Department of Eagles
Department of Eagles - Herring Bone
Artist: Department of Eagles
Hails from: Brooklyn, NY
Musical Style: Indie, Pop, Experimental
For Fans of: Beck, Mercury Rev, Dr. Dog
Why you should check them out:
The longtime collaboration between Fred Nicolaus and Daniel Rossen, Department of Eagles have progressed from their college dorm rooms in 2000 to celebrating their wildly received sophmore record in 2008. Through several notable distractions and years of minimal releases, Department of Eagles return with their most persuasive album to date. Believe all the hype dear readers, give them a few repeat listens and they are sure to sink in.
Background Check:
Listening to Department of Eagles’ recent release In Ear Park, it is increasingly evident why this album has claimed so many top positions in critics year end favorites. Some may attribute this success to Daniel Rossen’s main project Grizzly Bear, but really, they aren’t listening close enough. True, both Department of Eagles and Rossen’s alternate animal moniker have carved a place in the dreamy folk rock genre, but the fine details are what truly set this band apart. Shying away from expansive instrumentals, Department of Eagles deliver songs rooted in simple acoustic arrangements and captivating vocal melodies.
And to be fair, the Eagle did come before the Bear. The New York duo first began when Fred Nicolaus and Daniel Rossen met as roommates while attending NYU. What began as a few simple recordings soon evolved to a full fledged release on California’s Isota Records. With their debut full length The Cold Nose in 2003 and a few scattered releases there after, the duo went on a temporary hiatus as a result of Grizzly Bear’s steady ascension to success.
Reuniting at last in December of 2007, Nicolaus and Rossen began the recording process alongside bassist Nat Baldwin and fellow Grizzly Bear bandmates Chris Bear and Chris Taylor, for what would become their 2008 hit In Ear Park. Dedicated to Rossen’s late father, In Ear Park is an album centered on memory and nostalgia, offering contemplated narritives and multi-part harmonies while maintaining those necessary moments of optimism. Although Rossen maintains that the future of Department of Eagles is still uncertain, here’s to hoping their recent success is enough to persuade them otherwise.
Where you can find them in cyberspace:
On Tour:
