The soul-revival of the twenty-first century has had its steps forward & back (think the success of Sharon Jones, but also the tragic passing of Sharon Jones). Minneapolis’ St. Paul & The Broken Bones have been widening and deepening their soul with 2018’s Young Sick Camelia (QRO review) and particularly last year’s The Alien Coast (QRO review). If the perhaps too-quick new album Angels In Science Fiction is a step backward in sonic growth, it’s still an enjoyable soul record.
There are some definite standouts in Science Fiction, such as the smooth “City Federal Building” and the big, sly “Wolf In Rabbit Clothes”. But there are also a lot of slower, stripped soul pieces that kind of run together, and could have maybe used a little more fleshing out, a little more meat on their bones. There’s nothing wrong with St. Paul’s soul on Angel, but too often it doesn’t get outside of its box.
Still, it’s great that St. Paul & The Broken Bones are not only still around, but still making neo-soul music that you can enjoy, like Angels In Science Fiction.
