Having heard the CD I must confess to a level of dissappointment.  The songs are fine, and the playing seems solid, but the SOUND of the disc leaves something to be desired.  Except for Grace's vocals, the sound seems muffled.  I don't know if the best description is (a) it sounds like all the instruments are being filtered, or (b) it sounds like a wet blanket was thrown over the amplifiers or (c) it sounds like my ears were stuffed up.  There is a brightness to the sound on both "Nothing But the Water" and "This is Somewhere" that is just not to be found on this disc.

Last year, Bob Dylan caused a minor internet stir when asked what modern music he liked to listen to.  He responded that he didn't listen to alot of new stuff because he didn't like the way it sounded.  Some thought he was being an old fogey who didn't appreciate  the new forms and styles of music, but in fact, he was being an old fogey who didn't appreciate digital sound compression as opposed to the analog sound to be found on vinyl.  Luddite that I am, I don't know if my issues with "Grace Potter and the Nocturnals" are due to sound compression, or Mark Baston's recording style, or what.  I just know that the sound was not up to the quality of the material.

Compare and contrast to the bonus DVD from 7/14/09.  Played on my TV, which has far poorer sound than my stereo, the music was much brighter and the sound much fuller.  While I confess that I am a live music snob, I would generally rather listen to a poor live recording than any studio recording (a throwback to making audience tapes of the Dead in the Seventies), the difference in quality was certainly notable.

On the positive side, I fundamentally liked all of the songs (many of which I had previously heard) and look forward to seeing them grow in concert.  I'm really psyched for Webster Hall on the 12th.