Departure

The Mammals | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Signature Sounds Recordingss
• ASIN: B000CQO166
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,541 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Mammals aren't the first band to mix an indie-rock sensibility with bluegrass sounds, but they're gradually becoming one of the best. On their fourth album, the New York-based band pushes against old-time templates with bright electric guitar figures, decidedly non-purist drums, bookish diction--principal songwriter Michael Merenda fancies rhymes like "façade," "barrage," and "Carthage"--and a sometimes poignant, sometimes pissed vision of life during wartime. "I'm Trying to Remember What City I Know You From" could be a Rilo Kiley song, with Ruth Ungar, in a dry but sexy voice, fumbling for a fan's name and wondering where they were when yet another war was declared. Political but never topical, the songs are empathetic when describing a woman left alone on a homestead with nothing but the bones of her family killed in battle, playful when asking, "If my guitar falls on a landmine, do you think that anyone hears?" And when the band succumbs to anger, they do so with a striking Spanish prayer sung by banjo-picker Tao Rodriguez-Seeger (Pete's grandson): "Solo le pido a Dios que la guerra no me sea indiferente" ("I only ask of God that I not become indifferent to war"). Given their indie sensibility, the Nirvana cover "Come as You Are" comes off as gratuitous; the country war-horse "Satisfied Mind," by contrast, reflects what's best about this album: its intelligence, discovery and conviction. --Roy Kasten

Product Description

The Mammals new album Departure is just that; a work that shows the band moving towards a completely unique sound. The rocking energy of fiddles and banjos has been augmented with electric guitar, keyboards and a heavy rhythm section. The songs are political. When you see a wildly successful young band building a huge and devoted following all over the world, the last thing you might expect is a departure. But that’s exactly what the Mammals have brought with their latest album, aptly titled Departure, on Signature Sounds.

Unlike their live shows and past Mammals albums, there is no traditional music on this album. There aren’t really any foot-stompers. And the politics, while still present in many of the songs, are more subtle, lurking powerfully below the surface. While you can still catch the band’s folky roots showing through in parts, the new album features noticeably more rock moments. "Departure could easily get put in the rock section of a record store, yet the instrumentation of the band hasn’t changed much," says Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. "We added some organ sounds and a few electric guitar overdubs, but for the most part, it’s fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass, drums and lots of singing. I’m most happy with the way it just sounds like a damn good band at the peak of their creative process."

The Woodstock, NY-based Mammals, who formed in 2001, refuse to stand still musically. That they have thrived in the midst of a widespread old-time, neo-traditional movement indicates the open-mindedness of that community. The Mammals, a mainstay at major music festivals, are renowned for their unpredictable live shows and high-energy festival sets, and along the way, they have also built a reputation for being master interpreters of great songwriting. The Mammals’ own songs hit new heights on this album.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Departure is the finest in musical storytelling, March 3, 2006

By 

A. Calabrese (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

I am long time Mammals fan. I have loved all their studio and non-studio albums as well as had the pleasure to see them many times live. Still, DEPARTURE surprised me and blew me away. Made up of some amazing musicians, the Mammals have for a long time had their craft finely honed. With this latest album they take their work to the next step as it establishes them as true artists. With each song (whether original or one of their beautiful covers) they create the perfect balance of music, lyrics, and vocals. This balance through-out the album gently whispers love stories in your ear, or inspires your soul, or gives you a glimpse into these peoples' hearts, or comforts you. From song to song, the truth comes through and cannot be denied. You can do what I did; listen to the album, then turn on the radio and listen to some of the multitude of crap that's out there, then be thankful you have the Mammals to take you home.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mammals "Departure" is the begining of an exciting journey., February 17, 2006

By 

Paul S. Fish "Loveable Rogue" (Jamaica Plain, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

Anyone who is a fan of the current wave of "new bluegrass", "alt-country", "contemporary folk" (whatever you'd like to call it) really needs to listen to this CD. It is a bit of a departure (hence the title) from their last CD - and a giant step forward. The band's influences come from all over the musical map. Some you'd expect (Pete Seeger, The Mammals' guitarist/singer/banjo picker/harmonica player, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger is his grandson) and some you wouldn't (the band reworks tunes by Nirvana and Morphine - !!). It is hard to pick my favorite track. Standouts include the two covers (Morphine's "Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave" and Nirvana's "Come As You Are"), "Follow Me To Carthage", "Tryin' To Remember What City I Know You From", and "Kiss The Break Of Day" - written about written about their friends and frequent festival-mates, The Duhks. Ruth Ungar's voice and fiddle playing are in fine form throughout. Special guests on this CD are Ken Maiuri and Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan. Do not miss them on their current tour. They are great live.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destined to Become The Mammals' Breakthrough Album, February 21, 2006

By 

J. Oliveira (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

The title says it all - this is certainly a departure for The Mammals. Their two previous studio albums, Evolver and Rock That Babe were both very typical of the newgrass genre. Typical, but still incredible in their own right; boisterous, fun and traditional. While Departure has its moments of their previous rollicking nature, it is by far more focused on the rock side of their overall sound. The first clue to this is the lack of any traditional covers, rather, a cover of the Nirvana hit "Come As You Are" (done incredibly, by the way). The tone of this album is a bit more solemn than previous albums, but they have not lost their freewheeling spirit or folky edginess. They've just matured... a whole lot.