Department of Eagles – In Ear Park

In Ear Park – Department of Eagles

By Chris Peken

In 2004 Daniel Rossen joined Grizzly Bear, he had primarily previously worked with his college friend Fred Nicolaus under various names, most recently Department of Eagles. Having written a series of songs he felt too personal for the Grizzly Bear way, Rossen reunited with Nicolaus to record In Ear Park. ‘Ear Park’ was the Rossen’s boyhood nickname for a park in Los Angeles where he and his father used to go; and this is an album full of not so much nostalgia, but recollections, glances back via memories. Framed by their penchant for acoustic, symphonic pop, these tales of times-gone-by take on a very hazy tone. The arrangements and instrumentation are often much more complex than first meets the ear, but always taking a back seat to the song. Sixties widescreen sound shares the stage with 20’s megaphone-style vocal and 30’s woodwind instruments, Department of Eagles play with time as well as they document it. Take some time to go back to the playground, you know you want to!
****