St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Hold on....

Let me catch my breath because my heart rate is elevated. I've been running through a series of live YouTube videos for St. Paul & The Broken Bones. Holy shit. I can't get enough; once I watched every one I could find, I watched them all again.

I know I review and urge you to check out a lot of bands, but bro, you NEED to check out St. Paul. Why should you listen to me now? Well, let me ask you a couple of questions

• Do you like that chop-my-legs-off-below-the-knees-gut-wrenching-soul?
• Do you long for a genuine sound that takes you back to the days of Al Green and collars that can be used as wings?
• Do you like brass ensembles that are tight enough to make your butt hole pucker?
• And do you want all of this oozing out the throat hole of a dude who looks like your accountant and wears pleated pants?

I know right now you are screaming YES. YES. YES. Well.....maybe.

Well then, watch this live video for Broken Bones and Pocket Change. Around the 3.00 mark of the video you can't help but smile at the shear intensity lead singer Paul Janeway brings to the stage. He just lets out the soul and emotion with no inhibitions. Shit, even the band members are smiling behind their trombones and you know they see this shit every night. It just proves raw emotion like this just doesn't get old.

While watching these performances I instantaneously knew that this is a band I need to watch live and up close. It was the exact same feeling I had 3 year ago when I stumbled upon Alabama Shakes; fortunately, I was able to see them live in a small venue before they blew up and started playing the Grammys and shit. And there is no denying the many similarities St. Paul and 'Bama Shakes share. They are both from Alabama. They both are fronted by over-powering and extremely charismatic lead singers who sweat a lot. They both create a nostalgic retro vibe. And they even share the same producer.

BUT dare I say, once I got my hands on the recorded version of their debut LP Half The City, the energy of their live performances translates better than the Alabama Shakes ever did in a recorded format. Maybe it's because of the decision to record the album live, choosing the best take from the 3 they laid down. And who knows? Maybe I'm talking out of my ass because I'm basing my opinions on live YouTube clips. But all the shit that needs to be felt, is felt on the recording. There just wasn't that drop off I was expecting.

Of course it doesnt' hurt to have all the elements in place to make a great album. Janeway's gospel-esque vocals are tricking me into seeing images of the Virgin Mary in the track marks of my carpet. And the songs are just perfectly arranged; they create these holes of that 'R&B vulnerability' that effortlessly allow Janeaway to dig himself out with some help from the horns and a warm organ.

I'm telling you right now. Don't sleep on these assholes. Half the City will be out on the 18th; go get it.