ST. PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES – HALF
THE CITY
Ever head of St. Paul & the Broken Bones? Before you listen to them, here is a picture of them. Now we’re not ones to make assumptions, but when we first saw this six-piece band come across the for show announcements the initial thought was indie-folk stringers, more of what’s hot right now. Well you know what they say about assumptions. The truth is this sextet from Birmingham, Alabama has recreated a sound as rare as any in music, emotion packed soul with gospel winged tipped vocals dripping with musical talent. It’s not James Brown, Otis Redding, or Charles Bradley you’re hearing, but the pipes of Paul Janeway. Going by the stage name St. Paul, like many soul giants before him he was raised in a small town with gospel music as an influence. Matching his golden voice are the Broken Bones comprised of Browan Lollar (guitar, vocals), Andrew Lee (drums, percussion), Jesse Phillips (bass), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), and Ben Griner (trombone, tuba). The ensemble began in 2011 around the time fellow capstone state natives, Alabama Shakes (who’s Ben Tanner, produced Half the City), started making grumbling in the musical belly. Similarly styled, I hope they’re strapped in for a similar meteoric rise to the hearts and ears of music fans everywhere.
The group’s first LP, Half the City is the work of years of playing small shows, and enough enthusiastic post-gig pats on the back to give the group enough confidence to focus on the band and postpone previous career paths. With the release of Half the City those previous career plans seem to be put on hold. For having such an entrancing voice the Broken Bones shine just as bright and compliment the throttling screams. The album opens with a simple collection of percussion, bass lines, and horns that tempt St. Paul’s heavenly cords out to play on ‘I’m Torn Up’ a song with emotion that makes you feel part of the relationship. ‘Don’t Mean a Thing’, another passion filled relationship reflection likens a foregone love to losing his kingdom and even if you didn’t understand the English language you could deduce as much just from listening. At the age of 10, Janeway was being groomed to become a preacher where he mastered the pulpit as he does the stage. It’s on songs like “Call Me” that you can hear this soul-raising ability come through channeling the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. The record is a complete balance between vocals and instrumentals with neither outshining the other, which is difficult with the clout that each brings. ‘That Glow’ takes Half the City to a melodic stream of horn and keys to match controlled belting and a hypnotic guitar. The middle chapter of the album ‘Broken Bones & Pocket Change’ is a song that brought Janeway and former friend Jesse Phillips back together and into the studio for what later became this jaw dropping collection. It’s easy to see when this song was laid down why they realized it could be something big. ‘Sugar Dyed’ begins a string of upbeat, optimistic songs reminiscent of Chicago.
The album closes with ‘It’s Midnight’ a story of a mother consoling her son after love lost as only a southern mother could. The perfect ending to this storybook album, the horn heavy track with tickled ivories evokes the feeling of last call on a long night. The twelve track debut comes across beautifully for a group that made their reputation on earth shattering live-performances.
Top Tracks
Call Me
I’m Torn Up
Like a Mighty River
B Rating: 85
R Rating: 89
Overall: 87
Local Dates: Thursday 03/20/14 w. Betsy Franck, Tedo Stone at the Georgia Theatre
Like this album? Try….from 2013
Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
James Blake – Overgrown
Aaron Neville – My True Story
Justin Timberlake – 20/20 Experience
No comments:
Post a Comment