Artist: North Mississippi Allstars
Album: Prayer for Peace
Bitrate: 240kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Sony Legacy
Genre: Blues
Size: 77.04 megs
PlayTime: 0h 42min 36sec total
Rip Date: 2017-12-02
Store Date: 2017-06-02
Track List:
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01. Prayer for Peace 3:40
02. Need to be Free 4:28
03. Miss Maybelle 2:40
04. Run Red Rooster 2:20
05. Stealin 2:54
06. Deep Ellum 4:19
07. Bird Without a Feather 4:34
08. You Got to Move 2:03
09. 61 Highway 3:05
10. Long Haired Doney 4:39
11. Bid You Goodnight 5:02
12. Prayer for Peace (Remix) 2:52
Release Notes:
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Twenty years into their career, the word ôselloutö remains a foreign concept to
AmericaÆs diehard retro boogie masters, the North Mississippi Allstars. ThatÆs
true even as they cozy up to the suits on the groupÆs debut for the
multi-national behemoth Sony corporation, a company that probably spends more on
lunch for their executives in a week than the Allstars gross on a tour.
Brothers Luther (guitar/vocals) and Cody (percussion, piano, etc.) Dickinson are
the stripped down members of this aggressive, uncompromising group whose
dedication to the raw, rural blues of R.L. Burnside and Mississippi Fred
McDowell (both of whose songs they cover here), along with the backwoods fife
music of Otha Turner, has informed eight previous albums and helped make Luther
a sort of go-to guitarist for bands, like the Black Crowes, looking for some
rootsy credibility. Even though the Allstars have occasionally mixed rugged
hip-hop and psychedelic rock into this dusky stew, they have never abandoned the
gutsy soul at their core and the duoÆs credentials remain impeccable.
Despite the jump to a major label, that doesnÆt change on Prayer for Peace, the
hard touring bandÆs eighth platter and first studio effort since 2013Æs suitably
titled breakthrough World Boogie is Coming. Instead of shifting towards a
commercial middle ground, the twosome doubles down on their dusky, swamp
infested, high wattage basic blues and boogie. ItÆs an approach made clear on
the opening title track that, with its driving drums, LutherÆs grinding guitar,
darkly bubbling bass from ex-Allman Brothers Band member Oteil Burbridge and
pulsating fife, sets the discÆs murky tone.
Luther heads into Hendrix ôHear My Train A-CominÆö territory for the
electrifying ôNeed to be Freeö and ôBird Without a Feather,ö slithers into
Johnny Winter land on a riveting cover of McDowellÆs classic ôYou Got to Moveö
(a sassy duet with the soulful Danielle Nicole), takes an excursion down ZZ
TopÆs on-ramp for the driving, slide guitar infused ô61 Highwayö and references
CreamÆs version of ôCrossroadsö with the crowing ôRun Red Rooster.ö The
pile-driving version of BurnsideÆs ôLong Haired Doneyö is another in a series of
highlights that turn the heat of LutherÆs guitar into an explosive device. They
unplug for a peppy cover of the Gus Cannon classic ôStealinÆö and close with a
sweet take on the traditional spiritual ô(We) Bid You Goodnight,ö a Grateful
Dead favorite, where LutherÆs slide emulates both Jerry GarciaÆs lofty floating
lines and Duane AllmanÆs singing sound.
Even though the tunes were recorded in no fewer than five different studios,
including about half co-produced by the legendary Boo Mitchell at the similarly
legendary Royal Studios in Memphis, the album hangs together as a well-crafted
whole. To their credit, the Allstars show no interest in expanding or
compromising their style to attract others beyond the dedicated base they have
acquired over two decades.
There arenÆt any revelations on Prayer For Peace, but the energy, excitement and
intensity poured into every performance makes this a standout in an impressive
Dickinson brothers catalog that doesnÆt have any weak entries.