Wednesday, February 2, 2011

HEAD FOR THE HILLS




Cody Dickinson started Hill Country Revue while his other band, The North Mississippi All-Stars, was on hiatus. With brother Luther away playing lead guitar with The Black Crowes, Cody was able to step a little further into the spotlight, and the result is amazing. Packing a fuller sound than the All Stars, but maintaining much of that Mississippi grit, this is a band that should not be simply dismissed as Cody's side project-they are an outstanding band in their own right.


"Make A Move" is the 2009 debut, and represents a return to the juke-joint one-chord trance blues of north Mississippi, made famous by R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. Old friend Garry Burnside (youngest son of R.L. Burnside) was Cody's writing partner, and the material draws from the traditional songs and modes of the Hill Country, while incorporating new elements for the next generation. There is a rock edge to the sound, and Cody's guitar solos may have more in common with heavy metal shredding than "meat and potatoes" Mississippi hill music.

Any fan of the North Mississippi Allstars should enjoy this CD. As my friend Stephen T might (or might not) say, "Great stuffs!"

4 comments:

  1. Ha! Well, I can't speak to the music, never having heard it, but the album cover illustration is certainly "Great Stuffs!"
    ;o)

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds intriguing. I like the descriptive term "trance blues"--a blues version of Neil Young?

    Lee
    Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lee-

    That sort of describes it. It's a rootsy-rock, bluesy sound. But the vocals don't have that "stepped on a cat's tail" pitch of Neil's.

    Stephen-

    Are you leering at the album cover?

    LC

    ReplyDelete
  4. >>.....Stephen, are you leering at the album cover?

    I am if "leering" is the word you use to describe "Onanism".

    Why? Isn't that what Cody wanted me to do?

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete

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