If You Like: Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green
Looks can be deceiving. Take a listen to any song from Birmingham, AL crew St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and you would have no idea that it came from these guys. While the group may appear like a young posse of jazz nerds, the instant they start playing, they evoke a time much before their own. Lead singer Paul Janeway's voice is as close to Otis Redding as I've heard, and the band backing him up is as tight as can be. Their debut record, Half The City, is chock full of swingin', smooth soul music that will have you dancing one second, and crooning along the next. This is one of the most fun albums I've heard in a while and it's going to be on repeat for a while. Enjoy!