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CD review: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
`Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’
(Hollywood)
Grade: B-
Grace Potter sounds like everyone but Grace Potter. Come to think of it, how does Grace Potter sound, anyway?
The blues-belting, guitar-slinging front woman for the five-piece Vermont rock ‘n’ soul band channels a pantheon of successful influences on her third studio album. There’s a healthy dose of the down-home appeal of Sheryl Crow on the lovelorn, radio-friendly “Goodbye Kiss.” KGSR listeners might pick up on a bit of Susan Tedeschi on the soul of “That Phone.” The almost painfully hook-obsessed “Paris (Ooh La La)” isn’t all that far from a latter-day Kelly Clarkson song. You’ll hear some Stevie Nicks and some Jenny Lewis, too. And Potter’s vocals are often a dead ringer for Austin’s own master roots-rock chanteuse, Patrice Pike.
But while Potter’s dead-on imitation act means she practically has an impressive voice by proxy - emotive, loud, versatile, soulful - she never steps out on her own. “Grace Potter and the Nocturnals” careens giddily from memorable number to memorable number, especially on its harder-rocking highlights such as penultimate song “Hot Summer Night.” But as gifted as Potter and her pipes obviously are, and as well as her backing band hits their notes, the whole affair feels generic and listless. Potter has the soul and the chops. She just needs a direction.
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Comments
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By Shreklookalike
June 9, 2010 4:41 PM | Link to this
Grace Potter sounds like whatever she wants to sound like. I’ve been following her long enough to know that she’s a truly gifted musical chameleon who’ll never be pinned down to a specific sound, or even genre. Some of her music is among my very favorite, while some makes me cringe (although these songs too have their ardent fans).
I’ve also been following them long enough to see their fan-base grow at a very steady rate. Grace Potter isn’t just a student of music, she’s a student of the music industry and has learned - through much hard work - how the industry works. She has already chosen a “direction” … UP.
By Louis J. Bauer Jr.
December 23, 2010 12:03 AM | Link to this
Just what are you saying?? Just heard her for first time. I’m a fan. No stupid repetitive lyrics, lame gay background dancers, taped layered voiceovers. As for her sound, since I haven’t seen her before, I don’t see who else she sounds like or imitates.