The Holmes Brothers
State of Grace
(Alligator)
Aging gracefully proves a clever path for these soulful veterans, who haven’t always been well served by the sound of their records. On State of Grace, organ replaces sax and blues shout gives way to scraggly warmth. Many a pop song has gospel in it, given the right tempo and feel. Nick Lowe’s “What’s so Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding” is slowed by a factor of two, Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me” by a factor of four. Both are made new. Levon Helm and Roseanne Cash pitch in. The best may be one of their own, the breakup number “Close the Door.” No longer trying to blow us away, the Brothers reel us in.
—Doug Taylor
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.