The Holmes Brothers - Feed My Soul - Alligator Records 2010

I was first exposed to The Holmes Brothers watching a Willie Nelson and Friends concert on television. The Holmes Brothers performed with Willie and his band, and planted the seed in my mind that would fully bloom upon hearing their 2007 Alligator release State of Grace. Original songs like "Smiling Face Hiding A Weeping Heart" and "Close the Door" were snapshots of human relationships. The Holmes Brothers cover songs on State of Grace ranged from Hank Williams to Cheap Trick, but all sounded original. Listening to that record was a "new favorite" moment for me.

So, fast-forward to 2010, and here we have a brand new release from The Holmes Brothers, Feed My Soul, and I can barely contain my excitement. It's been a long journey to arrive at this record for the band. Wendell Holmes was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, and the band sought strength from one another, as well as family and friends, to triumph over the setback. Following Wendell's recovery, the group got back to work, hitting the road, while also crafting deeply personal songs for their next record.

Feed My Soul contains a lot of the signature Holmes Brothers aspects (realistic lyrics, humor, beautiful vocal harmonies, and, of course, fantastic musicianship). It's certainly the most personal album The Holmes Brothers have crafted, but it's likely the most involved record they've made, as well. Sherman wrote a pair of songs for Feed My Soul, and Wendell scores songwriting credits for six tracks, as well as co-writing "Rounding Third" with Paul Kahn. Friend and collaborator Joan Osborne is at the helm, producing the CD, and has worked with The Holmes Brothers enough to know how to bring out the best in the trio. She does a great job here. She also handles backing vocals on several of the disc's 14 songs.

The album begins with the shuffle "Dark Cloud," which has touches of social commentary in the lyrics ("...when our children start to die, and mothers ask you why//Won't you tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me where you stand?") The social aspect in The Holmes Brothers music has also been present in the past, and shows up in several of Feed My Soul's songs. It's a trait that adds another layer to that realism I mentioned earlier. "Edge of the Ledge" continues the social theme, but puts the signature Holmes humor on it; a fun and funny song.

"Fair Weather Friend" exposes some of the emotion and trials that Wendell faced during his diagnosis of cancer. The chorus featuring the lines "...With my back up against the wall, you slipped away again//Friends are forever, they stick till the end..." Wendell has already discussed in some of the press leading up to the record's release about his shock that people whom he thought would be there for him simply weren't, and he takes the opportunity to put them in their place here.

The title cut is a fantastic ballad, with soulful lyrics by Wendell Holmes, who also handle the lead vocals on the recording. Glenn Patscha's Hammond B-3, Popsy Dixon's work on the drum kit and gentle falsetto, and Wendell's emotive singing are just a few of the layers on "Feed My Soul" that make it a surefire must-have tune. The perfect song to slow dance to.

"Something Is Missing" is a wonderful piece, written by John Ellison, who penned "Some Kind of Wonderful." The great part about this is that the song has never appeared on a record before, making it's worldwide debut on Feed My Soul. Follow that up with The Holmes Brothers heading for the country on the original "Living Well Is the Best Revenge." The upbeat tune, written by Wendell Holmes, will bring a smile to your face.

Covers on Feed My Soul include the rockin' "You're the Kind of Trouble," written by Paul Kennerly, Adam Wright, and Shannon Wright, and originally appearing on Solomon Burke's 2006 release Nashville. Also, a version of the 50's ballad "Pledging My Love," made popular by Johnny Ace in 1955, and kept true by The Holmes Brothers with this version. Most notably among the album's cover tunes, though, is a version of The Beatles' "I'll Be Back," from A Hard Day's Night. Popsy handles lead vocals on a sort of countrified version of the song, beautifully captured by the band.

Another common theme amongst Holmes Brothers records is their spirituality. Hailing from Christchurch, Virginia, the trio is deeply rooted in Gospel music, and released a spiritual centered album, Speaking In Tongues, in 2001. That record was their first release on the Alligator label. In that tone, Feed My Soul features songs like "I Saw Your Face," which deals with meeting up with a lost loved one. The disc ends with the straight ahead Gospel "Take Me Away," written by Paul Kahn and sung by Popsy Dixon.

So, The Holmes Brothers are back, and I can say that in my opinion, it was worth the wait. Feed My Soul has everything that one would come to expect from a Holmes release, and it's a nice touch that they share such deeply personal stories on the album.

I highly recommend this CD.

Standout Tracks: "Feed My Soul," "Edge of the Ledge," "Something Is Missing," and "Fair Weather Friend"

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