St. Paul and the Broken Bones shakes up soul scene

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St. Paul and the Broken Bones first full-length album, “Half the City,” will be released from Single Lock Records on Feb. 18. The album is the band’s first release since their 2012 EP, “Greetings from St. Paul and the Broken Bones.”

by Staff Writer Mari Williams
February 13, 2014

One minute I’m sitting in my room popping in St. Paul & The Broken Bones’ debut album Half The City and the next minute it is as if it’s 1964 and I’m sitting in the back of a dark, sketchy lounge gripping a plush loveseat in awe, wondering when music had last made me feel this way.

Being someone who had never bothered much with soulful music, listening to Half The City was like opening a wardrobe to Narnia and getting lost in an entirely new world that, if I had known existed, I would have ventured into a lot sooner.

St. Paul & The Broken Bones is a Birmingham based band who is sure to blow up in the near future. They released their first EP in December of 2012, which included Sugar Dyed, Broken Bones and Pocket Change, and That Glow, all found on their first studio album.

Before I discuss Paul Janeway’s startling vocals, I’d like to admire the barrage of instruments used to execute their somber yet worthy of foot tapping songs. Clean rhythmic sounds come from the drums, bass, organ, trumpet, trombone and tuba, caressing their way into each song.

Without them Janeway’s voice would work best as nothing more than a gospel singer. They easily set the mood for each of his radical fits and belts.

Yet those fits and belts are admittedly what bring you back for more. You don’t have to be a soul fanatic to feel the chills run up your arms in awe, as Janeway goes into one of his slow enduring croons.

Many of the songs off of Half The City seem to have obvious gospel roots. When listening to it I felt almost as if I were at the really fun church my parents had never allowed me to do go.

Some of the most apparent gospel influences appear in It’s Midnight, but especially in Let It Be So a slow, hearty, and brass heavy song. Janeway belts lyrics like, “You can’t stop what the Lord has made, but the devil may try.”

I would undoubtedly give Half The City two great big thumbs up. If you aren’t into soulful bands already this soul shaking band may very well just change your mind. Though Janeway’s vocals may seem to go a little array at times you soon realize that it is his style and ultimately what sets St. Paul and the Broken Bones apart.