"...Such knowledge, though, goes nowhere near describing the audio experience of The Road to Bodie. Imagine, if you will, the spoken word bits on Richmond Fontaine’s ‘Post To Wire’ and reinvent them in your mind as musical pieces. These aren’t songs in any sensible definition of the word but ‘interludes’ set to music, each looking perhaps for a visual home or accompaniment. Its no surprise to learn that the band’s music has been used on several soundtracks , or that the press release slips in a word or two about being available for hire (presumably aimed at film and TV producers). The feel is undeniably ‘western/americana’ – there are lots of guitars – acoustic/slide/resonator/electric – but each is used incredibly sparsely... ...As stated, this record is pretty much like a shop window for those looking for someone to soundtrack their movie, but it can be listened to in its own right; the lack of vocals sends one to the record sleeve to hunt down the names of the tracks, and its here that one begins to compose ones own story to try and tie the music together. A cursory glance at those titles (examples: “Its Up Above Us Now”, “I Have To Leave At Three a.m.”, “There’s Still Too Much Radiation Outside”, “Fall Leaves With Murder”) should tell you the kind of territory to go down." -- Americana UK, March 08
"These are brief and provocative cinematic soundscapes certain to please some, but also to puzzle some listeners. 28 tracks in all, each is mysterious and evanescent, 13 of the tracks each clocking in at under 60 seconds. By so doing, Little Muddy generates serious suspense, and an atmosphere both spooky and moving. Indie filmmakers needing a soundtrack, take note."
-- Minor 7th , April 08
"28 short-guitar driven instrumental tracks that brood but provide enough light that the cumulative effect is uplifting, "The Road To Bodie" is the soundtrack to whatever is on your mind at the moment you are listening. That gives this set an approachability and easy but epic feel. Little Muddy's simple tunes include shades of Americana, blues, and ambient, and each track give you something to chew on. What easily could have been bogged down in repetition or padding is instead a truly deep listen. There are two versions of several songs-"It's Up Above Us Now," "I Had To Leave At 3A.M," "We Found It In 1947," "Fall Leaves With Murder"-that can stand as centerpieces for the collection. By letting the listener into the construction of certain songs, Little Muddy implies that all of these songs are in various stages of development, subject to change, whim, and a deeper understanding of the song. The use of slide, electric and acoustic, helps "Rural Route 4," "There's Too Much Radiation Outside" and, among others, "3 Days After Annihilation" sound traditional and experimental at once. "The Road To Bodie" shows once again how the Blues are timeless, and even ambient noise builds off of its legacy. So this is noir-ish roots music with a cinematic eye for the larger picture. Little Muddy makes short brave statements that blend visual and sonic touchstones into a dreamy, rough-edge mix." -Music Emissions May 2008
"Nothing
like some good instrumentals. There are sometimes when Rich Goldstein's guitar reminds
me of Dick Dale surf sound, but he always ends up coming back to the blues to get grounded.
The album would make for great soundtrack music for a road trip scene, especially a track like
"dark Alley Swing". This is one of the coolest instrumental albums I've heard in some time." --Musicemissions.com, March 2004
"The
most effective instrumentals don't just convey rhythm and melody, they evoke
sonic landscapes with near cinematic clarity. That every cut of Mayan Mud (Shoeless
Records) transports listeners to exotic places speaks to the expertise of San
Francisco's Little Muddy. Rich "All
instrumental greasy-jazzy blues is what you'll find on Mayan Mud, the latest
EP length cd from the Bay-area trio Little Muddy. Centered "...
it's like a film score for a bungled heist B-movie, the soundtrack to movements
in shadows, pools at seedy motels and men with guns. The film reference continues
with a bossa nov version of "The Magnificent Seven". The two best
tracks are "Giant Steps no. 1 and 2. These are short tracks that are softer
meditations, moonlight on sand instead of the full glare of the desert sun.
If you need a soundtrack for your tawdry life then try Mayan Mud." --
Americana-UK, Oct 2003. "Attention
Sonny Landreth, Calexico and The Iguanas fans- Little Muddy is something that
you will like.Impressive melodies, hypnotising grooves of a refreshing beauty,
something to bite into." --Real Roots Cafe(Netherlands), Oct 2003. "Little
Muddy are making their own sound and this is a good thing. This is an unusual
sound but it is refreshing to hear great bands that are still creating their
own style of music." --Roots Music Report, Nov 2003. "The
photo in the cd insert gives a good visual interpretation of Little Muddy's
sound- a vast, barren landscape just waiting for a score." --Ink19,
Nov 2003. "Rich
Goldstein's attention getting guitar conjures Roy Buchanan, The Hellecasters,
Arlen Roth, Tom Verlaine (really!),and others...the covers--"Son of
a Preacher Man","Wichita Lineman", Stevie Wonder's "I Wish",Lalo
Schifrin's "Mission Accomplished", Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors"-
suggest the Bay Area trio's range of interests. It's a wild ride, from "Border
Toasts", to "Mohave Offramp" to "Lilac Lane", with moments
lulling and bracing along the way."--Blues Review Magazine, December 2000
"...but somehow, Little Muddy's presentations keep urban life at arms
length. You may be daydreaming the big city, but you're propped on a porch in
the Dust Bowl,languorously watching the tumbleweed drift by, or you're in a
dark wood immersed in what Goldstein calls that "Ozarky spooky character"...--San
Jose Metro, October 2000
Guitar and Drums Mojo- Making diverse instrumental recordings of blues
with jazz, these San Francisco musicians have just as much rock in the blood,
for all intents and purposes. Dig their funky instrumental of Dusty's "Preacher
Man",Lalo Schifrin's "Mission Accomplished"; Stevie Wonder's "I
Wish", and Jimmy Webb's immortal "Wichita Lineman" Comprised of Rich
Goldstein on guitars, Scott Shaw on bass guitar, and Josh Wheeler on the big
drums, Little Muddy effortlessly greases the large soul of grungy blues.--Hear
Music Stores Featured Artist, Spring 2000
"Bought this disk on total intuition and found it to be full of totally refreshing
and honest sounds. A lot of coolslide stuff. Especially liked their title song
, "Little Muddy".--Satisfied Amazon customer ,Spring 2000
"...stinging rasp-toned guitar..."--Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express,
Fall 2000
Goldstein(guitars), Scott Shaw(bass and keyboards), Vince Littleton (drums),are
masters of mood, hooks, tone, and dramatic effect. "Dark Alley Swing"
and "Nitro-Burnin and Modified" are the nearest to blues, but an adventurous
nature is hinted at by upside-down photographs, country twanging and bends,
jazzy chording, bluesy snarls,and splashes of surf abound. They cover Floyd
Cramer, Elmer Bernstein , Henry Mancini, and put AC/DC on the open range- is
compelling and rewarding.," --Blues Revue Magazine, Dec/Jan 2004
around the melodic sting of guitarist Rich Goldstein's six string, the band's
tasteful less-is-more approach works well, creating a virtual soundtrack befitting
a Quintin Tarantino movie, a top down drive through America's heartland, or
a life-done-me-wrong-but-i'm-getting-by character study. Sinuous slide and gnarling
acoustic guitars lend even more flavor to the material. In short, if you like
instrumental , roots-influenced music that literally transports you to a scenic
setting, check out the Little Muddy offering Mayan Mud."
--Guitar Nine Records, Oct/Nov 2003.Reviews
of Little Muddy's first album