Album Review – The Red Clay Strays – “Grateful”

Americana (#570) with some Southern rock (#562) on the Country DDS.


Sturgill Simpson. Tyler Childers. Zach Bryan. Whiskey Myers. Billy Strings. Sierra Ferrell.

Add The Red Clay Strays to the pantheon of names of performers in the domain of roots music who’ve gone on to rewrite the possibilities for themselves and others, and without any significant support from radio or the rest of the mainstream country music industry. Even before this album, The Red Clay Strays had made it, and their own way, improbably winning both the CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year as undeniable outsiders.

When it comes to regarding an album from this Mobile, Alabama-based band, it’s almost just as important to talk about what is is as it is how good it might be. There’s no need to argue about whether The Red Clay Strays are country or not. They’ve settled that argument themselves by insisting that they don’t consider themselves country either. So does their success ring hollow, or is it perhaps even counter-productive to the country music cause?

It isn’t if their supplanting the likes of Old Dominion for awards, awakening and emboldening the appeal of the very roots of American music into modern audiences, and delivering songs of substance irrespective of the nebulous nature of their genre. The truth is The Red Clay Strays are the textbook definition of Americana, meaning an amalgam of classic American roots genres as opposed to a pure form of any one of them. Country is in there for sure, as is Sun Records-era rock n’ roll, Southern rock, rhythm and blues, and most certainly Gospel.

One of the primary expectations for The Stray’s’ latest album Grateful is that it would be a Gospel or Christian album nearly cover to cover. Frontman Brandon Coleman with his Memphis pompadour quaffed nearly all the way to heaven has never been shy about sharing his faith from stage, or through song. Any secular moments on this album would come somewhat unexpected or as bonus—or at least that was the assessment going in.

But that’s not exactly what Grateful is. Yes, the opening song “Demons In Your Choir,” the gatefold track “Revival,” and the next to last song “Do Today” are definitely spirituals, as are certain moments in certain other songs. But you you also have multiple moments that are strongly Southern rock, that Sun Records swagger in others, and songs that feel deeply personal, revolving around human love as opposed to heavenly devotion throughout this very diverse, textured, and impassioned work.

The Red Clay Strays are American music. And most any genre should want to claim them as their own since they immediately up the ante of talent among it. The Red Clay Strays also can’t be anything but themselves. A lesser band would have picked a more intuitive, safer lane. They also probably wouldn’t have found the same success as The Strays, who are insulated from imitators and doppelgangers, head-to-head competition, while making themselves immune from trends.

How sustainable is all of this as The Red Clay Strays move on from viral TikTok moments to a more established act defining American music in the present tense? We’ll have to see. But Grateful most certain won’t get in their way to returning hope and meaning to popular music.

8.1/10

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Stream/Purchase Grateful

Song Reviews:

1. Demons In Your Choir

At the heart of so many of the expressions from The Red Clay Strays is a message about reaching out to help others. This might take the form of speaking about mental health or addiction, or simply being there to lift a friend up in a time of need. It also takes the form of using faith to raise the spirit. But as “Demons In Your Choir” alludes to, sometimes the things or people presented as the solutions to problems are further problems disguised as righteousness. The Gospel choir punctuates the message of this song that very aptly sets the table for the album.

2. Don’t Wanna Know

This song is really the perfect example of the Sun Records/Memphis-era influence expressing itself through this band, which is one of the fundamental reasons for their deep appeal. It’s not just the sound, but it’s the writing of this song that hearkens back to the time of hot rods and greasy hair. Interestingly, legendary country songwriter Dallas Frazier (“Elvira,” others) is credited as a co-writer on this song. He passed in 2022 and had been retired for many year previous, so perhaps its a credit for a lyric or a melody, or maybe he wrote it with the Coleman brothers.

