Search - Aluminum Group :: Pedals

Chapter 6: In which this reviewer culpably circumlocutes

David Kipp | Melbourne, Australia | 08/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I buy a lot of records. Oftentimes I indulge in grotesque sprees of purchasing, branching out in any number of disparate but comparably pretentious musical directions. At the end of such periods there's inevitably a hiatus, wherein I (rather foolishly) think that I've bought everything interesting that there is to buy and become somewhat disillusioned with things in general. Then I discover a record like Pedals.It can happen in a number of different ways. On the occasion in question it was the words "Jim" and "O'Rourke" (not - I repeat not - the words "Burt" and "Bacharach") on one of those little blurby stickers that helpful record store staff like to put on the front of CDs that beckoned me. I'd never heard of the Aluminum Group; however, being such a devotee of Mr O'Rourke's oeuvre (in all of his capacities), I thought that it couldn't hurt to buy the record. Suffice it to say (and here, at any rate, I find myself becoming lost for words) that when I first heard Rrose Selavy's Valise it was like the sun breaking through clouds. What else can I say about this record? The above is what's really important for me about it. I'll go ahead and casually and in a very pretentiously postmodern fashion drop some handy pop-journalism clichés (among them words such as "lush", "orchestral" and "lounge"), as well as mention glowingly the virtues of this record's warm, bright production, the beautiful yet sadly ironic songs and the honey-and-caramel cabaret-club vocal stylings of the brothers Navin; however, in the end what really encapsulates this record for me is Rrose Selavy's Valise and that very precise moment when the clouds rolled away and the rainbow appeared."

Pedals is a must for any critical listener!

David Kipp | 11/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone who has heard the Aluminum Group, knows that no one today writes more beautiful melodic structures than the band's frontmen and creative epicenter, John & Frank Navin. From albums, Wonder Boy Plus to Plano and now Pedals, the Aluminum Group continues to take it's listeners on a wonderful ride through intelligently crafted songs that are simultaneously complex yet sublimely subtle. While Plano showcased the bands ability to deliver a cache of melody driven power pop singles, Pedals is more richly involved. Tracks such as RRose Selavy's Valise, Miss Tate and Easy On Your Eyes each seem to be more of a concept album than an individual song. Briliantly sharp seques seperate changes in meter, melody and mood as stories of art, literature, love and loss unfold. Well oiled and superbly orchestrated, this 5 man, 1 woman band, (with special guests), deliver techniquely as well. Despite playing songs that often require the tightest of performances, where silence and softness are often a focal point, this group of veteran and classically trained musicians always nail it! While Wonder Boy and Plano may have inspired you to say, "I haven't heard melodies like this since the Brill Building classics," Pedals will have you thinking, "I've never heard melodies like this!" Truly original!"

Listen

L. Fowle | north carolina | 06/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great collection. It doesn't ultimately matter who it might sound similar to (and all comments of pretentiousness leveled at the Aluminums need only be applied to those critics who name drop bands/recordings the Navins might conjure up for the potential listener). One of the least pretentious and heart-rendering songs is $35--the last cut. Listen to it when you think nothing else might work for how alone you feel.

The Navins are also the nicest fellas around. Go see them live if you can and have a drink or two with the two of them."