The Red Clay Strays have built their audience the old-fashioned way: through relentless touring, capitalizing on the viral success of their single “Wondering Why,” long after its 2022 release. Riding this momentum, the Alabama band signed with RCA Records and teamed up with Dave Cobb, the gold-standard producer in American roots music, to create *Made by These Moments*. This album represents a significant step forward for the band, showcasing a bigger, bolder, and louder sound.
From the opening tracks “Disaster” and “Wasting Time,” the shift is evident with waves of burly guitar, creating a sound much earthier than their 2022 debut, *Moment of Truth*. Much of the album follows this new direction, with the plaintive ballad “Wanna Be Loved” underpinned by the same muscular guitars that drive the boogie of “Ramblin’.” Lead singer Brandon Coleman also sounds more robust, singing from the gut in a style reminiscent of Chris Stapleton. Toward the end of the album, the sound shifts with the stomping neo-gospel of “On My Knees,” offering a bit of testifying that echoes the bluster of Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats more than a traditional Sunday service. The rest of *Made by These Moments* hums with a neo-soul vibe, placing the Red Clay Strays in Rateliff’s wheelhouse. While this expansion broadens the band’s appeal, it doesn’t necessarily seem like an evolution. *Made by These Moments* is a testament to the Red Clay Strays’ growth and ambition, marking a new chapter in their journey with a sound that is both powerful and dynamic.
English