Sea of Noise is the second studio album by American band St. Paul and The Broken Bones. It was released on September 9, 2016, by Records. The lead single "All I Ever Wonder" was released on June 16, 2016. The album was produced by Paul Butler.[1]
| Sea of Noise | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 9, 2016 | |||
| Length | 47:51 | |||
| Label | Records | |||
| Producer | Paul Butler | |||
| St. Paul and The Broken Bones chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editOn May 23, 2016, Rolling Stone reported that St. Paul and The Broken Bones were to release Sea of Noise on September 9, 2016.[2] A trailer for the album, which shows the band recording album track "Crumbling Light Posts Pt. 1" with the Tennessee Mass Choir, was released in conjunction.[3] Sea of Noise is the first album by the band since the departure of trombonist Ben Griner in May 2015.[4]
Singles
editThe album was preceded by the release of the lead single "All I Ever Wonder" on June 16, 2016. The song was inspired by vocalist Paul Janeway's apathy towards multiple issues, and the song addresses topics such as gentrification and politics.[5][6]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| American Songwriter | [9] |
| Paste | 7.5/10[10] |
| Rolling Stone |  [11] |
| Uncut | [12] |
Upon release, Sea of Noise received positive acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 based on reviews from critics, the album has an average score of 80 based on 5 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7]
Ann Powers of NPR wrote that the album "lifts [St. Paul and The Broken Bones] from its spot as the nation's best young party band into headier and more exciting territory," and highlighted how the album is relevant in current times by noting that several of the album's tracks address topics such as racial injustice and political unrest.[1]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Crumbling Light Posts, Pt. 1" | 1:30 |
| 2. | "Flow with It (You Got Me Feeling Like)" | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Midnight on the Earth" | 3:53 |
| 4. | "I'll Be Your Woman" | 3:56 |
| 5. | "All I Ever Wonder" | 3:29 |
| 6. | "Sanctify" | 5:55 |
| 7. | "Crumbling Light Posts, Pt. 2" | 0:37 |
| 8. | "Waves" | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Brain Matter" | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Burning Rome" | 4:04 |
| 11. | "Tears in the Diamond" | 3:46 |
| 12. | "Is It Me" | 2:13 |
| 13. | "Crumbling Light Posts, Pt. 3" | 0:55 |
| 14. | "La Bruit" | 3:04 |
| 15. | "All I Ever Wonder" (Mahogany Session) | 3:36 |
Personnel
editCredits for Sea of Noise adapted from Tidal[13] and AllMusic[14]
Musicians
edit- St. Paul and The Broken Bones – composers, lyricists
- Jason Clark and the Tennessee Choir – additional vocals (1, 7, 13)
- Yennifer Correia – violin
- Jonathan Kirkscey – cello
- Jessie Munson – violin
- Jennifer Puckett – viola
Technical
edit- Paul Butler – production, mixing
- Jeff Powell – engineering
- Mike Stankiewicz – assistant engineering
- Wesley Graham – assistant engineering
- Greg Calbi – mastering engineering
- Steve Fallone – mastering engineering
- Lester Snell – string arrangements
Design
edit- Aaron Gresham – art direction
Charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[15] | 44 |
References
edit- ^ a b Powers, Ann (September 1, 2016). "Review: St. Paul & The Broken Bones, 'Sea Of Noise'". NPR. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Freeman, Jon (May 23, 2016). "St. Paul and the Broken Bones Plot New Album 'Sea of Noise'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ St Paul & The Broken Bones - Sea of Noise - Trailer (Video). RECORDS. 2016-05-23 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Trumpeter Allen Branstetter on St. Paul and the Broken Bones' New Album and Working with Alabama Shakes". reverb.com. May 12, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Vain, Madison (June 16, 2016). "St. Paul & the Broken Bones ponder apathy & passion on new single 'All I Ever Wonder'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Mosk, Mitch (August 29, 2016). "St. Paul & The Broken Bones Challenge Apathy on "All I Ever Wonder"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "Sea of Noise by St. Paul & the Broken Bones". Metacritic. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Donelson, Marcy. "Sea of Noise - St. Paul & the Broken Bones | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Horowitz, Hal (September 7, 2016). "St. Paul And The Broken Bones: Sea Of Noise". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Zimmerman, Lee (September 12, 2016). "St. Paul & The Broken Bones: Sea of Noise Review". Paste. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ Hermes, Will (September 8, 2016). "Review: St. Paul and the Broken Bones Prove Modern Power of Classic Sound". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "St. Paul and the Broken Bones: Sea of Noise". Uncut. 2016-10-03. p. 39.
- ^ "Credits / Sea of Noise / St. Paul & The Broken Bones". Tidal. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Sea of Noise - St. Paul & the Broken Bones | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "St. Paul The Broken Bones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2022.