Key Tracks: "Tiny Light," "Medicine"

The state of Vermont has never been known for its contributions to the musical fabric of the United States. Why this is the case is anyone’s guess, though aside from Ben & Jerry’s, Vermont arguably has not given us much to begin with.

This is where Grace Potter comes in.

The soulful lady and her backing band, The Nocturnals, hail from the small town of Waitsfield, but their sound is anything but diminutive. Sporting a flurry of instruments from guitar to harmonica and featuring Potter’s powerhouse vocals, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, the band’s third album together, is sure to show the country what these guys can do. Fresh off an appearance on the Almost Alice soundtrack with a fantastic cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”, the time is good for a breakout year.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals does hit quite a few high notes -- and I’m not just talking about Potter’s voice. Not only does the album showcase some immense talent on the part of Potter and her bandmates, but it also suggests that greater things are on the horizon.

The highs on the album are true highs, perhaps deserving of being named among the best songs of this year. The organ-complemented “Tiny Light,” with a sparse, echoing guitar through its first half and a vocal performance that best shows off Potter’s soaring vocals, is a must-listen. Also worthy of multiple spins is the classic-sounding “Medicine,” which recalls the soulful female powerhouses of yesteryear and the instrumental prowess of rock bands of the 1970s.

The majority of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals is fairly easygoing and laid back, which leads to its downfall at times, though not all is lost. Potter & The Nocturnals oftentimes simply get too comfortable, regulating themselves to blasé jam band status. If you’ve heard “Nothing But the Water” from their debut album, you know that the band has much more in them.

When it comes to live bands, you’re not going to find many better than Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. However, on their new self-titled album, Potter and The Nocturnals simmer down a bit, perhaps even playing it safe. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals is still a solid effort and should garner the band more attention from the general public.

The best, however, is still to come.