Nothing but the Water - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Grace Potter is a vermonster of soul. She brings heart wrenching vocals, and a feisty organ style to a band that is reminiscent of Big Brother and the holding company. While there’s a bit of Joplin in her voice, the Nocturnals are no sixties revival. They reach deeper to the roots of their music touching on blues, gospel, country and a bit of southern funk. They're a band that can warm any barn on a snowy Vermont night by pulling heart strings and shaking hips.

Their sophomore release was recorded in a barn at Goddard College, and retains a rustic and genuine feel. There are minimal over dubs and plenty of raw musicianship. Nothing But the Water is an album with fluidity and direction. It doesn’t sound like a collection of songs packaged on a CD ready to be ripped, and shuffled on Ipods. Songs like "Toothbrush and My Table", "Ragged Company", "Treat Me Right", and "Joey" are crafted as well as any single and would stand out in a play list. The title song Nothing but Water is split into two tracks in a move that can only remind shufflers that the recording is meant to be heard in its entirety. The mastery is the way the album presents itself smoothly, shifting through styles and arrangements introducing the talents of the band without overloading the listener.

From the unaccompanied Hammond intro to the final vocal fade out. This album is Grace Potter and her energetic backing band. They're hear to take you on some kind of ride. The album, like it's prime single candidate, Ragged Company begins sparse and austere but builds to a captivating climax. "Treat Me Right" has a great beat and continues the albums savage theme of love gone awry. The record hinges on the raucous blues number, Joey, a song about violent lovers and restraining orders. Afterwards, Grace quiets her band for a Robert Johnson-esque number "2:22", before traveling through Norah Jones’ Nashville on "All but One". I enjoy the instrumental jam session "Below the Beams" it pays a nice homage to some of Goddard’s more noted musical progeny while clearing the listeners minds in preparation for the albums final song.

"Nothing but the Water" is a tour de force live. Nothing can capture the power an presence of seeing Grace belt this out in person, but the album version uses some of the studio's advantages to present a uniquely stirring take on a song that showcases so many of the bands strengths yet sounds little like any other song on the album.

Also, I'd strongly recommend Grace's live show. I've only seen her in opening slots but I've been impressed or blow away each time. She's unreal. If I were involved in a collegiate activities committee, I'd book her now while she's cheap.

Rating: 4.5/5
Top Track: Joey and Nothing But the Water (I&II It's one song).
Reason to Buy: The copies of this without Hollywood Records' imprint will be a collectors item.
Reasons Not to Buy this Album: You're to distracted by Grace's figure to get your wallet out of your pocket.