Aly & AJ have done it again! “Don’t Go Changing,” the second single from their upcoming Sanctuary EP, is everything Taylor Swift’s “ME!” wanted to be: a transcendent self-empowerment anthem, penned with articulate, age-appropriate lyrics. Following up last month’s immaculate “Church,” the duo have crafted another glimmering, synth-pop confection; draping their supreme harmonies in relentless drum programming, hand snaps, and fizzy synthesizers, the singers beg a lover to remain exactly who they’ve always been — in spite of everything the world hurdles at them.
“Here you go again, acting like a stranger,” Aly states at the beginning of the track, using the warmth of her lower register to invite the listener into the conversation. As she moves through the verse, she claims to have “built up [their] life, always in [their] corner;” the underlying frustration bubbles up to the surface in the chorus, with AJ joining in and demanding to know “who ever told [them they’re] not good enough?” Suggesting they dance their issues away — the universal remedy of pop music — listeners can’t help but feel compelled to do so, as well. At just over three minutes, “Don’t Go Changing” ends well before Aly & AJ or the listener is ready to let go, revealing the true genius of it all.
Rating: 4.5/5