Hill Country Revue
North Mississippi Allstars
The Verdict: Allstars exhibit true greatness in their live performance CD.
4 stars out of 5 stars
Always bringing something fresh to the table, the Allstars are letting us have a look inside their 2004 Bonnaroo experience with the release of Hill Country Revue, a collection of live recordings from one of music’s biggest celebrations.
Fortunately for the Allstars, Hill Country Revue highlights exactly what makes this band such a success: their live performance. Studio attempts pale in comparison with what these boys can accomplish on stage. Their energy and musical charisma collide into an explosion of highly addictive rhythms, leaving you with a craving for more North Mississippi.
Being a live album, Hill Country Revue is an exciting release for this very reason. It is the band’s first live release, and for fans, a crucial CD for their collection Furthermore, the origin of these recordings only elevates the level of passion and that good ole Southern drive so evident in their music. The Allstars seem to have a good time no matter where they are. Being a guest at Bonnaroo is certainly an honor, and the band clearly shows its enthusiasm with an intense show. The Allstars meet a sea of music-fueled travelers with an appropriate response.
Also enhancing the release is a swarm of featured musicians. The talent and innovation of NMA is backed by several true musical artists. One such guest, former Black Crowe’s frontman, Chris Robinson, makes his appearance on “Boomer’s Story,” while the album then progresses with a percussion spotlight, featuring the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band on “Shimmy She Wobble.” Also included in the mix is the famous producer, Jim Dickinson, father of NMA’s Luther and Cody Dickinson. The album is like a musical gathering between family and close friends, presented in all its brilliance to music-hungry fans.
Starting with a few live show regulars and unfolding into a powerful display of what the Allstars have to offer, Hill Country Revue is exactly what a live album should be. Even recording quality is an exceptional part of the band’s latest production, a characteristic often lacking from a live show album. Everything Allstar, from personalized guitar licks to all of that Southern flavor sweetly mixed with their melodies, is what you’ll find on the band’s first official live effort. Almost as a blessing, Hill Country Revue comes full of classic NMA, padded with the glory of a live show, giving listeners another reason to “Shake ‘Em On Down.”