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![]() North Mississippi Allstars (from the album Up and Rolling available on New West Records) (by Bryant Liggett) The North Mississippi Allstars have always kept tremendous musical company, whether rolling with members of the Burnside family (R.L., Cedric) or any number of other North Mississippi hill country musicians. That has been the secret weapon for North Mississippi Allstars… they represent and present a deep connection to blues of the Mississippi Hill Country, Memphis Rock’n’Roll, and the music of Luther and Cody Dickinson’s father, Jim Dickinson, lent his talents to creating, including the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. On Up and Rolling, their eleventh and latest release, North Mississippi Allstars are joined by Mavis Staples, Cedric Burnside, Jason Isbell, and Duane Betts among many others. Up and Rolling kicks off with the fife and drum inspired “Call That Gone,” the fife and drum remaining present throughout the song while making room for dirty Blues courtesy of Luther Dickinson’s searing guitar. The Up and Rolling title track is a laid-back groove that walks down a Dickinson family memory lane, reflecting on a North Mississippi upbringing that included loads of music. The groove continues into a Mavis Staples appearance on “What You Gonna Do” while “Mean Old World” plays it straight, before turning into a three-minute southern rock jam that features Jason Isbell and Duane Betts. “Out on the Road” with Cedric Burnside is loose and stripped down while “Lonesome in My Home” is heavy and slow, North Mississippi All Stars brand of boogie Blues taking on Indie Psych Rock. “Living Free” marches along like an equal rights anthem, stating ‘maybe we don’t agree, your free to believe, don’t try and force your beliefs on me, I’m living free’. Taking a walk back in time, North Mississippi Allstars inspiration for the album in a series of old photographs taken during the gorup’s Shake Hands with Shorty era (2000/2001). NMAS continue to be one of the great American bands; now completed with a heavy female vocal presence living comfortably next to the vocals of Luther Dickinson, North Mississippi Allstars continue to present a lesson of American Gospel and Blues in a Rock’n’Roll package. (by Bryant Liggett) Listen and buy the music of North Mississippi Allstars from AMAZON http://www.nmallstars.com/
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