Washington Post
Apr 21 2006

The Mammals "Departure" (Signature Sounds) "Departure"Signature SoundsTHE DUHKS"Your Daughters & Your Sons"Sugar Hill

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NOT FOR NOTHING is the Mammals' new release named "Departure." Besides preparing listeners for the unlikely cover tunes that lurk within -- Nirvana's "Come as You Are" and Morphine's "Do Not Go Quietly Unto Your Grave" -- the title could be construed as fair warning given the new emphasis of electric guitar and pop influences.

Indeed, "Follow Me to Carthage," the kickoff track, sounds like something Simon and Garfunkel might have concocted had they emerged during the jam-band era. Add Morphine's droning blues admonition and Kurt Cobain's dark musings, and it doesn't take long for "Departure" to stand apart from the Mammals' previous releases.

Still, there are some welcome constants. Ruth Ungar's expressive fiddle and affecting voice are big assets, and the songs she contributes, particularly the sultry ballad "Please Come In," are among the album's best. Likewise, singer-songwriter Tao Rodriguez-Seeger and fellow tunesmith and multi-instrumentalist Michael Merenda leave a strong impression. Ringing or muted, their banjo and guitar work often keeps the New York-based quintet from sounding as if it has strayed too far.