The Holmes Brothers return with SIMPLE TRUTHS, helmed by the same Grammy-winning pair?producer Craig Street (Cassandra Wilson, Chris Whitley) and engineer S. Husky Höskulds (Tom Waits, Joe Henry, Wallflowers)?who were... more » part of the creative team for the 2003 Norah Jones smash Come Away With Me. SIMPLE TRUTHS features 13 striking songs reflecting The Holmes Brothers? wide-ranging musical palette. The CD brings the group back into the secular world while still holding tight to their rich gospel harmonies and rough-edged vocals. The album features an amazing collection of songs written by some of the greatest songwriters of the last 60 years, including Townes Van Zandt (If I Needed You), Bob Marley (Concrete Jungle), Gillian Welch (Everything Is Free), Willie Nelson (Opportunity To Cry) and Hank Williams (I?m So Lonesome I Could Cry) as well as choice covers of Collective Soul?s Shine and Bruce Channel?s Hey Baby. The Holmes Brothers? spirited original material (Run ! Myself Out Of Town; We Meet, We Part, We Remember; You Won?t Be Livin? Here Anymore; and I?m So Lonely) fits perfectly alongside the rest of the songs on this transcendent, boundary-defying release.« less
The Holmes Brothers return with SIMPLE TRUTHS, helmed by the same Grammy-winning pair?producer Craig Street (Cassandra Wilson, Chris Whitley) and engineer S. Husky Höskulds (Tom Waits, Joe Henry, Wallflowers)?who were part of the creative team for the 2003 Norah Jones smash Come Away With Me. SIMPLE TRUTHS features 13 striking songs reflecting The Holmes Brothers? wide-ranging musical palette. The CD brings the group back into the secular world while still holding tight to their rich gospel harmonies and rough-edged vocals. The album features an amazing collection of songs written by some of the greatest songwriters of the last 60 years, including Townes Van Zandt (If I Needed You), Bob Marley (Concrete Jungle), Gillian Welch (Everything Is Free), Willie Nelson (Opportunity To Cry) and Hank Williams (I?m So Lonesome I Could Cry) as well as choice covers of Collective Soul?s Shine and Bruce Channel?s Hey Baby. The Holmes Brothers? spirited original material (Run ! Myself Out Of Town; We Meet, We Part, We Remember; You Won?t Be Livin? Here Anymore; and I?m So Lonely) fits perfectly alongside the rest of the songs on this transcendent, boundary-defying release.
Anthony M Fucci | Holtsville, NY United States | 02/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want something that's straight from the heart and pure to the artform then you'll love this latest work from the Holmes Bros.
It's somewhat eclectic, giving you blues, old school R&B and a bit of gospel,they even cover two Hank Williams tunes doing a great job on " So lonesome I could cry "
The music is uncluttered and straight foward supporting the soulful vocals perfectly."
Worth getting
Starhead | Moss Beach, CA USA | 03/15/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I had one other Holmes Bros album which was slick & produced to death & had given up on them in spite of hearing that they are amazing live... I picked this one up & it's different! Raw, engaging & full of inspired covers. Some nice guitar, unique singing & harmonizing... highly recommended. Pick it up."
'nuff sed
Andrew Hill | Orange, CA United States | 06/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Saw them at the Strawberry Music Festival and...WOW! Their live performance was excellent, the next morning's gospel "workshop" sublime! The album, while testimony in itself to the quality of this band, only begins to showcase the harmonies, the musicianship, the soul of this trio. Not a skippable song among them."
Next best thing to live...
. | Chicago, IL USA | 04/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You can get this cd if the HBs aren't coming to your town, or to remember how great there were when they DID come, but don't miss them live if you can make it: More great sound comes out of this trio than you could ever believe,(if your eyes were closed)."
Heavenly Singin
John Carroll | Alpharetta, GA USA | 09/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Simple Truths is a stripped down record rooted in Harlem blues with touches of gospel, country and folk music scattered throughout. Great harmonies punctuate these songs especially on the touching We Meet, We Part, We Remember. They turn If i Needed You into a spiritual experience, the kind where you kick back, close your eyes, and drink a budweiser to. Bob Marley's surely nodding his head in approval in heaven when he listens to their soulful version of Concrete Jungle. Popsy Dixon's singin on Gillian Welch's Everything is Free is sublime. Good stuff."