Description
Anybody Out There? is the debut studio album by the American folk-rock/world beat combo Burlap to Cashmere, released on A&M Records in October 1998. The album was recorded and mixed by Jay Healy at The Hit Factory in New York City, New York; with David Rolfe and Healy producing.
The album won Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award in the category Album of the Year (Rock) at the 30th Annual Dove Awards, March 24, 1999.
The album was followed by Me Died Blue, a solo album by Steven Delopoulos, the lead singer of Burlap to Cashmere, released in 2003.
Anybody Out There? is Burlap to Cashmere’s first full-length release, following Live at the Bitter End. Anybody Out There? is difficult to pigeonhole. The percussion is innovative, the guitar work outstanding. Sometimes considered the bad boys of Christian music, their lyrics are alternately poignant, passionate, light hearted, and always original. «Digee Dime», their signature song, is contagiously fun. «Eileen’s Song» is soft and sweet, and «Basic Instructions», their Dove Award-nominated song, has point-blank lyrics with a Latin feel. The album slows a bit with the last few numbers, but overall, Anybody Out There? is one of the best alternative CCM albums of the ’90s.
Wily alt-pop veteran Steve Taylor certainly knows a good deal when he sees one. Not content with signing Sixpence None The Richer to his Squint Entertainment empire and landing them a mainstream deal with Columbia. Taylor has hooked up Burlap To Cashmere with A&M (the former home of the artist’s favourite Brit band Squeeze). A shrewd move, it seems, because on the evidence of their debut studio album Burlap, who have already toured with Jars Of Clay and Amy Grant and released a live LP, warrant as much attention as they can grab. Produced by Paul Simon, REM and Billy Joel collaborator Jay Healy, ‘Anybody Out There?’ exudes pop charm. Cousins Steven Delopoulos (vocals) and John Philippidis (guitar) lead the band on a merry dance through explosive ethnic folk («Digee, Dime»), blue-eyed balladry («Eileen’s Song»), furious flamenco stomps («Scenes») to worshipful gospel («Mansions»). The pairs’ Greek heritage seasons the whole of this accessible album which is flavoured by the singer’s astute, heart-on-sleeve lyrics. One of the finds of the year, perhaps? [Peter Bate, Cross Rhythms, April 1999]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/anybody-out-there/1442931302)
CD tracklist:
01. Digee Dime – 3:08
02. Eileen’s Song – 4:09
03. Basic Instructions – 3:59
04. Chop Chop – 3:45
05. Anybody Out There? – 4:17
06. Treasures In Heaven – 4:27
07. Skin Is Burning – 3:46
08. Divorce – 4:53
09. Good Man – 3:53
10. Scenes – 4:04
11. Ancient Man – 3:03
12. Mansions – 3:58
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by A&M Records.
The January 1999 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Burlap To Cashmere.
A full-page advertisement for various albums releases on Squint Entertainment, including Burlap to Cashmere’s Anybody Out There?, was featured in the July 1999 issue of CCM Magazine.
“Eileen’s Song” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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