Kicking things off with an 80s-inspired blues lick, the opening moments of LIFE begin with Chrystyna Marie establishing herself as a moxie-filled artist that rides between whiskey-tinged roots rock and a pop show-woman’s mentality right out of the gate. She attacks opening track “I Want That Boom Boom” with the kind of vocal prowess one might expect from a consummate Los Angeles performer inspired by the likes of Janis Joplin and Elle King. She rules a provocative, blues-soaked world of musicality that delivers in every way that she has set out to entertain her audience with.
As LIFE progresses, Marie showcases the full breadth of her talents as a songwriter and performer. The highlight consistently maintains itself as her trademark sultry vocals. With just the right amount of added grit, Marie takes on each of the tracks present on the album with the same sort of grungey, swamp stomp-styled vocal delivery that remains compelling from beginning to end.
Albeit, she manifests plenty of chameleonesque change throughout LIFE in regards to showcasing her own knack for musical style. “Devil With the Angel Eyes” takes a country blues turn reminiscent of Luke Winslow-King or Taj Mahal, and “Mr. Insecurity” plays with some luscious noir jazz turns on the brass as it mixes with some retro pop sounds. The center point of the record is Marie’s cover of Eric Clapton’s “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”, which she slows down into her own arrangement while retaining all of the captivating soul of the original rendition.
In short, Marie is a real deal roots artist whose music should be celebrated. Throughout the entirety of LIFE and its thematic ups and downs, you are in for a treat
—perhaps especially if you are a fan of some bonafide blues.