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Avg: 4.0 (53 ratings)
- Date Released: October 9, 2001
- Genre: Blues
- Style: Rock, Contemporary Blues
- Label: Tone Cool / Artemis
Past and present collide in this stellar blues combo
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We Say...
A vast departure from the easygoing blues jams of the Allstars' 2000 debut, Shake Hands with Shorty, 51 Phantom finds bassist Chris Chew joining brothers Luther (guitar) and Cody (drums) Dickinson's gravelly voices with his smooth, gospel-derived delivery. Swapping lines and melodies, the three men showcase their vocal interplay in both the Staple Singers' "Freedom Highway" (often featured in the group's live sets) and the original spiritual jam "Ship." Although they still play those hill country sounds ("Circle In The Sky," complete with fife riff), the Allstars are more than mere blues interpreters, emphasizing their Mississippi roots while staking their place in the modern world. The glorious, autobiographical "Mud" recalls the gothic, Brit-based blues of Nick Cave and P.J. Harvey, and the title track updates "The Ballad of Thunder Road" to a 21st-century electric boogie style. While some fans may balk, the transformation of the group from power blues trio to full-on modern rock band can only be construed as progress.
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They Say...
The second outing from North Mississippi Allstars Luther and Cody Dickinson consolidates their growing strengths, both instrumental (read: fewer drum machines) and compositional (only two covers here, as opposed to the raft of Fred McDowell/R.L. Burnside titles on 2000's Shake Hands With Shorty). Featuring guests like ancient fife player Othar Turner and Big Ass Truck's John C. Stubblefield, the band certainly smokes like they did on their debut, opening with an excellent driving rocker (the title track) that ends with Luther cooing just like Howlin' Wolf. The second song, "Snakes in My Bushes," is a dead-ringer for an age-old blues along the lines of "Stones in My Passway," though ironically it's also one of the few tracks with a drum machine. Yes, 51 Phantom does lose in the comparison game to its excellent predecessor: the Dickinson brothers can't quite hold up an LP with their own songs, and a few of the guitar licks end up as recycled Led Zeppelin clichés. Still, North Mississippi Allstars make the blues sound just as energetic, raucous, and earthy as it's sounded in years. Added bonus: closing out with a raging, nearly demonic "Mud" (a quasi-cover of the Tin Pan Alley standard "Mississippi Mud"), a track verging on grindcore or rap-rock.
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| 01. |  |
51 Phantom |
3:17 |
|
| 02. | |
Snakes In My Bushes |
3:44 |
|
| 03. | |
Sugartown |
3:47 |
|
| 04. | |
Lord Have Mercy |
5:27 |
|
| 05. | |
Storm |
4:20 |
|
| 06. | |
Freedom Highway |
3:17 |
|
| 07. | |
Circle In The Sky |
3:34 |
|
| 08. | |
Ship |
5:29 |
|
| 09. | |
Leavin' |
3:17 |
|
| 10. | |
Up Over Yonder |
3:24 |
|
| 11. | |
Mud |
3:50 |
|
11 Total Tracks, 43:26 Total Length
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Credits
- Jesse Davis - Vocals (Background) // Jim Dickinson - Piano // Jim Dickinson - Producer // Jim Dickinson - Omnichord // Jim Dickinson - Dolceola // John Hampton - Mixing // Jackie Johnson - Vocals (Background) // Chris Ludwinsky - Mastering // Susan Marshall - Vocals (Background) // Brenda Patterson - Vocals (Background) // Bill Bailey - Mixing // Bill Bailey - Assistant // East Memphis Slim - Piano // East Memphis Slim - ? // East Memphis Slim - Dolceola // Othar Turner - Fife // Ebet Roberts - Photography // Liz Linder - Photography // Kevin Houston - Engineer // North Mississippi Allstars - Main Performer // Chris Chew - Bass // Chris Chew - Vocals // Luther Dickinson - Guitar // Luther Dickinson - Harp // Luther Dickinson - Vocals // Luther Dickinson - Roland TR-808 // Cody Dickinson - Guitar // Cody Dickinson - Drums // Cody Dickinson - Tambourine // Cody Dickinson - Vocals // Cody Dickinson - Washboard // John C. Stubblefield - Bowed Bass // Ben Nichols - Vocals (Background) // Paul Taylor - Percussion
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