Laurin Hamlin
The Broadside
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals combine feisty-ness, fun, blues and rock in their newest release and self titled album that is sure to satisfy a wide audience.
The recipe for this album is part Government Mule and Janis Joplin with a side of The Allman Brothers and Sara Bareilles.
Add a little dash of āextra amazingā over that and you have got something special. Albums like this do not come often enough.
With stunning vocals and laid back progressive guitar riffs, itās hard not to instantly fall in love.
The transitions from track to track are virtually seamless as Potter belts out one amazing song after another. With a fair mix of upbeat tunes, a few mellow hits, and some more bluesy-feeling tracks, you wonāt get bored with this album. This CD is perfect for any road trip; put it in and let it play.
The album starts with the radio hit āParisā and introduces the listener to the style of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
āGoodbye Kissā is one I hope increases in popularity. In this lyrically beautiful song, the band turns down the rock a little and lets the beat and blues shine through.
Keeping it well balanced, the band speeds up the tempo a little in another favorite, āTiny Lightā then slow it back down with the very melodic āColors.ā The next few tracks get more upbeat.
Grace Potter shows off her true funky and fun vocal capabilities with āHot Summer Nightā a danceable, fun song.
The album ends with āThings I Never Neededā a sweet melancholy song set to a steady drum beat with a little country twang. At the end of this song itās time to hit the āreplayā button and enjoy this album again.
Other albums from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
⢠Original Soul (2004)
⢠Nothing But the Water (2005)
⢠This is Somewhere (2007)
Band Members
⢠Grace Potter (lead vocalist)
⢠Matt Burr (drums)
⢠Catherine Popper (bass guitar and vocals)
⢠Scott Tournett (guitar and harmonica)
⢠Benny Yurco (electric guitar and vocals)
Lauren Hamlin can be reached at lrhamlin@cocc.edu