astroPuppees leader Kelley Ryan releases her debut solo album next Tuesday, titled “Twist”. Overall, the effort stands out as a refreshing feminine perspective on matters of the heart. Too many times we get that “You broke my heart, I wanna kill you in your sleep” faux-tough-gal jilted lover crap shoved down out throat. Not so here.
It’s almost unfair to Ryan to refer to her perspective as feminine, although there is certainly no question involving her gender. She writes from the feminine perspective, but I would have no problem if she was speaking for me. On “Bleeding A Girl” she sings about “crumpling up a valentine”. We get the impression that this as violent an act as she is capable of. Not because she is a woman, but because she is a warm, sensitive human.
Much is being written with the press material regarding the collaboration on string arrangement being done by Van Dyke Parks. I felt his work here at it’s best compliments the sound only slightly and at it’s worst, completely unnecessary. When these string treatments are thrust to the forefront, like on the end of “Bridie’s Eyes”, it sounds like somebody is violently scribbling in Kelley’s coloring book.
Not to imply that Ms. Ryan only colors within the lines. A terrific version of Beck’s “Lost Cause” is an unexpected standout, and “Heart And Bone” takes the record into entirely new territory just when you think you’ve got her figured out. The tuba overdub on “That’s All” is a great example of how extra sounds when placed properly add to the listener’s enjoyment.
The standout track is the album’s opener, “About A Girl”. It opens up like a beautiful little music box of sound, very personal and dear to her. Some lyrical insight for us guys about how the female gears turn as “she makes your bed inside your head”, and how “she tastes like summer in the dark”. Groovy mysterious visual vignettes abound on this track and most of the others.
Ryan does display an occasional penchant for warbling when she sings which sometimes works but can also be annoying. She also whispers from time to time which more than makes up for the warbling. “Twist” is like being invited to your girlfriends house for the first time. You can play with the toys but don’t break anything, and for heavens sake be polite and don’t blow it.