Aly (Alyson Michalka, "Phil of the Future") and AJ (Amanda Joy Michalka) may be new to the charts, but they are definitely not new to the music world. Their mom/manager, Carrie, once belonged to a Christian rock band, called "J.C Band", and the girls have been singing in church, plays and in free concerts for neighbors since they were six and four years old.

For a debut album, this is definitely the best I've ever heard. While most girls choose to sing about boys, boys, boys and Oh, did I mention boys?, Aly and AJ choose to sing about more powerful and meaningful things:

"Rush"-Stay true to yourself, even when the crowd is pulling you along with them.

"No One"-We all wish that we could be someone else, but at the end of the day, we have to remember we can't be "no one" but ourselves.

"Collapsed"-Don't jump to conclusions...the results could hurt.

"On the Ride"-*Having a great sister makes life even better!

"Speak For Myself"-*Children should be seen and heard.

"Out of the Blue"-Follow your heart and love who you love, not who the world tells you to love.

"I Am One Of Them"-Do your part to keep yourself and other kids safe from kidnappers and pedophiles.

"Sticks and Stones"-*A bully tries to tower, but really has no power.

"Protecting Me"-You have parents for a reason, don't take them for granted.

"Slow Down"-Love isn't about sex, so don't make relationships about sex.

As you can see more than half of the album has a message. And the messages are ones we as teens can relate to because all but two of the fourteen songs are written/co-written by Aly and AJ, themselves (16 and 14 at the time).

The album is nothing sugary-pop; the songs themselves are easy to listen to and have meat to them. They are well produced and there is nothing amateur about them.

I give this album 5 stars.

*taken from album insert