Hernando, named after the town the band grew up in, marks the first studio release on the band’s own label, Sounds of the South Records. Enlisting their father (Jim Dickinson) to produce Hernando, the Dickinson brothers (Luther and Cody) and bassist Chris Chew holed up in Jim’s studio, “The Barn”, for the better part of a month and emerged with their best effort since 51 Phantom. As Luther Dickinson put it, “This record stands alone…we don’t draw as much on our Hill Country roots. We’re a blues rock band and set out to make a blues rock record.” I think it is their most focused, energetic and enjoyable album in years. NMA the way they were supposed to be, this is Essential Listening to be sure.
North Mississippi Allstars - Shake
North Mississippi Allstars - Keep The Devil Down
North Mississippi Allstars - Blow Out
North Mississippi Allstars’ Official Site, North Mississippi Allstars on myspace, Buy Hernando
Sometimes a release sneaks up on you, especially when it isn’t getting a lot of promotion. Such is the plight of Mississippi Folk Music Vol. 1 from the North Mississippi Allstars. After hearing rumors of a new N. Mississippi Allstars album (Hernando, release date: Jan. 22), I went in search of some verification, and while looking, I stumbled across this cd in their online store.
Mississippi Folk Music - Vol. 1 has been released on the band’s own label, which will also be releasing Hernando, and is only being sold at their shows and online. While it is an album mostly of covers in a year of cover albums, one needs to think more in the lines Old Town School of Folk Music Songbooks than Tesla does a covers album. Featuring covers of everything from traditional folks songs, to their own versions of RL Burnside, Ray Charles, Mississippi John Hurt and Bob Dylan originals, to a fantastic remake of their own “Snakes in My Bushes”, Mississippi Folk Music - Vol 1 offers an unplugged version of NMA that fans have grown to know and love while also managing to surprise on a few tracks. I would suggest this cd to the established NMA fan. If that’s you, go buy it.
North Mississippi Allstars - Snakes in My Bushes (NMA original)
North Mississippi Allstars - Meet Me In The City (Junior Kimbrough)
North Mississippi Allstars - Hard Times (Ray Charles)
North Mississippi Allstars Official Site, North Mississippi Allstars on Myspace, Buy Mississippi Folk Music - Vol 1
