"Australia's Mudcakes
weigh in with Songs For Little Sleepyheads, the album most likely to sound like
the album you or I might make.
OK, you probably wouldn't have simple
accompaniment on ukulele or lap steel guitar. (Definitely not the lap steel
guitar.)
But the songs -- "I See the Moon," "Twinkle Twinkle,"
or "Froggy Goodnight" (a reworking of "Goodnight Irene")
--
are the type you might have in your repertoire. There are some originals
worked into the mix as well,
and there's a nice winding down effect. Recommended."
- Lauren Clair -
"It's pretty easy to think of
one kids music band from Australia, but once you get past the multicolored gents
in the Wiggles,
Steph Maker Jan
'09 The Age summer critical guide
After the first two records focused on 'awake time' activities – pooing
and eating and playing and talking,
it seemed fitting to have an album of lullabies. Some are Mudcake sounding takes
on traditional songs (Twinkle Twinkle, I See The Moon) and some are originals
penned by Rich.
One of the great things about The Mudcakes is...
naming a second gets a lot harder if you're here in the Northern
Hemisphere. But Australian Sherry Rich and
American-born partner Rick Plant
make the case for The Mudcakes being a perfectly acceptable alternative..."
"The Mudcakes have shown me
how so very wrong I am about what children's music can be like..."
"Got little kids? Prefer rockin' hillbilly
to Dorothy the Dinosaur? Local cowpokes Sherry Rich and Rick Plant hit the
right balance
of gutbucket and nappy bucket to give the holiday road trip a blast
of singalong country swing."
"Sherry Rich and Rick Plant
have the insight into a child’s mind – what they find funny as
well as what is important in the world
of a youngster. Children can easily
relate to the songs, with titles such as 'Spit it Out' and 'Things that Mums
and Dads Say',
providing hours of entertainment. The Mudcakes put all their
original lyrics to a variety of musical genres from classical to surf
and
bluegrass . Parents will find themselves singing along to 'Grumpy Bum' and
'Pack Up Time'and no one will complain when
CAVE BABY is asked for repeatedly
- which it will be."
- Michele Dennis -
Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun 7/12/08
"Kindie-rock at its best. The Mudcakes
capture a child's sense of humour while creating clever music
to rockabilly,
surf, reggae and bluegrass beats."
"Kindie rock is the name American
music reviewers give bands such as this, who are producing live, organic children's
music to cater to
the less-mainstream ear. The Mudcakes are a product of Australian
singer/songwriter Sherry Rich and her American partner Rick Plant.
During the
making of this album, Rich and Plant were based in Nashville USA, and with a
hometown like that you'd expect the music to
be of a high standard, and it is.
Musicianship and organic instrumuentation aside, Rich and Plant have succeeded
where many children's
entertainers fail, by getting the balance right between
capturing a child's random sense of humour, while also creating skillful music,
varied in genre and original enough to appeal to both children and parents.
The songs on this album are quirky, melodic and clever in
their simplicity.
'Monkey Boy' is a cute, tropical, ukulele number with some nice harmonies and
a swinging Hawaiian beat. My kids
go absolutely wild over 'Poo Party' and 'The
Snot Song' - the irreverent lyrics creep up on the listener, cleverly disguised
in sweet vocals
and funky rock, bluegrass and soul beats. My pick (naturally)
was the seventies falsetto funk of 'Be Good To Your Mama'. Rich and Plant
are
professional musicians and they've enlisted the help of some of their Nashville
buddies with the instrumentation. For country music
fans, the fiddle, stand-up
bass and drums are provided by members of the Dixie Chicks and Reba McIntyre
bands."
- Cassy Cochrane -
For a while I was the kinder car-pool
queen thanks to home-grown band, The Mudcakes.
Playing their song ‘Poo Party’ to unsuspecting four-year-olds would
result in much hilarity in the back seat, ensuring a car-trip with me was like
joining a party bus.
The Mudcakes first album, ‘Songs for Little Monkeys’, was recorded
in Tennessee and has a bluegrass feel. Their latest release, ‘Cave Baby’,
has a rock edge and with tunes including ‘Pack up Time’ and ‘Please
Don’t Polka the Baby’. Parents will have it on replay.
THINGS THAT MUMS AND DADS SAY (ABOUT THE MUDCAKES)
Congratulations on the lullaby cd, it is absolutely gorgeous. We had it
on high rotation this morning, and it promoted an atmosphere of calm
that
I wish I could bottle. Amélie and I have been humming, independently,
"I See the Moon" ever since.
-
Just wanted to say thanks for your "Songs for Little Sleepyheads"
CD.
I play it every night while I'm getting my four month old daughter ready for
bed.
-
I am in awe of your work, I just think you guys
are amazing!.
The songs are so catchy, and the lyrics so so so so clever....WOW!
The mixing and the little additions to the songs, extra instruments and voice
overs....just totally perfect!
You truly have dipped into that inner well of creativity and are pouring out
sublime work.
-
You guys sound awesome!
-
very much loving your work (Mum & Dad loving it more than the intended
daughter at the mo
except that it gets her parents up dancing like crazies
and she thinks thats pretty funny!)
-
I just went onto your website to have a squiz and listened to your music...
I absolutely love love love it...
what beautiful voices you and your husband
have...
The music is so uplifting and positive... a real breath of fresh air...
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had to laugh when i saw the song "poo party". my son at 3.5 still
refuses to do poo's on the toilet
and we've promised him when he does we'll
have a big "poo-poo party" so he will think this songs made for
him!
-
thanks for a brightened morning and some muuuch better tunes than
children's
TV is rolling out for my son and daughter at the moment...
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Thank-you Mudcakes. I have just listened to both Cd's before they get wrapped
and can't believe I am going to send my god kids such brilliant xmas presents!!
Your work is much appreciated.
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I just wanted to tell you, that we loved the cd’s we bought.
Even my hubby loved them and we can’t wait for our baby to be born so
we can share them with him.
Keep up the outstanding work
-
Thanks for the CD, it arrived yesterday. Heard you on RRR a year or so ago
and my toddler's ears pricked up too
so I got your first 2 CDs for him. I think you're both brilliant. It's great
for kids to hear real music made for them.
I am hoping we can catch you playing somewhere soon. Last night Alexi went
to sleep listening to your new CD (Songs for Little Sleepyheads)
and told me this morning it was good because it made him 'yawny.' Hopefully
that's a compliment...!
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