North Mississippi Allstars - Polaris
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Music CD Cover
Artist: North Mississippi AllstarsEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2003-09-09
Music Label: Ato Records
Soundtracks:
- Eyes
- Meet Me In The City
- The One Thing
- All Alone
- Otay
- Kids These Daze
- One To Grow On
- Hard To Please
- Bad Bad Pain
- Polaris
- Time For The Sun To Rise
- Be So Glad
Free Music Notes for Polaris
Free Music Review: Covers lots of musical ground - Not the blues rock you might expect, though
Hit: 3 Stars
NMA's sound has undergone quite a change on the new album, due in no small part to the addition of new member Duwayne Burnside (son of underground blues legend R.L. Burnside), who was added in September 2001 for his skilled guitar playing and good vibes.
Polaris finds the Allstars sounding more contemporary than ever before. The CD opens with first single "Eyes," a catchy, upbeat number with vocals that instantly conjure up images of Jakob Dylan of Wallflowers fame. While the choruses are solid, and the Allstars rip through the instrumental breaks of the tune, the verses are more of a distraction to the tune. "Meet Me In The City" is next, and the vibe is laid-back and easy. The catchy bass line and chorus make this a solid, poppy song with clean guitars and a genuine feel. "The One Thing" is an acoustic sing-along that flows into a layered instrumental break with harmonizing guitars and piano. "All Along," despite vocals that again make the track sound Wallflowers-esque, begins with a thick acoustic line and features superb slide work and instrumentation. The next two tracks, "Otay" and "Kids These Daze," are radio-friendly pop-punk songs ("Call me Pierre, cause I don't care"), minus the chunky distorted guitars, and with nice NMA guitar solos added. Another surprise is the album's most notable guest, Oasis' Noel Gallagher, who lends his pipes to "One To Grow On" and the title track--two solid songs with many layers, orchestration, and heavy production. Fans may also be surprised to find that the first raucous, foot-stomping number doesn't come until "Never In All My Days," the album's eighth track. It is a pleasant return to the rip-roaring Allstars sounds of the past, and a good showcase for new axe-slinger Burnside to stretch out his fingers. "Bad Bad Pain" opens with a funky pimp groove that begs you to get up and dance. The album closes with "Be So Glad," featuring guest vocals from 96-year-old band mentor Otha Turner and R.L. Burnside's rapping grandson Cody that give this track a unique flavor.
If you've made it this far, it's clear to you that Polaris is all over the place. The feel changes abruptly from track to track, leaving even hardcore NMA fans likely shocked by the album's diversity. To that end, it takes more than a few listens to appreciate what the Allstars have done here: they put heart and soul into creating a record that captures all of their capabilities. Whether this seemingly sporadic batch of tunes can capture your affections is another story altogether.
Polaris Poster
With their third album, this blues-rock outfit from the Mississippi hills further transcends their mimicry of the Allman Brothers and home-turf heroes Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside, and Fred McDowell to forge a distinct sound. Sure, the guitars ring even more like the Allmans' with the addition of Burnside's son Duwayne, who harmonizes his six-string with Luther Dickinson's on plenty of tunes. But improved vocal performances and pop-savvy arrangements make numbers like "Eyes," "Kids These Daze," "One to Grow On," and the hip-hop-informed "Be So Glad" ready for rock radio. Happily, the foursome haven't sidestepped their deep blues roots. The late cane fife master Othar Turner appears on "Be So Glad," and they cover Kimbrough's "Meet Me in the City" with all of its original swing and swagger, plus the warm, joyful tone of Dickinson's expert slide playing. "The One Thing," with its roiling acoustic guitar intro and steel-guitar-style string-bending, unfurls like an epic. It evolves from country blues to country rock and then dives into a gently exploratory jazz-blues instrumental passage before returning to its flat-four beat. If this CD gets the attention its well-written songs and fine playing deserve, the Allstars' smart and solid fusion may well become the foundation for a new school of Southern rock. --Ted DrozdowskiAlternative Rock Music CDs
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