Holmes Brothers - Where It's At (1991)

Artist: Holmes Brothers
Title Of Album: Where It's At
Year Of Release: 1991
Label: Rounder
Genre: Blues
Quality: flac
Art: scans

Notes:
Their second release contained 11 more wonderful tunes that easily moved from surging R&B to rousing blues with an occasional venture into gospel or country. They covered "Drown in My Own Tears" and "High Heel Sneakers" and had the requisite qualities for each one down pat, as well as "Never Let Me Go, " "The Love You Save," and "I Saw the Light." But their own numbers, like "I've Been a Loser" and the title track, were even better, displaying a contemporary sensibility and a classic style and sound.
by Ron Wynn

Tracklist:

1. That's Where It's At
2. The Love You Save
3. You Can't Hold on to a Love That's Gone
4. I've Been a Loser
5. High Heel Sneakers
6. Worried Life Blues
7. Never Let Me Go
8. Give It Up
9. I've Been to the Well Before
10. I Saw the Light
11. Drown in My Own Tears

Holmes Brothers - State Of Grace (2007)

Artist: Holmes Brothers
Title Of Album: State Of Grace
Year Of Release: 2007
Label: Alligator Records
Genre: Blues
Quality: flac
Art: scans

Notes:
Since signing with Alligator, The Holmes Brothers have enjoyed a quantum leap in radio and television exposure, showers of critical acclaim and mushrooming sales for 2001's Speaking In Tongues and 2004's Simple Truths. STATE OF GRACE is an astounding new studio release poised to bring their down-home mix of blues, soul, country and gospel to an even bigger audience. Over the past several years, The Holmes Brothers have appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, CBS' Early Saturday Show, USA Network (Willie Nelson's Outlaws & Angels concert), Weekend Edition, All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, World Caf , Mountain Stage, E-Town, The House of Blues Radio Hour, Acoustic Caf , Woodsongs and Voice Of America. They've also scored rave print reviews from USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Associated Press and Knight-Ridder newswires, the New York Times, Downbeat, JazzTimes and many more. AAA and Americana Radio have also been good to The Holmes Brothers, with stations from both formats charting their releases. In addition, they've received strong support from blues, gospel and other specialty shows. Produced by Simple Truths helmsman Craig Street, STATE OF GRACE is the best record yet of The Holmes Brothers' astonishingly fresh blend of American roots sounds. Fans of their revelatory interpretations of classic songs will thrill to not only "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?," but also a hushed and heavenly "I Want You To Want Me" and their heated Cajun workout on "Bad Moon Rising." The record also features songs by Lyle Lovett, Hank Williams and George Jones, along with several soulful Holmes Brothers originals. Accompanying the band are an all-star cast of singers and instrumentalists, including Rosanne Cash, Joan Osborne, Levon Helm, Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan), John Leventhal and Catherine Russell.


Tracklist:

1. Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart
2. Close The Door
3. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?
4. Gasoline Drawers
5. I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You (with Rosanne Cash)
6. Bad Moon Rising
7. Three Gray Walls
8. If I Had A Boat
9. Those Memories Of You (with Joan Osborne)
10. I Want You To Want Me
11. Ain't It Funny What A Fool Will Do
12. Standing In The Need Of Love
13. I've Just Seen The Rock Of Ages (with Levon Helm)
14. God Will

Holmes Brothers - Simple Truths (2004)

Artist: Holmes Brothers
Title Of Album: Simple Truths
Year Of Release: 2004
Label: Alligator Records
Genre: Blues
Quality: flac
Art: scans

Notes:
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.


Tracklist:

1. Run Myself Out of Town
2. Shine
3. We Meet, We Part, We Remember
4. If I Needed You
5. Hey Baby
6. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
7. Everything Is Free
8. Big Boss Man
9. Opportunity to Cry
10. Concrete Jungle
11. You Won't Be Livin' Here
12. Hell Have to Go
13. I'm So Lonely

Holmes Brothers - Promised Land (1997)

Artist: Holmes Brothers
Title Of Album: Promised Land
Year Of Release: 1997
Label: Rounder

Genre: Blues
Quality: flac
Art: scans

Notes:
If their previous releases left any doubt, Promised Land finally cemented one indisputable fact: the Holmes Brothers are the finest rhythm & blues group playing today. With stirring gospel harmonies, gutbucket blues chops, and a dash of country, they've created a sound solely their own. From the effortlessly melodic "Easy Access" to the lovely "You're Good for Me" to the relentless funk of "Got Myself Together," these songs are as diverse as they are expressive of one soulful vision. And superb musicianship is only half the equation; the Holmes Brothers' strongest weapons are faith and passion. Anyone not moved by the Southern gospel of "I Surrender All" or the despair and longing of Popsy Dixon's vocal on "Train Song" should proceed directly to the morgue. The trio even shows off its uncanny knack for reinventing songs with a smoldering version of the Beatles' "And I Love Her." Promised Land stands as one of the great releases of the '90s. --Ken Hohman


Tracklist:

1. Promised Land
2. Start Stoppin'
3. Train Song
4. Easy Access
5. You're Good For Me
6. You Got To Go
7. And I Love Her
8. There's A Train
9. Got Myself Together
10. Thank God For You
11. The New And Improved Me
12. I Surrender All

Holmes Brothers - Jubilation of I Jesus (1992)

Artist: Holmes Brothers
Title Of Album: Jubilation of I Jesus
Year Of Release: 1992
Label: Real World
Genre: Blues
Quality: flac
Art: scans

Notes:
Jubilation is a revealing, wonderful collection of the Holmes Brothers' distinctive soul. The brothers tie together a seemingly disconnected array of styles -- everything from straightforward blues, R&B, and gospel to worldbeat and country -- and come up with a cohesive whole. Even when the group delves into soukous or works with a Chinese flutist, it manages to retain the pure qualities of American blues and R&B.
by Thom Owens

Tracklist:

1. Jesus Is Alright
2. I Had My Chance
3. Amazing Grace
4. I'll Fly Away
5. I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
6. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour
7. Will the Circle Be Unbroken
8. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
9. All Night, All Day
10. Do Lord
11. Oh, How I Love Jesus
12. The Power of the Lord Come Down
13. A Brother's Prayer