Search - Mammals :: Departure

Departure
Mammals
Departure
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, R&B, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

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 rhy...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Mammals
Title: Departure
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Signature Sounds Recordingss
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 2/7/2006
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, R&B, Rock
Styles: Americana, Classic Country, Indie & Lo-Fi, Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 701237129525

Synopsis

Album 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.

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CD Reviews

Mammals "Departure" is the begining of an exciting journey.
Paul S. Fish | Jamaica Plain, MA | 02/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
Departure is the finest in musical storytelling
A. Calabrese | San Francisco, CA United States | 03/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
Destined to Become The Mammals' Breakthrough Album
J. Oliveira | California | 02/22/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."