Red Clay Strays Moment Of Truth (CD)

(Hbyco Records) 12 tracks, digisleeve

In a digital world focused on perfection, where autotune and electronic instruments run rampant in studios, it can be difficult to find authenticity in music these days. The era of albums crafted as genuine listening experiences has fallen by the wayside, but the Red Clay Strays have artfully brought it back with their debut album, Moment of Truth.

To fully appreciate this masterpiece, you have to drop the needle right at the beginning and listen until the record stops spinning while paying attention to every note sung and every chord played as the songs penetrate deep into your soul. The album was recorded in a studio in the hills of Huntsville, Alabama, all analog, just like their heroes did back in the day. The Strays got together in a room and recorded each song live. In doing so, they've captured the chemistry of their live performances while ushering in a new era of sound that aptly describes who they are and where they've been.

When asked how the name of the album came about, the Strays sum it up best: “It's called Moment of Truth because it's the first album we've ever released. It's called Moment of Truth because it's actually us who created it, nobody else. No outside interference.” Sonically, the album is a melting pot of diverse genres set in the heyday of Southern music the band grew up with, and lyrically, it's driven by honest life experiences as it traverses the ups and downs of life and love, consisting of songs with a deep moral fiber. Each track showcases the Red Clay Strays' innate penchant for storytelling and Moment of Truth has a song for everyone, for every emotion.