''Simple Truths'' is an album by the American musical trio

the Holmes Brothers The Holmes Brothers were an American musical trio (music), trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia. Mixing sounds from blues, Soul music, soul, Gospel music, gospel, Country music, country, and rhythm & blues, they have released twelve stud ...

, released in 2004. The trio supported the album with a North American tour.

Production

Recorded in four days, the album was produced by

Craig Street Craig Street, born in Oakland, California, is a noted record producer. Street moved with his family to Los Angeles at the age of 11, but returned to the Bay Area for his high school years. He began playing guitar at age 14, and was in a number ...

Greg Leisz Gregory Brian Leisz ( ; born September 18, 1949) is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, lap steel and pedal steel guitar. Biography Leisz grew up in the garage ba ...

played steel guitar on several tracks;

Patrick Warren Patrick Warren (born March 26, 1957) is an American musician, composer, and record producer. He is known for his work on the films ''Magnolia'', ''Fifty Shades of Grey'', ''Boogie Nights'' and ''Red State'', as well as the television series '' ...

played pump organ. The trio's cover of " Shine" was inspired by the

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

version. The Holmes Brothers choose their cover versions based on the lyrics of the songs. Four of the album's songs were written by the trio.

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' wrote that the cover of "

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song has been covered by a wide range of musicians. Authorship and production Various writers quoted Williams ...

" "sizzles in the grease of a fuzz-tone guitar." The ''

Leader-Post The ''Regina Leader-Post'' is a broadsheet newspaper published in Regina, Saskatchewan, owned by Postmedia Network. Founding The newspaper was first published as ''The Leader'' in 1883 by Nicholas Flood Davin, soon after Edgar Dewdney, Lieuten ...

'' concluded that the Holmes Brothers "find the hallowed middle ground between the glory of stately gospel like that of the Blind Boys of Alabama and the rough-and-tumble blues of artists like T-Model Ford." '' Mother Jones'' praised the "breathtaking, churchy version" of

Townes Van Zandt John Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997) was an American singer-songwriter.

's "If I Needed You". The ''

Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...

'' stated that "the music kicks, the singing is a classic mix of gravel and honey, and the material is outstanding." ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' deemed ''Simple Truths'' "another sublime release spotlighting the trio's gospelized harmonizing, punchy instrumental interplay and effervescent eclecticism." ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

'' wrote that, "with their born-again harmonies and lissome guitars, veteran blues trio the Holmes Brothers make even Bruce Channel's 'Hey Baby' and Collective Soul's 'Shine' sound as if they were fashioned out of rich Delta loam."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

opined that "Wendell's 'We Meet, We Part, We Remember' is the greatest pure soul tune recorded thus far in the 21st century."

Track listing

Personnel

* Sherman Holmes – vocals, bass * Popsy Dixon – vocals, drums * Wendell Holmes – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano * Chris Bruce – acoustic guitar, electric guitar *

David Piltch David Piltch (born January 29, 1960) is a Canadian bassist and session musician. Biography Piltch grew up in an artistic family. His father Bernie Piltch was a noted studio and stage saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist in Toronto from the la ...

– upright bass *

– organ *

– lap steel guitar, acoustic guitar

References

{{Authority control 2004 albums The Holmes Brothers albums Alligator Records albums Albums produced by Craig Street