Rock with a touch of soul and folk
Initially shelved in 2008, Grace Potter releases Medicine this month, featuring unreleased songs and some familiar ones. Potter conveys heartbreak, healing and transformation themes with a full sound that incorporates slightly haunting instrumentation and incredibly controlled vocals.
Starting off strong with “Before the Sky Falls,” Potter introduces us to a vast amount of instrumentation that creates a full and steady groove for her smooth vocals. “Losing You” starts with strong vocals; this time she includes soulful backing vocals while allowing the tempo to run. Her vocal runs stand out on this track. “That Phone” is a bit more upbeat with unpredictable percussion. The backing vocals give a more soul and gospel feel, while the brass outro adds another intricate layer to this album. “Money” provides us with a piano line that doubles the upright bass line, adding considerable depth to this track. The verses are laid back, while the chorus rocks out and Potter’s vocals float above everything. “Colors” is dark and vaguely haunting. Potter’s vocals are incredibly smooth and sorrowful here. “Low Road” will have heads bobbing along to the groove of this one with its funky bass and guitar.
“Medicine” has a generous amount of soul and rock. Her vocals are strong yet light at the same time. All the instruments are conversing with each other on this track, really letting them shine. Potter explores her upper vocal range in “Make You Cry,” giving listeners a more uplifting track. She also adds some grit to her voice, which would have been cool to hear more of. “Oasis” is much softer with the vocals. It’s the most peaceful track on the album, but it’s still soulful and groovy. Her vocal flips on this track are incredible, too. “Paris (Ooh La La)” is definitely more rock than the rest of the album. Potter stays in her upper vocal range for this fun track. “To Shore” is the longest track on the album and contains a dark and sultry tone. She ends with “Goodbye Kiss,” an appropriately named track to end the album, as she ends it on an uplifting note.
Overall, it is a bit of a mystery why Potter would keep this album shelved for so long. She mixes rock, soul, and folk sounds for a complex album. The instrumentation on this album is so full and thought out, even when she chooses to strip down to several instruments. The real focal point is Potter’s vocals. She exhibits a lovely level of control in her voice, allowing herself to explore different tones for what each song requires. Potter showcases great diversity in her vocals and plenty of passion behind her lyrics. Listeners should hope she isn’t shelving anything as thought-out, passionate, and brilliant as Medicine.
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