The 17 Series: The Aluminum Group

The 17 Series: The Aluminum Group (Nick)

The Aluminum Group are Chicago brothers John and Frank Navin, along with a regular group of studio musician friends. They have been described as "Chamber Pop", or "lounge tunes with a new wave bent", which is accurate, but really they are just a fantastic pop band, and mostly synthpop. They love horns. The songs on this mix cover their 7 albums, chronologically, from the mid-90s to the late aughts.
I like a lot of the artists I like, such as Cornershop, because those guys are about our age, and they seem to be nostalgic for the late 60s and 70s, just like me. It is reflected in their music. Tjinder Singh of Cornershop really likes old funk and soul, and the Navins have a soft spot for 70s soft rock and pop. Burt Bacharach and the "Brill Building Sound" are cited as influences.
They are probably a bit too mellow for most of you, but I hope you enjoy them. Track #15, "Mister Butterfly", is my favorite of theirs and one of my top songs ever. It is simultaneously one of the saddest and most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Beauty and sadness are a theme that runs through The Aluminum Group.
 

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