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Acoustic Hearts of Winter

 
Album Review: Acoustic Hearts of Winter

  • Artist: Aly & AJ
  • Rating: StarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: September 26, 2006
  • Type: Christmas, Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Teen pop duo Aly & AJ deliver their first Christmas/holiday album with Acoustic Hearts of Winter. While the album does contain three uptempo rockers, the majority of the cuts here are subdued versions of classic holiday tunes delivered in a light, contemporary pop fashion. Included are such holiday standards as "Let It Snow," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "We Three Kings," and others. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Greatest Time of Year Aly Michalka Aly & AJ (3:39)
Joy to the World (Lyrics) Traditional Aly & AJ (2:52)
We Three Kings (Lyrics) Traditional Aly & AJ (2:54)
The First Noel Traditional Aly & AJ (1:44)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Lyrics) Traditional Aly & AJ (2:33)
Silent Night (Lyrics) Traditional Aly & AJ (3:05)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Lyrics) Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent Aly & AJ (2:44)
Let It Snow (Lyrics) Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne Aly & AJ (2:08)
Deck the Halls Traditional Aly & AJ (1:54)
Little Drummer Boy (Lyrics) Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati Aly & AJ (2:37)
Not This Year (Lyrics) Aly Michalka Aly & AJ (5:54)

Credits

AJ Michalka (Arranger), Antonina Armato (Arranger), Bob Zimitti (Vibraphone), Carrie Michalka (Executive Producer), Dorian Crozier (Drums), Antonina Armato (Adaptation), Jamie Muhoberac (Wurlitzer), AJ Michalka (Vocals), Jamie Muhoberac (Keyboards), Aly Michalka (Vocals (Background)), Stephen Marcussen (Mastering), Aly Michalka (Adaptation), Antonina Armato (Producer), Gerry Cagle (Executive Producer), Aly Michalka (Logo Design), AJ Michalka (Vocals (Background)), Sean Hurley (Bass), Dean Parks (Guitar), Tim Pierce (Guitar), Jon Lind (A&R), Tim James (Mixing), Luis Conte (Percussion), Nigel Lundemo (Engineer), Cameron Stone (Cello), Tim James (Adaptation), Paul Palmer (Mixing), Keith Munyan (Photography), Tim James (Arranger), AJ Michalka (Adaptation), David Snow (Creative Director), Jamie Muhoberac (Piano), Tim James (Producer), Aly Michalka (Arranger), Ross Hogarth (Engineer), Aly Michalka (Vocals)
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Wikipedia: Acoustic Hearts of Winter
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Acoustic Hearts of Winter
Studio album (Christmas) by Aly & AJ
Released September 26, 2006
(see release history)
Recorded 2006
Genre Holiday music, acoustic, pop rock
Length 29:40
Label Hollywood
Producer Antonina Armato, Gerry Cagle (exec.), Tim James, Carrie Michalka (exec.)
Professional reviews
Aly & AJ chronology
Into the Rush
(2005)
Acoustic Hearts of Winter
(2006)
Insomniatic
(2007)
Singles from Acoustic Hearts of Winter
  1. "Greatest Time of Year"
    Released: September, 2006

Acoustic Hearts of Winter is a Christmas album from American teen pop duo Aly & AJ. The album was released on September 26, 2006 in the United States. The only single from the album was "Greatest Time of Year", which was used as promotion for The Santa Clause 3 with the music video containing clips of the film. The music video premiered on Disney Channel on October 16, 2006 after the premiere of the Disney Channel Original movie Twitches.

As of December 31, 2006, the album has sold over 110,000 copies in the U.S.

Contents

Album history

Clips of the album were first released on the Barnes & Noble website. The Target Corporation version of this album also has an extra song to it - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". The Target version of the album was then reissued on September 25, 2007 containing two more bonus songs: "Winter Wonderland" and "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree".

The UK release of Acoustic Hearts of Winter was on September 29, 2008.[1] Previously, it was released on November 27, 2006 digitally. The release does not feature any bonus tracks.

Release history

Region Date Specification
United States September 26, 2006
Hong Kong October 5, 2006[2]
Australia October 28, 2006 Digital
Canada November 7, 2006
United Kingdom November 27, 2006[3] Digital
United Kingdom September 29, 2008[1] CD

Track listing

# Title Length
1. "Greatest Time of Year"   3:41
2. "Joy to the World"   2:52
3. "We Three Kings"   2:54
4. "The First Noel"   1:44
5. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"   2:33
6. "Silent Night"   3:05
7. "I'll Be Home for Christmas"   2:44
8. "Let It Snow"   2:08
9. "Deck the Halls"   1:54
10. "Little Drummer Boy"   2:37
11. "Not This Year"   3:24

Bonus Tracks

  1. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" – 1:22 (Target Bonus track)
  2. "Winter Wonderland" – 2:43 (2007 Target Bonus track)
  3. "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" – 2:05 (2007 Target Bonus track)

Notes

  • Aly & AJ recorded the song "Jingle Bell Rock" in 2004. The song was featured in the Radio Disney Jingle Jams album. "Jingle Bell Rock" did not make the final track listing for Acoustic Hearts of Winter.

Reception

The album was received very well, to be a holiday album, and peaked at 78 on the Billboard 200. Allmusic gave the album three stars, without giving positive or negative review on the album.[4]

Singles

Further track information

"Greatest Time of Year" (original song)

  • Writers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Guitar: Tim Pierce
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Drums: Dorian Crozier
  • Keyboards: Jamie Muhoberac

"Joy to the World"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley

"We Three Kings"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Cello: Cameron Stone

"The First Noel"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Cello: Cameron Stone

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Cello: Cameron Stone

"Silent Night"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Cello: Cameron Stone

"I'll Be Home for Christmas"

  • Writers: K. Gannon, W. Kent, B. Ram
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley

"Let It Snow"

  • Writers: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Vibes: Bob Zamitti

"Deck the Halls"

  • Writers: Traditional
  • Adapted and Arranged by: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Percussion: Luis Conte
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce and Dean Parks`
  • Piano/Wurley: Jamie Muhoberac
  • Bass: Sean Hurley

"Little Drummer Boy"

  • Writers: Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone
  • Drums: Dorian Crozier
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce

"Not This Year" (original song)

  • Writers: Aly Michalka, AJ Michalka, Antonina Armato, Tim James
  • Drums: Dorian Crozier
  • Guitars: Tim Pierce
  • Bass: Sean Hurley
  • Keyboards: Jamie Muhoberac

Charts

Acoustic Hearts of Winter debuted at #78 on the hot 200 selling 19,000 copies in its first week. The album spent nearly 15 weeks on the hot 200. It also peaked at # 14 on the top holiday albums with 15 weeks on the chart it reached #28 before falling off.

Chart (2006)[5] Peak
position
Sales
U.S. Billboard 200 78 100,000+
U.S. Billboard Top Holiday Albums 14
U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Albums 86

References

External links



 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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