BLUES
The Holmes Brothers
"State of Grace." Alligator Records. 14 tracks.

There's nothing here all that different from the Holmes Brothers' other albums, all of them gorgeous blends of 1950s gospel, small-band funk and bluesy soul. But when you're this successful with a formula this winning, why change?

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Guests include Rosanne Cash, who lends her pipes to "I Can't Help It if I'm Still in Love With You," Joan Osbourne on a rollicking "Those Memories of You," and Levon Helm on the Band-ish "I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages." "Bad Moon Rising" turns into the bayou stomp of John Fogerty's dreams and their own "Standing in the Need of Love" is gut-bucket blues of the first order.

But the most stunning cut is easily the cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me." With stately piano, close harmonies on the chorus and Wendell Holmes' soaring lead, they make the song born-again and sanctified, turning a smarmy pick-up line into a gospel ode to being worthy of love, God's or anyone else's. In other hands, such a song might come off as an ironic joke, too wry for its own good, no matter how clear-eyed the intentions. The fact that it is instead tear-inducing encapsulates the Holmes Brothers' singular vibe.

— Joe Gross,

Austin American-Statesman

Also out today: On America's "Here & Now," the '70s pop group gets an assist from some younger musicians, including Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller and My Morning Jacket's Jim James and Patrick Hallahan; the Smithereens cover "Meet the Beatles" from start to finish on "Meet the Smithereens"; and Christian pop sensation Stacie Orrico gets the mainstream push with "Beautiful Awakening," with production assistance from Dallas Austin.