ASTROPUPPEES
Little Chick Tsunami (Manatee)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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"Girl on a wire - higher and higher - don't look down - I don't look down." Kelley Ryan made this album over a long period of time, recording the lion's share of the music herself in her home studio. This is one talented musician, capable of producing convincing pop with a guitar, a bass, drums, a harmonica, keyboards and something called a "strumstick." I've been a musician for three decades and somehow or another I've managed to completely avoid "strumsticks" altogether. Weird.

I may not know what that is, but I know what Kelley Ryan is, or at least what she would be in a just world, and that's a star. She released this CD of 10 nearly perfect pop songs in 2001 it didn't turn make hers a household name. The problem, see, is she isn't a tiny blonde with huge fake boobs who performs dressed only in a shoelace and a quarter inch piece of doublebacked Scotch Tape. Instead, she comes laden with industry liabilities like intelligent lyrics, a terrific sense of pop songcraft, a voice that is mighty fine on its own and sweet as wine in 3 part overdubbed harmony with itself, and instrumental tal...

Oh dear, I almost doomed her. Almost guaranteed she'd NEVER get a shot at it. Almost said the T word. Nope, nothing to see here. No talent here. Look away. This lady's shows may not look like Broadway reviews of A Chorus Line, but if real grownup pop cradled in a dazzling array of wonderful sounds is more like your cup of tea, put Astropuppee on your shopping list.

© 2003 - DJ Johnson