Album Details

• Artist: La Strada
• EP:
La Strada
• Label: Ernest Jenning
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2009-03-27

For a debut this self-titled release sounds pretty seasoned. NYC's La Strada mix hook-laden rock with accordion, strings, and other rural European folk touches into a lofty concoction that rises to several emotional peaks. The harmonies on the vocals are usually the engine for those peaks.

The main force here seems to be James Craft, whose lead vocals, guitar and accordion fuel such heavyweight tracks as "Flying" and the amazing "Starling." Craft was born in France, which may explain his taste for romantic melodies as well as the accordion. But let's not leave out mention of Maria Jeffers on cello, and string players Daniel Baer and Corrina Albright, whose deft interplay with the melody and harmony help push this from a promising to a fully-formed great debut release. There is so much to chew on it doesn't seem possible that this is just a six song EP.

La Stada is supposedly a sight to see live, and it would be interesting to see these songs fleshed out in performance, especially the rocking "The Sun Song." Soon to break out of the Boroughs and into your heart, La Strada make intelligent, passionate music that tries to bridge a gap between popular and old world sounds, and they succeed with grace and style.

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