State of Grace - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Elvis Costello made Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?" a hard-put question--the Holmes Brothers transform it into a prayer on their spare, passionate tenth album. The disc earns its title by gently framing a clutch of originals and well-chosen covers within their signature blend of old-time gospel singing and roadhouse blues. And zydeco: they transport CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" from the mythic swamps of California songwriter John Fogerty to the authentic bayous of southern Louisiana with an accordion-led arrangement and two-step rhythm. Although these New York City-based juke joint veterans are an electric band, this time out 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. And the simpler the better. Their slow, wistful piano-accompanied version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" aches with desire and sadness. Wendell Holmes and Rosanne Cash bare the wounded soul of Hank Williams's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love with You" as they trade verses over acoustic guitars and mandolins. Joan Osborne and Levon Helm contribute guest vocal on other songs, but it's the Brothers' organic union of the spiritual and the corporeal that makes this album so lovely and so thrilling. --Ted Drozdowski

Album Description
The Holmes Brothers return with State Of Grace, produced by Craig Street (Norah Jones, Chris Whitley, Cassandra Wilson) who also produced Simple Truths. Noted for their ability to transform songs by legendary writers from The Beatles to Tom Waits to Bob Marley, The Holmes Brothers push that tradition even farther on State Of Grace. They expertly reinvent songs by writers as diverse as John Fogerty (Bad Moon Rising), Cheap Trick (I Want You To Want Me), Hank Williams, Sr. (I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You), Nick Lowe (What's So Funny `Bout Peace, Love And Understanding?), George Jones (Ain't It Funny What A Fool Will Do), and Lyle Lovett (God Will, If I Had A Boat), delivering versions that need to be heard to be believed.

For the first time, several of The Holmes Brothers' star friends add talents to the sessions. Levon Helm, drummer/vocalist from The Band, joined by his daughter Amy Helm, makes his first vocal recording since recovering from throat cancer with a heartfelt lead on I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages. On the Hank Williams classic I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You Wendell trades verses with Rosanne Cash in a mesmerizing performance. And old friend Joan Osborne steps out on a bluesy, storefront church version of Those Memories Of You. The Holmes Brothers interplay of their voices with their guests' is simple, musical magic.

As incredible as they are as interpreters (OffBeat calls them "the best interpretive group working today"), The Holmes Brothers are equally talented songwriters. Exceptional originals Gasoline Drawers, Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart, Close The Door and Standing In The Need Of Love showcase the same true-life stories, depth of feeling, heartbreak and humor found in the timeless songs they choose to cover. With one foot firmly planted in the secular world, The Holmes Brothers layer their songs with rich gospel harmonies and alternately rough-edged and tender vocals, producing what is undoubtedly their richest and most fully realized album.

Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning January 18, 2007
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

On this latest disc the Holmes Brothers grow both increasingly daring and assured as interpreters. Their own tunes too hold up real well against their heartfelt, original reimagining of other's great songs on this effort. Each of them into their 60's now, the soul just keeps getting deeper and the harmonies sweeter. It's hard for me to overstate what a sublime turn their " I Want You to Want Me" represents. I can't imagine Rick Nielsen knew his song had this kind of moving spiritual dimension to it. Similarly the Holmes' take on Nick Lowe's "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding" is both a timely commentary and a compelling mirror image to Elvis Costello's angry young man approach to the lyric years ago. In their hands, its a wistful plea from men who've seen our better natures denied again and again. As opposed to many discs where guest stars contributions feel tacked on or uninspired--here each one is a bit of a triumph. Joan Osbourne's compelling and spirited contribution on the rollicking Those Memories of You is just plain old funky. Levon Helm's transporting of Rock of Ages to some haunting raw Appalachin place is incredibly moving and Rosanne Cash's immaculate, disciplined and perfectly complimentary duet with Wendell Holmes on I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You lets you hear that familiar song anew. For my money, among their own tunes, the sly and slinky Gasoline Drawers elicits a smile each time I've listened to it. A CD full of highlights from a band that's delivered a career full of them as well.

5 out of 5 stars

BROTHERS AND FRIENDS COOK UP A SOULFUL STEW February 13, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Drawing from a variety of musical styles including Southern-fried blues, Stax soul, zydeco, gospel and country the Holmes Brothers provide a substantial, rib-sticking musical delight. With help from friends like Roseann Cash (duetting on Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) with it's heartbreaking mandolin), with Levon Helms of The Band on "I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages" and with Joan Osborne on the soulful "Those Memories", the Holmes Brothers do it right whether a straight-forward rendering of Lyle Lovett's "If I Had A Boat" or converting the swamp funk of Creedence's "Bad Moon Rising" into a Cajun burner or completely making over Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love And Understanding" turning it from a raver (Elvis Costello's version) into a stately prayer, a mood which also ends the CD with the moving "God Will."

Taste this and you'll be back soon for seconds and thirds.

5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Harmonies February 6, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I am a judge for the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge each year. I often wonder if a solo/duo/band will come along that will thrill me. It's only happened to me once...if young artist want to get into blues and be successful they should listen to this cd over and over and over.

The Holmes Brothers lend their harmony packed vocals and musicianship on each and every cut of this wonderful cd. The reviews of "I Want You to Want Me" above are so true. I personal favorite-favorites (because they are all my favorites i have to kick it up a notch :-) .....as I was saying, my personal favorite-favorites are "Three Gray Walls" with it's wonderful lilting melodies, "Gasoline Drawers" is funny and poignant simultaneously and the rollicking "Those Memories of You" with Joan Osborne blowing as only she can. She is one of the few female artist who doesn't change her style when singing soul, blues and or jazz. she interprets the songs with her own voice as opposed to changing her voice to be more "soulful" or "bluesy"...back to the song :-) Those Memories of You range from gospel to honky tonk and country and it all works within the span of it's 3 minute duration....the cd is phenomenal!!!!

5 out of 5 stars

A Joyous Rapture January 24, 2007
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Rarely does a reinterpretation of a classic, near perfect, pop song rise to greater heights than the original. You shouldn't mess with perfection. Yet, the Holmes Brothers rapturous version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" does just that. It soars. It touches. It moves. If you purchase one album this year make it State of Grace by the Holmes Brothers for this song alone.

5 out of 5 stars

A must for your collection March 8, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The more you listen to this CD the more you'll hear. It's great music with fabulous attitude. The lyrics are starting to bubble over into the way I talk. One of my favorite songs has the line: "I can't stand your conversation." I tried this out on my husband the other day. Fortunately we both laughed.

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