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Anybody
Out There
Burlap
to Cashmere, 1998, A & M Records Have you ever bought a CD for the title? This was another one of those CDs that I bought from the Sound and Spirit music club because I liked the title and the musical description. The first time I heard it, I thought the group was just another Christian group trying to be different. I didn’t quite understand the words that they were saying, and they committed one of my all-time pet peeves—there were no lyrics included with the music. That made me so irritated! Can anyone tell me why groups do that? I’m sure that newer groups might do it to save money, but why do popular, well-known groups? However, I listened to the CD again and realized that this group is talented beyond measure instrumentally. I also went online and downloaded the lyrics and discovered that the lyrics were artistic. Now as I mentioned before, this group has some lyrics that I don’t quite understand, but for the most part you won’t be totally out in the dark. I like every song on the CD because they are creative with their word painting. I don’t quite understand why the first track is called “Digee Dime,” but the words of the song are about going to heaven. The way they surround the lyrics instrumentally helps you to imagine the reality and mood that they are trying to create with their music. Some issues that are covered are the unreality of heaven, the unity of spirit, basic instructions for heaven, the sinfulness of mankind, the plight of the sinner, trust in the Lord, divorce, the glory of God, and the guidance of God in everything we do. I have noticed within the last couple of years the evolving popularity of world music. When I say world music, a lot a people begin to raise their eyebrows. World music means new age music to a lot of people and they often shy away from it. That isn’t the case here. It is incorporating various types of music from several countries into mainstream musical styles. Sometimes world music is truly authentic, but in an effort to be different, many groups merge musical styles from around the world into their music. Burlap to Cashmere does a fabulous job with this. This might come from the Greek roots and varied nationalities of the band members. Burlap to Cashmere is referred to by many people as Christian alternative. Some say it is folk music, but I just make it easy on myself and call it world music. Because of their diversity no one knows exactly what type of style they fit in. The group is presently being revamped. Several members have left for various reasons, but the group started with two cousins, John Phillippides and Steven DeLopoulos. The cousins were discovered in a New York coffeehouse because of their tight harmony and the instruments they used. Delopoulos, one of the originators of this group, has left the group and is presently working on his own album. The remaining members are currently working on another CD which should be out in stores sometime this year. If you are a lover of music with extreme percussion and
acoustic sound, this is a must-have. Keep your eyes open for the next CD, but
definitely get Anybody Out There.
I’m sure you will not be disappointed. ninetyandnine.com © 2001, Lakesha Stokes --------- Lakesha Stokes
is an elementary music teacher in the St. Louis area. She earned a Church Music
degree from Gateway College of Evangelism and a Bachelor of Arts in Church
Music/Music Education from Missouri Baptist College. She is presently working on
her Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy at Webster University. Works Cited
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