The brainchild of one-woman art riot Kelley Ryan, astroPuppees is a loose collective of musicians drawn together by Ryan to make sense of her scattershot pop constructions. The songwriting collaborations are few, but she picks her partners well: Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms, Jody Westover (daughter of Del Shannon) and Swan Dive mainman (and Mojo magazine scribe) Bill DeMain. As you might expect from the roll-call, Ryan deals in pop of the purest kind: infectious, blessed with the kind of hooks that could snare a jellyfish, and tipping a sly wink at The Shangri La’s, The Raspberries and The Go-Go’s. Ryan fights shy of approaching an idea head-on, preferring instead to come in from the flanks and catch you unaware; it’s a successful tactic, her melodies stealthily worm their way into your psyche whether you want them to or not. This, my friend, is pop. – Fela Lewis, Logo Magazine
After a commercially unsatisfying two-album stretch on the rootsy Hightone Records label, Kelley Ryan (who more or less is Astropuppees, though as always drummer Dan McCarroll and bassist Maureen Serrao appear on a few tracks) bided her time recording the third Astropuppees album in bits and pieces, mostly recording all the instruments herself in her basement studio. Finally, Ryan self-released 2001’s Little Chick Tsunami on her own Manatee label; surprisingly, what could have been an uneven collection turns out to be Astropuppees’ most entertaining and consistently solid album. Both You Win the Bride and Pet were extremely spotty, setting catchy, memorable guitar pop songs against other tracks that ranged from negligible to lousy. In contrast, all ten tracks on Little Chick Tsunami have the sort of rough-edged, rootsy grace of Marti Jones’ classic ’80s albums (Jones and her producer/husband, Don Dixon, who mixed the first Astropuppees album, are prominently thanked in the liner notes) mixed with the sort of tart-tongued, unconventional lyrics that mark Ryan’s best earlier stuff. Two tracks co-written with ex-Gin Blossoms guitarist Jesse Valenzuela — the Beatles-ish “Any More Words” and “How It Works” — are particular highlights, as is the soaring “Long As U Love,” which has the sort of instantly memorable, swelling chorus that usually shows up on the hipper adult contemporary radio; that these stations ignored such a fine album is more radio’s fault than the band’s. – Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
“Why on earth does lead Puppy Kelley Ryan not have a record deal for this amazing release, is just yet another sad statement of affairs in the music industry presently. Everything sparkles, each sound and affect carefully chosen, every arrangement given obvious careful, but not too obsessive thought. 10 masterful, always inventive songs and I notice Don Dixon and Marti Jones are thanked up front on the credits—and fans of the work of these two folks, listen up—this is something special. She’s like a female Marshall Crenshaw, it’s that good but fans of Kirsty MacColl will not want to miss this. “a guitar-pop band who sound like a 90’s Everly Sisters, for want of a better term. Kelley Ryan and company crank out catchy, stick-to-your-ribs numbers that fall halfway between pop and alternative.” – E! Online “AstroPuppees is essentially Kelley Ryan, a one-woman, multi-tracking wiz-kid who constructs infectious pop melodies from the rawest of materials.” – Allstar Online Magazine. Each song is totally tuneful and tasteful and just makes one thankful records like this are still getting made. Extremely Highly Recommended.” – Not Lame Recordings
“It’s ironic that among all the great songwriters affiliated with Bug Music, one of that publishing company’s finest was lurking behind a secretarial desk. AstroPuppees is essentially Kelley Ryan, a one-woman, multi-tracking wiz-kid who constructs infectious pop melodies from the rawest of materials.” – Russell Hall, Allstar Online Magazine
“The secret to astroPuppees’ allure is Ryan’s unconventional take on standard lyrical issues that you’d expect from a woman…Ryan’s is a decidedly different voice.” – James Lien, CMJ
“…a guitar-pop band who sound like a 90’s Everly Sisters, for want of a better term. Kelley Ryan and company crank out catchy, stick-to-your-ribs numbers that fall halfway between pop and alternative.” – E! Online
“…the songs are so tuneful, so smart; and Ryan’s guitar playing is so strong and rooted.” – Jim Musser, icon
The astroPuppees are a new leader in postmodern neo retro rock, and the nation’s telephone lines should be crackling with the masses telling friends about this sensational CD.” – Doug Collier, RAM
“…Ryan’s astroPuppees is pretty much a one-woman affair. She wrote or co-wrote everything on the Pups’ 1996 debut, ‘You Win The Bride’, sings every word, and plays most every instrument…” – Robert Wilonsky, New Times Los Angeles
“Strongly recommended” – Ric Dube, Webnoise Review
Online Reviews
All Music Guide – astroPuppees ‘Pet’ : The aggressive “Shaken Free” and her cover of Crenshaw’s “Crowded Town” are standouts among 13 tracks of rock-solid pop.
Cosmic Debris review of ‘Little Chick Tsunami’ – January 2003
Cosmic Debris review of ‘Little Chick Tsunami’ – March 2003
Delusions of Adequacy review of ‘Little Chick Tsunami’
Link 19 Review of ‘Little Chick Tsunami’
SoundStage! astroPuppees ‘Pet’
E! Online: astroPuppees, ‘You Win the Bride’, Hightone
Webnoize: astroPuppees, ‘You Win the Bride’ – Solid effort by Kelly Ryan’s astroPuppees reveal a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose persistence pays off…
All Star Magazine: AstroPuppees You Win The Bride (Hightone) “You Win The Bride” – It’s ironic that among all the great songwriters affiliated with Bug…
The Worcester Phoenix, September 12 – 19, 1997: ‘You Win The Bride’ (Hightone)
Pop Culture Press Online: astroPuppees, ‘You Win The Bride’ (Hightone) -This CD sat on my coffee table unplayed for several months; it should have been in the last issue, because when I finally plugged it in, I was hooked immediately…
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