Customer Reviews

Pedals

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I bought this CD when it came out in 1999. Before that I never heard of the Aluminum Group. The sticker on the plastic wrapping boasted names like Jim O'Rourke, Sean O'Hagen, and others. I felt it was good reason to buy it. However, I was skeptical and was not expecting much. My dare payed off and five years later this album is one of my all time favorites. Deep "Bowie" like vocals mixed with 60's/70's AM radio pop is what blew me away. The string and horn arrangements are superb and the lyricism is deep and though provoking. The 10-minute opener "Rrose Selavy's Valise" picks up fast and goes through 3 excellent movements. "Miss Tate" and "Jinxed" are excellent lounge-tinged tracks that fit the Chicago scene well at the time (remember the 90's lounge revival). "Impress Me" has an excellent upbeat prog-like quality. This album helped make me realize how ridiculous the pompousness of rock & roll really is (including nerdy indie art rock which I used to like).

What they achieved with this record is miles ahead of anything Stereolab or the High Llamas could do (I don't mean any disrespect to them, both are two of my favorite bands!). Plano is a great record as well, but here is where their sound was refined. None of their subsequent albums have come close to this one.

remix of "paperback" by john herndon of Tortoise. it's about 7:30 long, does have vocals, isnt exactly a club-stomping type mix, but, almost reminds of THE BLACK DOG and those sorts of minimal drum type/warped vocal effect type mixes. Thumbs up or down? up

This is a lush emporium of sophisticated pop styles -- everything from Aztec Camera to Eric Matthews to David Sylvian comes to mind. There are echoes of Wilson and Bacharach in there as well. It has a lulling, relaxing effect, and the songs go in unusual directions. As good as indie pop gets.

This CD did not overwhelm. Yet, everytime I needed a little mood equalizer or a soothing voice I kept coming back to this little gem. The opener is a complex, melange of sounds and fabrics woven so tightly and so loosely as to thoroughly confuse. The closer will be on the every mix tape I make for the next ten years. Delightful, intelligent I can't wait for more.

John and Frank Navin are the boy princes of the kingdom of Bittersweet. Trapped at the top of a tall (rather phallic) stone tower, they sing harmonies of longing and regret, love and lust, that trail out across the clouds, making all the bearded goats and doe-eyed lambs look up from green pastures into the sad and beautiful sky. Moog and harpsichord, banjo and bass, lonely hearts and the last days of disco--all of this can be heard between the petal sheets. The Aluminum Group conjur up a world more beautiful and more painful than your secret morning dreams, guaranteed to make your heart feel twice its size and then small and lost like a puff of dead dandelion in the wind. In the end, you're just glad to drown in the deep, warm water of "Pedals".

This album contains some of the most beautiful pop music I have ever heard. I cannot take it off my CD player. It is a tour of all the emotions in the human psyche. A masterpiece.

I agree completely with all the friends at Amazon who say the lyrics on this album are cutesy, artsy and overly precious. Indeed they are. My snobbish intellectual side says, "You shouldn't like this." But the overall sound is lush, mellow and deep, and very relaxing. My sensual side says, "Yummmm." So I keep playing it. And enjoying it. A lot. Yes, it is Muzak, but with intelligence and craft, well produced, and very good sounding.

I keep playing the disc, and don't skip tracks. So I have to admit it's pretty good. Quite good. Very good, actually. In fact, I'm very glad I have it. It's a lovely disc.

You'll probably like it, too. Go ahead, indulge your sensual side. A good purchase.