THE HOUSE OF MERCY BAND

Star Tribune Music Critic Chris Riemenschneider admires the way House of Mercy band has been able to straddle the spiritual and the secular. But Riemenschnedider says the group is popular because of the quality of its music, especially on its new cd. "Spirituality aside, I mean, they're just great songs," he says. I compared them to the Jayhawks. Mix that with their gospel touch, and it's some really nice beautiful stuff."