A quarter century after first electrifying the blues world with Shake Hands with Shorty, the North Mississippi Allstars prove on Still Shakin’ that their fire hasn’t dimmed—it’s simply evolved. At its core, this album feels like a family reunion—blood relatives Luther and Cody Dickinson anchoring the sound while surrounding themselves with a wide circle of collaborators, both old and new, who share their devotion to Mississippi Hill Country blues.
The brothers’ guiding principle has always been “Modern Mississippi Music”—a blend of the hypnotic, groove-driven roots they grew up around with threads of rock, funk, gospel, and jam-band improvisation. That mission is alive and well here. From the opening cut, Preachin’ Blues, the guitars spit fire and Cody’s drumming snaps with urgency, reminding listeners why this band made such an impact when they first appeared on the scene in the late ’90s.
Guests abound, but the record never feels crowded. Duwayne Burnside lights up Poor Boy with raw authority, Grahame Lesh adds supple basslines to K.C. Jones (Part II), and sisters Sharisse and Shontelle Norman lend gospel-soaked depth to My Mind Is Rambling. Each appearance feels intentional, more like a conversation among peers than a cameo. Meanwhile, Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman and Joey Williams—now integral parts of the collective—add fresh textures on Hammond organ, steel guitar, and vocals.
The material mixes traditional numbers with originals, stitched together in a way that makes them flow like a continuous juke joint set. Pray for Peace (Part II) is the standout: equal parts call-to-action and celebration, it pulses with positivity while sliding on a groove sturdy enough to carry its weighty message. Elsewhere, Stay All Night may be lyrically slight, but its instrumental interplay proves the Allstars’ knack for turning a simple hook into a full-bodied jam.
The record’s title track tilts toward psychedelia, fuzzed-out guitars swirling until the edges blur, while Don’t Let the Devil Ride keeps one foot in the sanctified blues tradition, building into a joyous swirl of voices and riffs. Closing cut Monomyth (Folk Hero’s Last Ride) is unlike anything else here—a moody, instrumental meditation that feels like both tribute and farewell, perhaps the most personal moment the Dickinsons have ever put to tape.
If there’s a critique, it’s that Still Shakin’ occasionally leans more on atmosphere than ambition. Compared with the broader scope of their 2022 release Set Sail, this record feels looser, more like a snapshot than a statement. But maybe that’s the point. At just under fifty minutes, it captures the band in their element: relaxed, joyful, and deeply connected to the lineage that made them who they are.
Ultimately, Still Shakin’ isn’t about reinvention—it’s about reaffirmation. It’s the sound of a band still in love with the music that raised them, still eager to share that love with whoever’s listening. Twenty-five years on, the Allstars remain exactly what they’ve always promised: still shaking, still grooving, and still very much alive. – Jason Felton
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