No matter who you are, the roots always call you back. But when they do, you take a piece of wherever you’ve been back home with you. Such is the case with the North Mississippi All-Stars, two-thirds of which are comprised of the sons of legendary Memphis roots-music scenemaker Jim Dickinson. Jim also did these boys the great justice of bringing them to the Delta to live when they were young, and though they were initially rock scenemakers themselves with their own band DDT, they have no officially returned to their spiritual roots: the blues.

Or have they? God knows there are a parade of white boys twice their age who’ve already covered “Goin’ Down South” and “Shake ’Em On Down,” but the Dickinsons (and Chris Chew on bass and vocals) are reupholstering these ancient artifacts with a post-Jon Spencer feedback and growl PLUS a light hippiesh jam-band froth not unlike a Phish or Dave Matthews Band with slide guitar. The result: somewhat lengthy and pleasant roots-flavored groove with a little nastiness burning up the edges. It’s a strange combo, but one that works due to the reverence the All-Stars have for all THREE genres. This is one CD where the seams are more interesting than the pattern—for example, the way that “Skinny Woman” glides into a fieldhand call-and-response, slides up into an airy Allman joy, then stops dead for a polite little drum solo. It’s an alchemy that seems to still be evolving, and not quite as thrilling as the advance hype suggested, but it’s definitely something to watch. Wanted a college band with its feet in the Delta? You have one now.