NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS

Keys to the Kingdom

[Sounds of the South]

Swampy, soulful and drenched with bottleneck blues, North Mississippi Allstars take their cue from a distinctly Southern musical tradition. It’s hardly surprising, considering that two of the band’s members, Luther and Cody Dickinson, were sired by legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson, a man who helped shape an archetypical regional style. So when the band convened with guests Ry Cooder, Mavis Staples, Spooner Oldham and Alvin Youngblood Hart in the wake of the elder Dickinson’s passing, it was inevitable that they’d pay heartfelt homage to that rich stylistic legacy. However, this isn’t strictly a tribute per se—Luther’s moonlighting gig with the Black Crowes brings a gritty, ramshackle influence to songs like “Ol’ Cannonball,” “New Orleans Walkin’ Dead” and “Hear the Hills.” Echoes of the Band, the Stones and Dr. John resonate through the sprawl of Keys to the Kingdom. –LZ

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