Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
This is Somewhere
2007, Hollywood Records
country, rock
On first listen, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals come off as yet another band in the wave of modern country bands that have a female lead vocalist and plenty of fake twang (as in, ‘faker-sounding-than-most’) and wannabe-tough attitude. But what really stands out about this band, and lead singer Grace Potter herself, are the quieter moments in This is Somewhere that hint at a pop flavor.
This is Somewhere is the band’s third album and second major-label record, which is obvious in the slickly-produced songs obviously geared to a pop-country audience. But there are some sexier rock elements in “Ah Mary” and “Big White Gate” that will rivet you to this album. It’s been a while since we’ve had strong, gritty female voices in rock and Potter fills that void with a voice that will never be renowned for its octaves but will be remembered for its honesty. And when that honesty comes out in full force in “Falling or Flying,” we listeners are left with a singer and her ballad, which is precisely where Grace Potter and the Nocturnals really shine.
“Big White Gate,” “Falling or Flying,” “You May See Me.”
myspace, last.fm
Amy Macdonald’s This is the Life, Brandi Carlile’s The Story
