Aly & AJ, the sister duo of Aly & AJ Michalka, say so much with just three songs on their Lonesome Dove EP. Their holiday three-pack brings all the cool Christmas vibes to listeners. “We hope these songs bring comfort to anyone that’s spending the holiday alone or anyone feeling isolated,” Aly & AJ share with American Songwriter. “‘Lonesome Dove’ in particular reminds us of some of our favorite country records and the melancholy feeling they hold. The holidays can be a complex time of year and hopefully these songs reflect that feeling while also suggesting there are moments of hope worth looking for.”
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The duo sounds classic on the title track that’s got a jazzy feel and vintage flair. Using a dove as a metaphor for a lonely Christmas reflects their thoughtful songwriting approach. A beautiful orchestra adds a cinematic element in the middle of the song as they gently sing: I’ll be a lonesome dove / If you don’t come home for Christmas / Don’t make me a lonesome dove / My heart just won’t take it baby this year / Don’t make me a lonesome dove / We don’t need one more lonesome dove this year.
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A highlight comes with the sisters’ reimagination of the fan-favorite “Greatest Time of Year.” They teamed up with Antonia Armato and Tim James to pen it for Disney’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and appeared on their 2006 album, Acoustic Hearts of Winter. Though it was written nearly 20 years ago when they were merely teenagers, the song has only gotten sweeter with time and demonstrates their ability to craft a heart-touching song with such lyrics as: When everyone is filled with love and cheer / ‘Cause that’s what matters and Joy to the world and everyone / Lift up your hearts and feel the love.
The new version is drastically different from the original, which pulses with the pop-rock sound of thrashing guitars and drums and the sound of jingle bells sprinkled in for good measure. The movie version is far more commercialized, while the 2023 rendition allows the lyrics to take center stage, accompanied by gentle acoustic instrumentation. The duo is no stranger to updating their beloved songs from years past, giving an edgy, expletive-filled makeover to their signature hit “Potential Breakup Song” in 2020, proving their best days aren’t behind them and the vision they have as ever-evolving artists.
They get to the heart of the matter on “Sisters,” a cover of the Irving Berlin-penned song featured in the classic film, White Christmas. The sisters do it justice, affirming their unbreakable bond as they poetically sing: All kinds of weather / We stick together / The same in the rain or sun / Two different faces / But in tight places / We think and we act as one. It’s a charming way to close out the mini EP that makes for a delightful addition to the holiday season and the duo’s expanding catalog.
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