The British Columbia singer/songwriter Marshall Potts, whose music spans genres like Americana and Country Rock, sings about love, hope, and change in his new album The Storm. Potts and his incredibly talented band deliver a rocking album right from gate, with a primarily Rock first half, but then slowly shifting to a more Country Rock and Americana second half. Potts is also known for his “inspiring lyrics,” which are heard throughout the record, as he spreads much needed positivity.
“Free and Easy,” is the perfect opener for this album as it starts slow like a rock ballad, but then suddenly the drums and guitar come like a wave, filling the song with strength and sound. An ideal crowd song, it feels like a power anthem belying its easy-going title. The lyrics themselves – “I look away until tomorrow cause maybe tomorrow it’ll be alright / It was you and me when times got strange and the world of love in so much pain,” – already showcase the hope permeating the rest of the album and the need for reliance on each other.
The next song, the self-titled “The Storm,” is a standout on the record for its marriage of classic country guitars and thumping rock beats. The song sounds like a veritable storm, fast, wicked, and compelling. Potts’ vocals weave in and out of the album, from the softer moments to the building, biting chorus. A bit angry, the song explains that change is charged and when things change, truth is set free; “When the wind comes it brings change / Cause it reveals your pain / That’s why the storm came.”
In “Change” this message continues, though Potts aims his message at the greater world; “I don’t believe things can stay the same, for a better world, we have to make a better world, it’s not too late for a better world.” The bass and keyboard bring a nostalgic and charming feeling to the song, while Potts’ bright but steady vocals anchor the song. If “The Storm” brings needed change then Potts wants to use it to “make a better world.”
Though, in the acoustic mellow “Let It All Go,” the song reminds listeners that growth is necessary and that it requires letting certain things go: “If you don’t learn about yourself / If you don’t heal what’s on the shelf / When what you believe you no longer know; what will be doesn’t marry with what you see then you haven’t learned to let it all go.” The violins match with the vocals to provide a warm and moving melody to this rock ballad.
Potts then extols about love’s goodness for the rest of the album, from love of home, in “Heaven or Home” – “I don’t know where I will wake up now / In heaven” – to love so buoyant it soars, in “Hearts In The Sky.” The image of the first meeting, “Never Gets Old” in that track, along with the love and relationship itself. “I Like The Fall” is a promise and belief that greater strength lies in each person no matter the circumstances.
“Rope” is unique as it’s a foot-stomper song with rapid-fire drums and passionate horns. It’s a cry about the joy of finding solace and comfort in a partner, a lover: “Comfort me when I’m battered and worn / She’s going to come for me.” The final song on the record is “Thank You,” and it is a letter of thanks to life, to a guiding hand, and to oneself.
With the world being somewhat tumultuous as of late, The Storm is an aptly named album, though it’s messages of optimism and change may seem surprising. In fact, it is these anthems of hope and love that are most needed when people are lost. Marshall Potts’ The Storm is an album of comfort and positivity, with singular songs that still work in harmony. When looking for motivation or consolation, check out The Storm’s impressive vocals, ingenious guitar melodies, and captivating lyrics.
By Annamaria Lund