

[01:02:03] So yeah.

[01:02:04] I'm very happy that we guys could sell them.

[01:02:06] So yes.

[01:02:06] Thank you, Lily.

[01:02:07] For the suggestion.

[01:02:09] Yes.

[01:02:09] Thank you.

[01:02:10] Yeah.

[01:02:10] Hope you liked it.

[01:02:13] Yes.

[01:02:14] Let us know what you think about this album.

[01:02:17] Insomniatic was a fun, fun ride for us.

[01:02:19] And let us know what other albums you'd like to hear us review.

[01:02:22] And remember, you can hang out with us and our CCTV crew on Patreon to get priority choice.

[01:02:27] And you can also comment below or message us at CCTV Pops on all social media.

[01:02:32] Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for our YouTube channel.

[01:02:36] And if you're enjoying the show on a podcast platform, please give us a follow, rating, and a review.

[01:02:41] Until next time, that's Chris.

[01:02:43] That's Chantel.

[01:02:44] And this is CCTV, the nonstop pop show.

[01:02:47] And if you're a Patreon member, we're going to do some bonus episode regarding this album and their bonus track.

[01:02:52] So stay tuned.

[01:02:53] Yes.