What do you get when you combine a modern hero of blues guitar with one of this generation’s greatest southern rock/blues bands? The result is North Mississippi Osborne; an exciting new collaboration between the North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne. Together, they released a brand new album, Freedom & Dreams. This collaborative effort has been a long time coming, as the Allstars and Osborne have a deep-rooted friendship, and the camaraderie is unmistakable. The album is a smooth and soulful treasure; a blues partnership that was simply meant to be.
“Freedom & Dreams is extremely honest and captures NMO’s relaxed chemistry so well, most of these songs did not even have a proper count-off or beginning,” says Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars). The opening song, “Away, Way Too Long,” demonstrates this precisely and seems to begin from out of nowhere. With three quick hits of a snare drum, we’re suddenly up and rolling on an easy ride of slide guitar and expert blues instrumentation. Followed by the second track, “Back Together,” which slides in like a laid-back “Fortunate Son,” then glides us effortlessly through passionate shades of rhythm and blues.
At the heart of the record is the blues behemoth, “Brush Up Against You,” a raw and gritty blues eruption that stands out among the rest. Osborne’s vocals shine on this track as the raw emotion seems to flow from his soul. The song delves into several gut-wrenching guitar solos, a drum solo and blues jams that you wish would never end. With bone-rattling bass effects and deliciously distorted vocals, this is by far my favorite track from Freedom & Dreams.
Another highlight is the eighth song, “Katrina,” with its 50’s R&B inspired sound. It’s a clean-cut, slow, take-me-by-the-hand at the high school dance sounding song. With Osborne’s trademark vocal style and the irresistible musical arrangements of The Allstars, this one also can not be ignored.
The quality is consistent throughout Freedom & Dreams. Songs like “Shining (Spacedust)” and “Annabel” are soulful ballads, while “Dyin’ Days” and “Kings & Peasants” offer up a more experimental side, featuring the band’s unique blend of blues and southern Americana. The record is truly a gorgeous lazy river of sound that takes you for a relaxing and bluesy ride. “Junco Pardna,” a soft yet funky groove with a heart in the blues concludes Freedom & Dreams. Its rootsy, blues vibe is the perfect ending to a perfect album.
When all is said and done, looking back, Freedom & Dreams is concrete. It’s a modern blues milestone; definitely a tasty treat. If you’re a fan of the blues, and I mean the real blues; this record is for you. You can find Anders Osborne with North Mississippi Allstars on tour currently through early April.