For those looking to get an introduction to and a healthy dosage of North Mississippi Allstars before their upcoming February 8th show at Otto’s I can’t imagine a better place to start than this set. Due for release on the 20th (hey, you can probably pre-order it online or at your local store) this is a hefty two CD one DVD set that chronicles the group’s career.

I think you’d be hard pressed to find a band that manages to combine the old-time blues sound with a hard rock texture and avoids sacrificing either genre as well as these guys. I think most people would call this “blues” rather than “rock” or even “blues rock,” but I also believe that there are few who would dispute the hard rock influence in this mix. That’s a tough balance to maintain, but these guys do a great job.

A collection of live performances this gives a great look at all phases of the group’s career, capturing their varied moods and modes. From the down home blues to the more rocking motifs, it’s all here. There’s more gospel oriented material and sounds that lean towards Hendrix sounds. You might hear jam band influences here and there, too. Various guest musicians show up here and there, too. It’s all delivered with a passion that shows that these guys “keep it real.”

When it comes to bang for the buck you can’t get much better than this. With two full CD’s and a DVD you’ll have plenty of North Mississippi Allstars to experience. Whether this is your first introduction to the group or you are a fan looking to expand your collection, this falls into the “must have” category. You should be able to have in plenty of time to get ready for their show in Dekalb, too.