My New Home – La Strada My New Home – La Strada

You could say that La Strada frontman James Craft is a man of the world; from France to Romania, Northern California to New York, Craft’s wanderlust is evident in his band’s debut full-length album, New Home, due out in stores next tuesday.

Produced by Kyle ‘Slick’ Johnson (Modest Mouse, The Hives), New Home is being released under Ernest Jenning Record Co. With thirteen tracks, indie meets gypsy, ranging from gentle multi-layered vocals to the bouncing poppy sounds of Wash On By, finally showing its true colors with Baptism, which opens with a nice accordion waltz before the entire band explodes into verse.

With its first track Go Forward being written by Craft on a Brooklyn subway platform, La Strada paints vivid imagery with both its words and its music, utilizing accordions, strings, horns, and guitars. This album does not get boring. Instead, it builds up, with Craft pouring himself into his words, extending his vowels with astounding feeling.

Julia, the second track, is softer, showcasing the bands use of dynamics. It’s also maybe the most relatable song, walking you around missed loves and opportunities. The Traveler and Wash On By are great examples of how easily La Strada can hook you in and break the conventions of the traditional verse chorus verse, often ending in the band’s melodic cries with the strings trying to keep up.

With their fantastic orchestral arrangements, Craft’s freedom with his voice and the entire band’s backing vocals, New Home doesn’t hold back the creativity. From indie pop songs to gypsy ballads to the full bodied crescendos of My New Home, I give the album 4 bees. La Strada has made a solid debut album, being honest with the entire band working together in unison to form a strong sound.