Grizzly Bear fans rejoice! This new album just came out and it is, by far, one of the best releases of this somewhat lackluster year. Daniel Rossen proves that his songwriting and more significantly, songcrafting has vastly improved form the band's previous release.

Basing it around something that hit hard and close to home for Rossen, these Eagles have come full circle. Not only does it go for your heart but it's invitingly creative and the warm sounds are superb.

I've been really excited about this album and pushing it for several weeks now. I'm glad other people are getting excited also. I won't mention that it just got Best New Music on Pitchfork today. Yay/Groan.

Having heard a few tracks off it, and much of their previous album, I think it has the potential to be seen as better than Grizzly Bear for some people. Rossen is by far my favorite member of Grizzly Bear, and I'm respectably positive, Grizzly Bear would still be rather unheard of in the indie scene if it weren't for Dan. He creates the sound that made "Yellow House" so singular.

I have a lot of good new music to listen to, but I think I'm going to run to the store right now and see about getting this.

Also, if you like this album, and you are interested in more music, I recently linked to Ed's Blog (from Grizzly) in the Best New Music thread, where you can download the cover of Jo Jo's "Too Little Too Late" for free. And it's one of the best songs I've heard this year. I'm serious. And doing this will prove the fact that I'm not just jumping on this band wagon today.

Yeah, Rossen is definitely what makes Grizzly Bear. Not surprising then, that this album is a lot better than anything that they have done. I've had it for at least a month now, it starts off great and gets better as time goes one. Very good album, probably my most listened to of the year.

I was able to find a copy today, and I'm pleased to hear that it's better than what I was expecting. There's a lot more experimentation, and atmosphere than I was planning on finding, but it doesn't fall into the Grizzly Bear trap of turning muddy or droned. These are just solid songs.

Don't get me wrong, I love Grizzly Bear. Yellow House has continued to blow me away, but I'm expecting Ear Park will end up along side it at the end of the day.

I don't want to turn this into a "Rossen IS Grizzly Bear" talk because this is for his side project but I need to state that my opinion is that Grizzly Bear is a band. I don't mean that in a patronizing manner either, I just feel that all four members, equally, make up for one great sound. Chris Taylor produced Yellow House and keep in mind that all four have a hand in the sound and all four make large contributions to the band's music. Also, there are two other Grizzly Bear members that are a part of Department of Eagles besides Rossen.

As for this album, I love the progression they made. The last album was too electronic and featured some spacey compositions. This new album sounds real and full; with banjos and walls of guitars and strings, it sounds so much richer and fuller. I feel they have taken a few, large, steps forward with In Ear Park. I've heard it a good ten times today—with my download while I await my vinyl copy—and I agree that it only gets better.

Yeah, I agree with the Grizzly Bear comments. There greatest strengths are how they work together as a band. And I don't want the requisite comparisons to bring down either monikers (Grizzly Bears, Department of Eagles). But Ear Park is a Department of Eagles album and not a Grizzly Bear album for a reason. Two other Grizzlies might play on some of the tracks, but this was written by Dan and Fred. I'm fairly certain some of this material may even predate Dan's work in The Grizzly Bears. Grizzly Bear are a great band, I agree, but if you were to start removing parts I believe the machine would only break down once you remove Dan. I mean that as respectfully as possible to the rest of the band.

Dan is capable of writing haunting melodies and forming them into songs that hit you like a wave of nostalgia. They have this effect where they bring back memories that have never really happened before. You can't mistake them for anyone else either.

My version came with a free download for a free song. It's short, 1:30 or something, but it makes a good closing statement as track 12 on the album.

Also, Pitchfork.TV has several live videos of the songs playing if anyone is interested in watching them. They feature Daniel and Fred, as well as both Chris' from Grizzly Bear. And they are great. I still prefer the album version of "No One Does It Like You" though.

Also. I'll just link it again. Here is the link to Ed Droste's blog where he posted "Too Little Too Late". This is important!

Upon a few listens, this album hasn't really done much for me. It seems like a grower though, so i'll keep coming back. I wasn't immediately too fond of Grizzly Bear either, but now enjoy them very much.

I'm pretty sure i won't like this as much as Grizzly Bear, but it's interesting enough to keep me engaged... It seems like it's almost too pristine, not ugly or weird enough for my tastes, but I bet i will turn around.

I realized this evening that In Ear Park reminds me a whole lot of Patrick Watson's Close to Paradise, only with a guitar in place of the piano.

Just an observation. Both are excellent albums that I recommend highly.

I really wanna listen to this album, I'm hearing some good stuff about it, but it's not downloadable anywhere...

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:
I really wanna listen to this album, I'm hearing some good stuff about it, but it's not downloadable anywhere...

It's available on eMusic. That's where I got my copy.

Hmmm, not really feeling this. Grizzly Bear and DoE are bands that a lot of people seem to really love, but I just feel nothing listening to them. Oh well.

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy:

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:
I really wanna listen to this album, I'm hearing some good stuff about it, but it's not downloadable anywhere...

It's available on eMusic. That's where I got my copy.

But that would require paying for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy:

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:
I really wanna listen to this album, I'm hearing some good stuff about it, but it's not downloadable anywhere...

It's available on eMusic. That's where I got my copy.

But that would require paying for it.

Silly me. I didn't think of that.

quote:

Originally posted by Hophead:

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy:

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:
I really wanna listen to this album, I'm hearing some good stuff about it, but it's not downloadable anywhere...

It's available on eMusic. That's where I got my copy.

But that would require paying for it.

Sign up for the free trial. You get 25 songs for free, then can cancel your trial the same day. I got this album this way. It's legal, but admittedly slightly sleazy. However, if you download your music anyway, I'm sure that won't be a problem for you... we all have our weaknesses.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
I realized this evening that In Ear Park reminds me a whole lot of Patrick Watson's Close to Paradise, only with a guitar in place of the piano.

Just an observation. Both are excellent albums that I recommend highly.

I could kinda hear that, but I didn't really care all that much for the Patrick Watson album. This, to me, is a lot more impressive.

Well this is my first post...but let me say that I effing love In Ear Park. At first I thought it was good but I couldn't get into certain songs (did "Teenagers" annoy anyone else at first?), but now I really dig the whole album. Will be in my top 10 of the year for sure. I'm thinking around number six...

I love it too. It's not quite up to Yellow House standards, but it's damn fine anyway.

And what a weird album title. Ear Park. It does tickle the eardrums though... and make me wanna pull my vehicle over and park.

Ugh.

I think the title is about a park that Daniel Rossen and his Dad used to go to...and his father recently died?...I may be wrong...

"Died"!? No need for theatrics here, fellow. This forum is impervious to such hyperbole.

Haha...no, I was merely questioning the validity of my information.