Listen to "*The Cyrkle (Champion)" by Cristina Bautista"

Gold Parts
(Local 638)
1/2 (out of five)

Anyone who's made Cristina Bautista feel even an ounce of emotion, for better or worse, is apparently fodder for her latest solo EP, Gold Parts. From manipulation by unfeeling jerks to inspiration via Thurston Moore look-alikes, Bautista's collection of power-pop songs unabashedly recalls past relationships that left marks, and at times bravely admits her own faults.

The fervently positive opener, "*The Cyrkle (Champion)," rings as an enthusiastic tribute to the person who helped her to be who she is today. She passionately sings, with a voice that swings between pretty and empowered, in thanks.

In the more defeated closing track, "Utopia," Bautista turns off the nice. Biting, direct lyrics paint the picture of an asshole just going through the motions to take advantage and get laid—"He was a gentleman/I was too young to understand/Motions so meaningless/Gestures just part of the jest."

Bautista clearly composed songs from her own experiences, but her charismatic delivery makes it easy for us to relate and adapt them to our own life. We've all fucked up, been wronged, or been left brokenhearted. And maybe it's not as bad as we think. Gold Parts reminds us some solid songs can come out of shitty situations.