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Raves for The Holmes Brothers
album “State of Grace”
“…a deft blend of gospel, R&B, blues, soul and country – an
amalgam easily achieved by Wendell and Sherman Holmes and Popsy
Dixon, and virtually unattainable for anyone else…a great album.”
Philip - - Van Vleck, Billboard
“Their sweetly raspy vocal harmonies, deeply rooted in gospel,
bring an irrepressible uplift to their new release State of
Grace (Alligator).”
- Nate Chinen, The New York Times
“This veteran trio from Virginia makes fervent country soul
from the John Fogerty, Lyle Lovett and Nick Lowe songbooks and
also writes its own strong hymns of need and surrender.”
- David Fricke, Rolling Stone
“…The Holmes Brothers offer marvelously nuanced and creative
readings of songs like Hank Williams’s “I Can’t Help It If I’m
Still In Love With You,” Lyle Lovett’s “God Will” and Wendell
Holmes’s “Standing In The Need of Love,” with consistent blues
character…”
- Carol Cooper, The Village Voice
“…recalls the era when soul seceded from gospel music. But don’t
expect nostalgia, as the wailing voices of Wendell and Sherman
Holmes, plus Popsy Dixon, bring an electrifying edge to bluesy
original material and turn familiar songs upside down. Although
guests Rosanne Cash, Joan Osborne, and Levon Helm add marquee
appeal, The Holmes Brothers are a righteous thrill all by themselves.”
- Jon Young, Mother Jones
“Standing In The Need of Love” is gutbucket blues of the first
order. But the most stunning cut is easily the cover of Cheap
Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me,” with stately piano, close harmonies
on the chorus and Wendell Holmes soaring leads, they make the
song born again and sanctified.”
- Joe Gross, Austin American-Statesman
“…gently framing a clutch of originals and well-chosen covers
within their signature blend of old-time gospel singing and
roadhouse blues…producer Craig Street has surrounded the velvet
and grit of their three-part harmonies with acoustic instruments
and relaxed tempos. The uncluttered setting magnifies every
nuance of their singing, making many of these performances absolutely
angelic.”
- Ted Drozdowski, Amazon.com
“The Holmes Brothers do what they do supremely well, taking
all sorts of music and making it into gospel -- a sort of musical
equivalent of alchemy. There's more of it here, plenty of their
own material, but with some absolutely glorious covers.”
- Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
“…there’s a beautiful version of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace,
Love and Understanding” by The Holmes Brothers on their new
album. I didn’t think anyone could find anything else in that
song, but they did.”
- Nick Lowe, (Interview in) Performing Songwriter
Raves for The Holmes Brothers "Simple Truths"
"...juke-joint vets with razenly borderless view of American
music…with a purity of heart and rapturous harmonizing,
these brothers are righteous indeed. A- "
- Entertainment Weekly
"...the most eclectic mix of songs you'll hear on any blues
album this year, with masterful interpretations of Townes Van
Zandt's "If I Needed You" and Bob Marley's "Concrete
Jungle", along with a handful of original tunes that stack
up well against them."
- USA Today
"The music kicks, the singing is a classic mix of gravel
and honey, and the material is outstanding. The Holmes Brothers
are an undiscovered American treasure..."
- Associated Press, Eric Fidler
"revelatory in scope...this is the first great record of
2004"
- All Music Guide, Thom Jurek
"...one of America's last great bands."
- Living Blues, Tim Schuller
"...with the release of Simple Truths, they prove
beyond a shadow of a doubt that they’re the best interpretive
vocal group working today."
- Offbeat
"...Harlem grown soul with revival-tent ardor, finding
God and grit in unlikely cover... Added value: Simple Truths
was produced by Craig Street, who knows a lot about making the
blues tradition sound like breaking news."
- Rolling Stone, David Fricke
" Richly soulful and as daring as ever, The Holmes Brothers
remain a musical force unto themselves."
- Billboard, Chris Morris
"This is a timeless album, and that’s the simple
truth."
- New York Post, Dan Aquilante
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