As you may know, we are infatuated with Grizzly Bears, and particularly the Brooklyn-based musical variety.  It turns out we are also earnestly enamored with Eagles (no, not those ancient, drug-addled geezers) and the Departments that house them.  In the Department of Eagles’ most recent recording, “In Ear Park,” those engrossed in the music of Grizzly Bear are treated to another round of resonant songs illumed by devout deliveries and melodies.

With “In Ear Park” Daniel Rossen (of Grizzly Bear) and Fred Nicolaus have delivered their best collection to date (granted, “In Ear Park” was released pre-Veckatimest in October 2008, so the DoE’s may be in the throes of another round that may even eclipse “In Ear Park”).   This record is said to have been inspired by Rossen’s upbringing (being named after a favorite childhood haunt) and devoted to his departed dad.  Rossen has brought in most of his pals from Grizzly Bear to help at times, and the sounds of the two bands often cross over.

The record has gangs of great tracks, but our pick of the patter-litter is Phantom Over which aurally commences with low-key solo voice and acoustic guitar and accretes swirling harmonies, killer keys, guitars, and drums to much larger effect.

And we love the heartfelt, but nonetheless oblique, lyrics (and especially the opening lines–who hasn’t been rendered so resigned?):

“All right, we’ll do this your way
All right, we’ll make it anyway
Now’d be good time,
To send us all away there
So what would it take?
And what would it take to make you learn?
And what would it take?
And what would it take to make you listen? ah

Oh man, you’re not the only one
Oh boy, with that phantom other gone
Now’d be the right time
To send us all away
It’d be a good time
If you just go away there

What would it take?
What would it take to make you leave?
What would it take?
What would it take to make you listen?

My God in heaven
What were we thinking?
My God in heaven
What were we thinking of?

Look out, look out now
We gotta get out now
Look out, look out now
We gotta get out now
Wake up, wake up now
We gotta get out now
Wake up, wake up now
We gotta get out now”

Give a good listen and give it time.

Department of Eagles–Phantom Other

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