What's still surprising about this trio is their unquenchable thirst for fresh inspiration, which they find here in songs by Bob Marley, Hank Williams, and Townes Van Zandt among others. And, after 25 years together, guitarist Wendell Holmes, his bassist brother Sherman, and drummer Popsy Dixon still have the unique ability to transform their sources, which explains why Williams's "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" crunches with garage-band raunchiness and Marley's "Concrete Jungle" unfolds as a folk-blues spiritual. But original tunes like the Chuck Berry-style stomper "Run Myself Out of Town" and the gentle ballad "We Meet, We Part, We Remember" prove they needn't look further than their own songwriting for great numbers that play to their long-developed strengths: gentle and soaring three-part harmonies, respect for economical grooves, and virtuosic guitar melodies. It all serves to further their distinctive blend of the roadhouse and God's house. --Ted DrozdowskiThe 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.