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UnderdogastroPuppeesCrack in the SkyKelley Ryan6 September 2017 |
When the boys were little I put together a series of compilation tapes that featured “cool kid’s music” that Lori and I could also enjoy on long road trips to Ohio. The WFMU radio show, “Greasy Kid Stuff” was a veritable treasure trove of such music; calling it “hifi for small fry.” From 1997 to 2002 the show’s zany hosts Belinda and Hova, served up a steady diet of the musical equivalent of Sugar Pops and provided a perfect resource for pilfering ideas for my compilations. It was there, amidst playlists featuring bands like Pianosaurus, Big Wheel Popcorn, and The Red Hot Chili Dogs, that I came across astroPuppees and the song “Underdog” which, in turn, lead me to the album You Win the Bride, a fantastic debut by a talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist named Kelley Ryan that easily qualifies for NPR’s list of “150 Greatest Albums Made by Women.” Come to think of it, any one of Kelley's seven releases either as an astropup or solo performer would be an appropriate addition to
the list!
the list!
After four excellent albums, Kelley stepped out from behind the astroPuppees moniker in 2010 to start releasing more personal recordings under her own name — often accompanying them with quirky little home-made videos that always add an interesting dimension to the music. I can totally relate to that.
I love Kelley Ryan’s music. It has a playful pop sensibility at it’s heart with a prevailing layer of musical and lyrical sophistication as well. With help from friend’s like Don Dixon, Marti Jones and Marshall Crenshaw, Kelley always seems to be having fun playing with the “form” of music and pushing the limits of her songwriting. It’s that creative quest which compels me to make this Happy Medium Song of the Day a twofer — so you can hear where she started with songs like “Underdog,” and where she’s moved on to with songs like “Crack in the Sky” off her brand new album, Telescope. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
I love Kelley Ryan’s music. It has a playful pop sensibility at it’s heart with a prevailing layer of musical and lyrical sophistication as well. With help from friend’s like Don Dixon, Marti Jones and Marshall Crenshaw, Kelley always seems to be having fun playing with the “form” of music and pushing the limits of her songwriting. It’s that creative quest which compels me to make this Happy Medium Song of the Day a twofer — so you can hear where she started with songs like “Underdog,” and where she’s moved on to with songs like “Crack in the Sky” off her brand new album, Telescope. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
Kelley Ryan
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