Album Review: "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals"

Release Date: June 8, 2010

Back with their first studio album in three years, roots-rockers Grace Potter & the Nocturnals are bringing guitar and hook-laden soul back to a musical landscape that has been inundated with glossy, life-size cutouts of pensive rock star impostors. Led by the more than stellar vocals of star-in-the-making Grace Potter, each track from beginning to end is refreshingly reminiscent of a young Janis Joplin belting out powerful and emotional lyrics with a fresh 21st century sheen. Tracks such as the album stand-out, "Paris (Ooh La La)", "Hot Summer Night" and "Only Love", are highlighted by Ms. Potter's soaring vocal prowess, but are accented excellently by a band playing right in its sweet spot--heavy guitars and a pulsing rhythm section. Though some low points are reached on tracks "Colors" and "One Short Night" (they seem to stray from the Nocturnals' comfort area slightly), the sheer power and ferocity of Grace Potter's vocals seems to pull the band up and away from monotony and make them anything but ordinary.

Track-by-Track

1. "Paris (Ooh La La)"

• Radio-ready
• Old-fashioned rock & roll
• The album's stand-out track

2. "Oasis"

• Oozes soul
• Soaring vocal melodies
• If the Black Keys meet Santana and have a musical baby, this is it

3. "Medicine"

• Funky, arena rock sound
• Falsetto-ridden, bluesy vocals (i.e. Janis Joplin-ish)
• Groovy, but boring instrumentally at times

4. "Goodbye Kiss"

• Impressive vocals--similar to Norah Jones
• Jazz and Blues influences
• Easy feel
• Uninspired musically

5. "Tiny Light"

• Piano and hook-laden
• Michelle Branch with some soul
• Boring at times
• Above par jam to end track

6. "Colors"

• Piano ballad
• Emotionally charged vocal performance
• Still musically unimpressive
• So close, but yet so far

7. "Only Love"

• Strong vocals packed with soul
• Ferocious guitars with a vintage sound
• In the band's comfort area
• Potential to be a wonderful track on a live stage

8. "Money"

• Retro, country/blues vibe
• Brief, never quite delivers
• Vocals remain strong

9. "One Short Night"

• 1960s country feel
• Instrumentation and vocals are uninspired
• Weakest track on the album

10. "Low Road"

• Seductive vocals
• Gritty, soulful blues
• Crooning vocals
• Musical standout

11. "That Phone"

• Most impressive vocal performance on the album
• Sing-a-long vocal melody; hook-laden
• Drenched in soul and halfway inspirational

12. "Hot Summer Night"

• Funky, groovy, sexy
• Roots-rock feel; foot-stomper
• Impressive hooks
• Potentially very impressive live

13. "Things I Never Needed"

• Country ballad-feel
• Musically unimpressive
• Vocals lack intensity
• Overall boring track

Overall Grade: B

This self-titled LP from Grace Potter & the Nocturnals serves as the best representation of the band on store shelves yet. It highlights the stunning vocal prowess and intensity of Grace Potter (whom possesses an immensely bright future as a front-woman) and puts a roots-rock band back in the limelight. Though at times the band strays from its comfort area into the realm of country music, "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals" is a fantastic studio effort from a band that is at its best on a live stage.