Signature Records
2006
Departure
About This Album
The Mammals have always prided themselves on "broadening the boundaries of folk." This has been apparent in their first two releases, Evolver and Rock That Babe, both of which retain a healthy folk sound while gently exploring other musical realms. Departure, however, takes the idea of broadening to an entirely different level. The title of the album was clearly not chosen haphazardly. The songs on this latest release by the quintet reach to the far borders of folk music, perhaps even past them, into the pastures of blues, rock, modern country, pop, even jazz. The album begins with an almost Police-like pop song, "Follow Me to Carthage," a criticism of contemporary American government and its mass media that avoids proselytization and condescension while still making its point. The theme of politics is prevalent on Departure, as it also is on the other Mammals albums, but the songs themselves are so strong as whole entities that this doesn't weigh the record down. The first actual "folk" song is four tracks deep, and delves into the hidden costs of war, and though the simple two-lined chorus, "Alone on the homestead/With the bones of the fallen dead," is sung in harmony, it seems lonelier with two than if it had been sung by just one person.
Track List (try tracks 1,3,4,6,7 and 9)

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