St. Paul & the Broken Bones St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Early read based on 1 professional reviews. St. Paul & the Broken Bones's St. Paul & The Broken Bones arrives as a deliberate rebirth, a horn-forward statement that places Paul Janeway's voice squarely in the spotlight. Critics note a return to retro-soul aesthetics, with horn-driven arrangements and string-laden production that steer the band's sound toward syr
“Sushi and Coca-Cola” is best for setting the album’s tone with syrupy bass and horn-driven retro-soul.
Shared criticism is still limited across the current review sample.
Best for listeners looking for rebirth and return to retro-soul, starting with Sushi and Coca-Cola and Seagulls.
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Full consensus notes
St. Paul & the Broken Bones's St. Paul & The Broken Bones arrives as a deliberate rebirth, a horn-forward statement that places Paul Janeway's voice squarely in the spotlight. Critics note a return to retro-soul aesthetics, with horn-driven arrangements and string-laden production that steer the band's sound toward syrupy bass and neon grooves. Across professional reviews the record earned a 70/100 consensus score from 1 review, a signal of cautious praise rather than unqualified acclaim.
Reviewers consistently point to standout tracks as proof of the album's strengths: “Sushi and Coca-Cola”, “Seagulls” and “Change a Life” emerge as the best songs on the record, each underscoring why the band centers its arrangements around brass and Janeway's vocal showcase. Critics praise the moments where vintage soul textures meet contemporary polish, and they highlight how the band balances cinematic strings with punchy horn lines to create memorable hooks.
While professional reviews applaud the album's stylistic clarity and vocal performance, some notes of reservation remain about its measured pace and familiar retro tropes. The critical consensus suggests that St. Paul & The Broken Bones is worth listening to for fans of horn-driven soul and for those seeking the group's most overt return to classic form, even if the record stops short of reinventing the band's sound. Below, in-depth reviews unpack those highlights and reservations in full.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Sushi and Coca-Cola
1 mention
"kicks it off with the great syrupy bass-driven “Sushi and Coca-Cola"— Glide Magazine
Seagulls
1 mention
"The dynamic “Seagulls” mixes keys and a dynamite trumpet solo"— Glide Magazine
Change a Life
1 mention
"the bass-heavy, string-laden “Change a Life” finds Paul pleading and yearning"— Glide Magazine
kicks it off with the great syrupy bass-driven “Sushi and Coca-Cola
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Sushi and Coca-Cola
Fall Moon
Ooo-Wee
Sitting In The Corner
I Think You Should Know
Nothing More Lonely
Stars Above
Seagulls
Change a Life
Going Back
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 1 critic who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Whenever an established group seeks a course correction, you hear it clearly on St. Paul & The Broken Bones. St. Paul & the Broken Bones center their horn-drenched soul, and the best songs — “Sushi and Coca-Cola,” “Seagulls,” “Change a Life” — show why. The record leans back into syrupy bass, neon grooves, and string-laden soul with Janeway’s vocals front and center. These tracks are the standout moments that answer exactly which are the best songs on the record.
Key Points
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“Sushi and Coca-Cola” is best for setting the album’s tone with syrupy bass and horn-driven retro-soul.
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The album’s core strengths are horn arrangements, Janeway’s vocals, and a confident return to retro-soul.