Except for a brief sampling trip through the iTunes music store, I'm not familiar with the two previous Mammals' CDs. I had heard a bit about them, that they were a sort of folk rock group, but I largely didn't know what to expect when I put in their newest CD, Departure.
What I found was some of the best music (and especially folk rock music) I've heard in recent years. Although it didn't immediately grab me aside from the great starter song "Follow Me To Carthage", which makes its political points without ever becoming too overt and losing its potency, the album somehow found its way into my CD player and onto my iPod's "Now Playing" screen with increasing regularity. Perhaps it was the low-fi vibe of "Do Not Go Quietly" (originally by Morphine) or the great cover of Nirvana's "Come As You Are" that did it. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but I am very glad that it did, because this album does not deserve to be ignored.
Some other notable tracks include "Silk Song," a captivating and very well done number, "Alone On The Homestead," which deals with issues such as loneliness and the costs of war, and "Solo Le Pido a Dios" — a cover of Leon Gieco's "Solo le Pido a Dios". There are mistakes, such as "Kiss The Break Of Day", a track that simply doesn't fit in with the other more developed songs on the album — though these complaints are relatively insignificant. In summary, this is a well put together and structured album that manages to explore a variety of musical styles while still evoking a folk sound and feel from every song; a very good CD.
****/*****
Article comments
1 - milo d
kiss the break of day is an incredible song. you should hear it live someday!