3. Walking Away

A song like this is emblematic of how The Red Clay Strays have inexplicably ascended the popular music ladder to where they’re selling out arenas with a sound that doesn’t fit squarely anywhere, and on paper is too old to resonate with younger audiences. Brandon Coleman’s pitch and delivery are just so character-laden and sublime, it separates them from everything else. Like a smoother, more pleasing version of Joe Cocker—just so expressive and steeped in emotional tones, especially when you have a heartbreak song like this—it’s impossible to not be reached by the appeal.

4. People Hatin’

Though this song has certainly found an audience, the lead single from the album has failed to find the same reception the band’s other signature songs have, and might be a little presumptuous about it’s appeal. Though the forceful, punchy nature of the delivery can result in a catchy experience for some, the message is too direct, the lyricism a bit too obvious for it to find widespread appeal. Released around the assassination of Charlie Kirk, “Peaple Hatin'” is just too preachy and obvious to result in either disarming people’s hatred, or delivering an inviting track.

5. Revival

This is the track that really fulfills the Gospel notions this album looks to stoke, but the album so smartly doesn’t harp on, and instead saves for certain moments like this to make them more meaningful, and not drive away non-believers from this album entirely. Brandon Coleman is going to let his beliefs be known, along with his feeling that faith the way to a more fulfilled life. There is a reason that “Revival” comes in as the centerpiece of this record.

6. Down South

On an album with so many heavy moments, a distinctly Southern rock song like this comes welcomed as a simple, fun, and refreshing moment, taking classic Southern themes and guitar tones and paying them forward in and entertaining track. Red Clay Strays guitar players Drew Nix and Zach Rishel are great guitar players, but neither are the second coming of Dickey Betts. Nonetheless, with likely some guidance from producer Dave Cobb, “Down South” does give you that favorable mid ’70s Southern rock vibe.

7. If I Didn’t Know You

As strong song from the record that’s probably not hurt by the Matt Rife appearance in the video, “If I Didn’t Know You” might eventually reveal itself as the “hit” of the record. Though the basis for the song is someone finding a lover who helps complete their life and keep them on the righteous path, within the religious context of the album, it could also be taken as a love letter to Christ.

8. Fool’s Gold

This is a super fun, greasy, and groove-laden track that reminds you of the Rolling Stones in the era when they were recording in Muscle Shoals, or maybe the falsetto chorus of “Miss You,” while also mixing some rhythm and blues with Southern rock influences. This is one of the songs on Grateful you weren’t expecting to get, but glad you did, and lends to the rich texturing of the work.

9. Can’t Fix You

This might be the most interesting song on the entire record. Written by guitarist Drew Nix, it speaks both the desire to reach out to others in need to offer a helping hand that The Strays regularly speak about through their music and in commentary on stage. Yet if you’re not careful, sometimes this can result in you getting pulled down in a hole of depression or depravity yourself. “Can’t Fix You” is very smart, nuanced writing that most can relate to.

10. Do Today

Similar to “People Hatin’,” it’s a fair concern if “Do Today” is just too direct in a way that renders it too trite to for the message of the song to be effective. But what’s cool about the track is how it resists the temptation to get outright preachy, despite the use of the Gospel choir in the session, and instead tries to speak more universally to help motivate and uplift. Despite the mostly agnostic language, “Do Today” still definitely helps bolster the spiritual revival that underpins this record.

11. Grateful

The Red Clay Strays have so much to be grateful for. Many artists and bands have ascended to the top of popular music, but then having fulfilled dreams, begin to become complacent, entitled, even embittered at times. Often the only way to stay grounded is to remain grateful for everything you’ve received, in part by keeping perspective on how so many would love to be in your shoes. The Red Clay Strays are special, and most certainly unique. But it’s fair to ask if their talent on the whole is exceptional, or superior to other bands with inferior standings in the industry.

The Red Clay Strays can’t control how far their stock has risen, or if it’s fair to other performers, or if it makes sense they’re slotted in country only because they don’t fit well anywhere else. All they can do is make sure to keep their heads of straight about it and remain feeling thankful and indebted for all they’ve achieved. Underscoring this was a smart and wise way to conclude this record.

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