Christa Says Yay
Seattle, Washington, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Monster Love Machine", the latest release from the grooving, bluesy-alt-rock band Christa Says Yay is best served in a vintage Cadillac while driving an open desert road. Lucky for you, if you can't come by either of those, it will easily transport you there. With its opening tracks, "On Fire" and "Dissonance of Life" the trip is just starting out in a familiar, soulful territory. The band then gently delivers the listener to the title track with lyrics that sound familiar ("I don't want you/I don't want you/But I need you") yet exceptionally heart-wrenching as sung through Christa Kae Fischer's increasingly earnest voice that is packed with perfectly controlled power. Her band's tasteful arrangements complement Fischer’s voice and songwriting with such ease it’s hard to tell who is influencing who.
Then you hit "Tunnel Vision" and the band invites you to explore their sound as you’re tossed between a bossa nova and a rock beat. By the time "Brought the Sun" hits the soundwaves, it feels like the first stop on the road when you're out of town. You get out of the car and feel the fresh, different smells of the area and the take in the new surroundings. Christa's voice reminds you of home, yet with the arrangement of "Desire", my personal favorite on the record, you can't help but think, "I haven't really heard anything quite like this before."
As the music plays on, it becomes apparent that CSY doesn't follow any predictable changes in energy. Short and sweet "Put That Record On" deserves a second spin before moving onto the remainder of the album that features memorable solos from lead guitarist, Jenny Pitzen, as well as fabulously lush harmonies. The content of the songs at the end offer some closure to the problem with the Monster Love Machine that we heard about earlier. From the triumphant penultimate tune that asks "What am I supposed to do?/ Just wallow in this?/ Wallow." to the mellower finale in "Salve", we find that, after this wild ride of a road trip, we can go ahead and happily drive off into the sunset. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for what's to come from this band.
- Julia Massey
Christa Says Yay!, Monster Love Machine (out now, self-released, christasaysyay.bandcamp.com): Easygoing female-fronted alt-rock with a heavy '90s vibe. Fans of acts like Goodness will appreciate its moody groove and grown-up sensibility. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR - Reverb Monthly in Seattle Weekly
Discography
Christa Says Yay ~ Debut Album ~ Monster Love Machine LP
Some streaming tracks on Bandcamp, Facebook, Myspace.
Album and singles for sale at iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon Mp3 and more.
Photos
Bio
Description:
Singer/Songwriter Christa Kae has been performing as the front woman/creative driving force in different rock combinations for almost two decades.
Christa has a unique and soulful voice that has been carefully crafted to encapsulate both soaring belts and tender melodies within her wide vocal range. Her songwriting is unique yet accessible to a large variety of people young and old. The feel of this talented woman’s songs engage the listener and suggest variety of influence and style and in the array of ways she uses her beautiful voice. Some songs build slowly and progress from soft to strong and back again or come out hitting until they let up at just the right time.
Christa is a joy to listen to on her band Christa Says Yay’s recent debut album “Monster Love Machine”, and she and her band are as equally talented and engaging live as they are on the songs within this gem of an album.
History: Back in 2010 Christa decided it was time to take all the “solo” songs she’d written over the years, make them the focus, and find the needed backing band to make a different kind of musical magic! She called on some old friends to back her up and soon thereafter, Christa Says Yay was born. Playing with friends and professionals made short work of creating this powerful and talented band. It also helped them to record and release a world-class album within their first two years together.
The Band:
Christa Kae: (Dagobah, Wileyeye, Dirty Nickel)
Christa writes the songs and lyrics, plays rhythm guitar. She is the front woman and driving force of this amazing project. See more above…
Austin Rood: (Gypsy Cab, Martian Finishing School)
Austin is an incredible and charismatic bass player. Not only does he compose his own delicious bass lines and play them like butter, but he also puts on his “keyboard hat” and played the Rhodes, Organ, Synth on some songs on the album.
Jenny Pitzen: (Gypsy Cab, Martian Finishing School)
Jenny is the talented lead guitarist who writes her own wicked licks, hooks, and complementary rhythm parts. She plays on the album and in the band with her blues/alternative rock style.
Rey Guajardo: (The Sun-Ups, The Break Up, The Heels)
Rey is our super-tight, diverse, and totally bad-ass professional drummer. He not only played the drums on the album, but he also did all other percussion. His in the pocket energy helps the music groove and move with a solid and strong foundation.
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