The Furious Seasons - My Love Is Strong (Self-Released)

“Wow” is, honestly, all you may need to know about My Love is Strong, the new album from LA’s The Furious Seasons. In case you need more, My Love is Strong is an incredibly welcoming record, inviting the listener to immediately fall head over heels in love with the band and their music. The album begins with a burst of gorgeous, lush harmonies on “Southern Night” and promptly follows with a tornado of swirling organs. Closer to Roger McGuinn than Bob Dylan, David Steinhart’s vocals gives the band an instant energy like The Byrds reinventing a Dylan classic.

My Love Is Strong dances effortlessly from one dreamy number to the next, from the early country rock flavor of “Understood” to the masterpiece of “Summer Rain.” Backed with the classic Ronettes drum beat and augmented with strings and castanets, the song is like a lost 60’s mini opera produced by Lee Hazlewood. The album succeeds in almost every way possible. The ska of “Full Disclosure” may feel a little forced and awkward, but it is quickly mollified by the beautiful ballad, “Valentine.” The title track itself is a perfect slice of folk rock, and it could have easily been written in Big Pink. It may still be early in the year, but The Furious Seasons have made a strong case for one of the year’s best records with My Love Is Strong.