REVIEW: North Mississippi Allstars, Shake Hands With
Shorty
- I.K. MacLeod
Much like describing something as being of world-class caliber, the term allstar sends shivers down my spine. All you need to do is to listen to Smash Mouth to be considered one or turn on ESPN to see one. They key to this band's name is all in its location. North Mississippi is home to an entire railway car load of blues travelers that have helped to craft some of the best indigenous music around. They may not be purists, but when you boil this album down you are left with an authentic example of a tradition handed down through decades of musicians and families in the Delta region. This attempt to rejuvenate and revitalize the blues works because they what this two young men lack in hard livin', drinkin', and smokin' experience, they make-up for in determination and genuine love for the music.
Even though this only is their debut offering, the brothers Dickinson are far from being new to the scene. They have been working things out on the road since 1996 and have a direct link to producer Jim Dickinson (The Replacements, Big Star). Luther Dickinson remixed the last couple of tracks on the Blues Explosion's Extra Acme USA album and has more than his own share of kick-ass guitar tricks up his sleeve. Cody Dickinson hits the skins while Chris Chew grabs the bottom end with his bass.
Unlike most of the Fat Possum roster, the production is smoother and slicker yet raw and soulful. "Shake'em on Down" is four minutes that of head-spinning boogie blues that will reveals the bands winning formula right out of the gate. The North Mississippi Allstars will have the juke joint jolting to the sounds of "Drop Down Mama" and "Po' Black Maddie." "Drinkin' Muddy Water" will have you sleeping in a hollow log while "Goin' Down South" fuses a disco edge to its blues rock core. Shake Hands With Shorty comes to a close with a magnificent jam of "All Night Long."
Don't take this the wrong way, but this is a fresh dose of fertilizer for the much neglected roots of American music. Mississippi Fred McDowell would be proud.
