In 2004, the group graduated from college and moved into an apartment in Brooklyn with an aggressive, hirsute landlord named Baki. Shortly thereafter, Daniel joined the group Grizzly Bear and began playing guitar and singing with them (he went on to write a goodly portion of their sophomore album, Yellow House). Fred tried to escape his boring magazine job by going on tour opening up for the band Subtle, but the tour was cancelled when Subtle's bus crashed, tragically injuring keyboardist Dax Pierson. DOE was on something of a hiatus. Then in 2005, a British label re-released their debut album in Europe under a different title, and the group began working on new material. This time around, the music featured little-to-no electronic embellishments and was inspired by Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, Paul Williams, and Paul McCartney. On October 7, 2008 they released their follow-up, In Ear Park, on 4AD.
Daniel plays guitar, bass, piano, drums, cello, and sings. He majored in Linguistics. His grandfather, Robert Rossen, directed the critically acclaimed movies All the Kings Men and The Hustler. Fred plays drums and various random instruments. He majored in Art History. His father, Martin Nicolaus, wrote the definitive translation of Karl Marx's Gundrisse.
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Department of Eagles went on to join Grizzly Bear with their recording of 2009 LP 'Veckatimist'
Classical Records
Department of Eagles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or do you let them sleep in their sleeves, where they be?
Do you suffer through those records that you turned around?
Or do you make them sleep in their sleeves where they weep?
Vinyl tears
I had a line but I don't remember
I had a line but I don't remember
Anything
The opening lines of Department of Eagles' song "Classical Records" pose a question to the listener - do you still listen to your classical records or have you let them gather dust in their sleeves? The repeated use of the phrase "sleep in their sleeves" creates a sense of neglect and abandonment, implying that these cherished possessions have been cast aside and forgotten. The following line "Do you suffer through those records that you turned around?" highlights the nostalgia and pain that can come with revisiting old music, as the listener is forced to confront the memories associated with those tunes. The phrase "where they weep" also adds to this sense of melancholy, suggesting that the records themselves are sad at being neglected.
The lines "Vinyl tears" encapsulate the sense of loss and sadness that permeates the song. Vinyl tears can be interpreted both literally as tears shed by the vinyl record, as well as metaphorically as tears shed by the listener over the lost memories and emotions associated with the music. The repetition of the phrase "I had a line but I don't remember" further emphasizes this sense of loss, as if the singer is struggling to piece together a narrative from their fragmented memories.
Overall, "Classical Records" is a nostalgic and poignant exploration of the connection between music and memory, and the emotions that can be evoked by revisiting old favorites.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you listen to your classical records any more?
Do you still take pleasure in listening to your timeless classical records?
Or do you let them sleep in their sleeves, where they be?
Do you leave them forgotten and abandoned in their sleeves?
Do you suffer through those records that you turned around?
Do you endure the music that you once didn't like, or flipped over?
Or do you make them sleep in their sleeves where they weep?
Do you leave those records alone and untouched where they cry?
Vinyl tears
The records shed tears of neglect and sadness.
I had a line but I don't remember
I had something to say or do, but now I forget what it was.
I had a time but I don't remember
I experienced a period or moment, but now it's a distant memory.
I had a line but I don't remember
Again, I had something to say or do, but now it's a forgotten thought.
Anything
No remembrance or recollection of anything significant in the past.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Raphael Rossen, Fred Hurley Nicolaus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind