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First came the legendary Eagles … now it’s The Department Of Eagles – no comparisons drawn!
Ear Park is a nickname for a park found in Los Angeles. It’s a place where
founding member Daniel Rossen walked with now deceased papa, to whom the album
is dedicated.
Perhaps with greater thought, this awesome sonic masterpiece should have been
re-titled In Ear Park-fection, as you’re unlikely to hear anything quite
like this ever again. This is incredible stuff, believe me.
DOE is the brainchild of eccentric Grizzly Bear’s guitarist cum singer Daniel
Rossen based in Brooklyn NY. Once again as for 2003’s un-heralded and unremarkable
The Cold Nose he’s co-worked with former university room mate, a one
Fred Nicolaus, with Grizzly Bear’s bassist doing the business on the desk.
Whatever shortcomings The Cold Nose may have had, In Ear Park is a resounding
success, if even for its fearlessness. But that would do it a great injustice.
It is however not just for casual ears: musos and music journos are gonna lap
this up…if they’ve got any sense of appreciation for something that borders
both on the outrageously pompous juxtaposed by the exquisitely tender.
This CD is a bold statement of intent marking a coming of age and hopefully
this will be reciprocated by some shifting of units at the stores. The
construction of this wonder is no overnight impulse – it’s taken almost four years
to come to fruition: and it shows.
If comparison were to be drawn, not in terms of music, but sheer adventure, it
would be Zach Condon of Beirut, Rufus Wainwright and occasionally Sufjan Stevens,
for tenderness found on the gentle balladeering of Floating On The Leigh, Balmy Night
and ghostly Phantom Other and the glorious finger-picking on dreamy
introduction, the title track In Ear Park.
It’s on the other end of their colourful rainbow though, where they really
score the Brownie points. This is where they veer towards a totally expansive
and freewheeling approach, and it’s mind-boggling and mind-blowing, in equal
measure. Following the title track comes a monster – No One Does It Like You.
After the clunking start it moves into action with shades of (slow-ish)
Motown hovering overhead, mixed with sunny harmonies layering the thumping
drums…oh.. I’m in heaven, honestly. A single please!
It’s not without its quirky, but delightful, moments found on the shifting and
often menacing Around The Bay. Teenagers, with the grand piano opening
is a majestic (psychedelic infused) piece indeed, turning out to be an opus,
followed closely by the no-limits mindset of Classical Records, rubber
stamping a remarkable accomplishment.
1. In Ear Park
2. No One Does It Like You
3. Phantom Other
4. Teenagers Around The Bay
5. Herringbone
6. Classical Records
7. Waves Of Rye
8. Therapy Car Noise
9. Floating On The Lehigh
10. Balmy Night
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Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.