Day 482. Burlap to Cashmere - Eileen's Song

482. Burlap to Cashmere - Eileen's Song
From the album Anybody Out There?
(A&M, 1998)


"Many artists claim originality, but very few have matched their preview hyperbole with the goods quite like this project. Gypsy folk rock? Latin groove pop? Euro art house? What the heck? Band leaders and cousins Steven Delopoulos and John Phillippidis created something so unique and intriguing it was hard to know just how the industry would respond.

They responded well indeed. With a decent mainstream record distribution deal, the band was poised to change the music world on both sides of the artistic gulf. Then they disappeared for 13 years only to return this week with the years best album, their self-titled sophomore release.

Born out of Marymount Manhattan College, the two cousins formed a singing and acting troupe that incorporated ethnic music inspiration, intelligent script writing and acting, and a flare for the original. The band grew with friends and family members until they were discovered by A&M Records four years later and released Anybody Out There?

The great joy and utter frustration in reviewing this album is that there are so few reference points for comparison. How many artists can reflect Jose Feliciano, Van Morrison, Gordon Lightfoot and a Greek/Gypsy folk all in one song while sounding nothing like the aforementioned artists and styles? Seriously, this album is just that uniquely wonderful. Oddly enough, the above is accomplished with an immediately likable and commercial appeal!
...
Christian radio picked up on several songs. One of those is the beautiful, mid-tempo balled , “Eileen.” This dreamy song revels in its simplicity while just drawing the listener in completely. It is a song of hope for the struggling. The image of an angel sharing its wing one with another is very impacting and lasting.
...
There are really not forgettable songs on the album.

Then they disappeared. Several members (most notably Steven Delopoulos) would release solo projects and less than a handful of live or bootleg projects, but no sophomore studio release until just this week. And, as mentioned above, it is brilliant!

It may not be the greatest “debut” album in CCM history, but I cannot think of too many others that can compare. This is also one of those “friendship breaker” albums where someone’s opinion of the album impacts ones opinion of the person." (source: CCM's Best Albums)

Here is the original studio released video for the song: