Wasting no time, the first track (also the title track) is one of the best openers of an album I've heard in quite a while. Miss Potter absolutely knocks it out of the park with the song, kick-started by a drum solo and a mix of distinguished vocals. Then it ratchets into high gear with classic guitar riffs and screechy pitches. Frankly, it's the perfect hook to keep you on for the rest of the disc.
Grace follows the raucous introduction with a string of "slower" songs that veer in a heartbroken (and sometimes country) direction. Continuing on with "Timekeeper," Potter keeps the melodic flow moving with drawn out electric guitars and one hell of a refrain.
"Loneliest Soul" is an odd track, right smack dab in the middle of the album. It uses what sounds like a sitar for the hook, but it doesn't jive well with the rest of the instrumentation. Aside from the peculiar choice in hardware, it's not a bad tune by any stretch.
From there, The Nocturnals turn the amp back up to eleven with a slew of excellent jams. If you're looking for sexual metaphor-based rock action, look no further than "Turntable," which is exactly as much fun as it sounds. With lyrics like "shut your mouth and put your hands on my hi-fi," it's your huckleberry. One of my favorite tracks on the record, "Keepsake" exemplifies Grace Potter to a T. It's got a groovy guitar, a great hook, and an unparalleled vocal track thanks to Potter's unique delivery.
"Runaway" gets the funk into the mix and doesn't let up. It's straight out of a 70's crime flick. "One Heart Missing" puts Potter's more country roots on display. More akin to the earlier tracks, Grace is a mite heartbroken as she croons here. Don't let that deter you, it's still a great song. Wrapping up the album, "The Divide" has a guitar-laden intro that just screams to be turned into the theme for the next James Bond film. Just listen to it. You'll see what I mean.
If you can't tell by now, I'm a wee bit nuts about this album. While I appreciated Grace Potter's previous entry, it didn't strike the same way The Lion The Beast The Beat did in its first moments sounding in my ears. The album doesn't ebb and flow well after the initial track with its indecision between country and rock styles, but it ramps up on the latter half, keeping you engaged for the long haul. Potter is an absolute badass and this disc illustrates that point far better than her prior efforts. Though if you don't like badassery, I'm sure Rebecca Black might have a new single out. (That was not in a judgy tone, I swear.)
Review complete! What did you think of the The Lion The Beast The Beat?
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