After releasing Champions Of The Universe, playing a lot of live shows was great, but the downside was that we didn't have much time to work on new songs. So we decided that we would go into the studio with some bare-bones ideas of songs and finish them off during the recording process. It was kind of scary because we have always had all of our songs written before going into the recording studio. Imagine if you had a grocery list and no grocery store. No, wait. Imagine if you had a grocery store, but no pen to write a list. Wait, no. Sorry, we're not very good at metaphors. Anyway, we put our trust in ourselves and Dean, and created a batch of songs that we are really proud of.
We enlisted some incredible musicians and friends to help us record the Hamster Pants album. Tim's wife Cat and son Elliott added some sweet vocals. Marianne Tasick (vocals) sings on several tracks as well. Geoff Gersh (guitar) and Jay Brunka (bass) layed down some of their signature sauce on our songs. Marco Benevento (piano, keys, synths) added some unbelievable parts to a few tracks. John Burdick (electric guitar), and Jason Sarubbi (bass) made a cameo adding their skillful playing. Saxophonist and another long-time friend, Shane Kirsch, added some horns to a few tracks that should win him a BHPEPORJTA award. Best Horn Parts Ever Played On Ratboy Jr's Third Album. (Dean should take a close second place). The icing on the proverbial cake is the artwork of Ryan Sullivan. He did an incredible job capturing the spirit of Hamster Pants. We're gonna go out on a limb and say this album is even better than the last. We feel this is the closest we have come to bridging the gap between kids adults and kids music so it becomes EVERYONE's music.
credits
released May 1, 2015
Hamsterdam - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Littlest Giant - Music by Timmy and Matty/lyrics by Timmy
What Does the Farm Do - Music and Lyrics by Timmy / Additional lyrics by Matty
Sponges - Music by Timmy / Lyrics by Timmy and Matty
The Skunk and The Robot - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Sleep Like One… - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Marian The Barbarian Librarian - Music and Lyrics by Matty / 2nd Verse by Timmy
The Wind Wants - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Dancing Room - Music by Timmy and Matty/lyrics by Timmy; additional lyrics by Dean Jones
Ground Food - Music and Lyrics by Matty
Right Side of the Bed - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Poofy - Music and Lyrics by Lost in the Sauce (Timmy, Matty, Geoff Gersh, and Jason Brunka
Try - Music and Lyrics by Timmy
Ratboy Jr is:
Timmy Sutton - Vocals, Acoustic and Electric guitars, Slide Whistle and Claps!
Matty Senzatimore - Drums, Vocals, Percussion, Bass on track 11, Piano on track 13, and Drum Programming on track 2
Guest Musicians:
Dean Jones - Backing Vocals, Trombone, Keys, Synths, Additional Guitar on tracks 5 and 11,
Bass on tracks 3 and 5, Drum Programming on track 2
Jason Brunka - Bass on tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12.
Geoff Gersh - Electric Guitar on tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, and 11. Guitar solos on tracks 2, and 10.
Marco Benevento - Piano, Keys, Synths, on tracks 1, 4, and 10.
Shane Kirsch - Saxophone on tracks 2, 5, and 12. Flute on track 8. Dolphin on Track 4
Marianne Tasick - Backing Vocals on tracks 2, 10, and 12.
Catherine Woods Sutton - Lead Vocals on track 6, backing vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5, and 13.
Elliott Sutton - Vocals on tracks 2 and 6.
Jason Sarubbi - Bass on track 7.
John Burdick - Electric and 12 String Guitar on track 10.
Woodstock Day School Grades 2 & 3 - backing vocals on track 5
Produced by Dean Jones and Ratboy Jr.
Recorded and Mixed by Dean Jones at No Parking Studio
Mastered by Jamal Ruhe at West West Side Music
Artwork, Graphic Design, and Layout by Ryan Sullivan
Additional Art Direction by Tim Sutton
We are forever thankful for all of Dean Jones’ help on this record. Even though we are a duo, he is very much the 7th member of the band. With his guidance, musicianship, and potato chips he helped us realize our vision.
We would also like to thank the 12th member of the band, Ryan Sullivan. Ryan has been there from the start and so has his artwork…...and so has his beard.
Special thanks to all the musicians who played on this record: Dean, Marco, Marianne, Jason B., Jason S., Cat, Elliott, Shane, Geoff, John, and the kids from the Woodstock Day School.
We have to give lots of love to our very own Chicken. That’s right, we love you Georgina Aragon!
Special thanks to everyone who contributed to the Indiegogo campaign. We could not have done this album without you. VERY SPECIAL thank you to Joy Reed and Aela Mass.
Shoutout to all the Kindie bands out there and to Kindiecomm! Big love to all the Stations, Websites, Bloggers, Newspapers, Festivals, etc. for playing our tunes, writing about our music, and having us come and play!
From Timmy - Much love to Otis, Elliott, and Catherine! I couldn't imagine a wackier family unit to explore life with. Matty, 20 years of making music together. We beat Page and Plant!
Much love to Brigit, Ed, Spencer, AJ, Olivia, and Jr. We are family...you know...like that song. Shout out to my Woodstock Day School community! Big Love to Brian, Linda, Ruby, and baby. Thank you to all my people everywhere. I am blessed with such good friends. You know who you are and I thank you!!!!
From Matty - Gotta send big thanks to The Senzatimore and Grieco Families. Your support and encouragement is a continuous source of inspiration. Just like Timmy, my musical companion for over 20 years. Page and Plant got nothin’ on us. More thanks to anyone I have ever made music with. Too many of you to list but you have all made me a better musician.
To all the kiddies (big and small) who come out and help us have the best time in the world! You are the reason, we do what we do! When you get older you don’t have to stop listening to us. Always keep your imagination and creativity…You might have to grow old, but you don’t have to grow up!
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