Customer Reviews

Me Died Blue

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I too, randomly bought 'Me Died Blue' based on excellent reviews I read online. In a nutshell, I was floored by Delopoulos' ever so honest and powerful vocal prowess and clever songwriting! I purchase about 200 CD's every year, and this is one of my 'Top 3 of 2003' without question! The production on this CD is PERFECT, with just the right amount of backround musician embellishments to add style and emotion to these great songs. To say this is 'overproduced and lacking in continuity', as a previous poster did, is way WAY OFF the mark! You couldn't ask for a wider variety of well written, passionate songs, with at times, a clear Meditteranean influence which works great with Steve's music. In fact, this CD is proof that great music is still out there. You just have to hunt for it a little more!

This was an impulse buy (congrats Amazon on your marketing!) a couple of weeks ago. I popped it in, and was really taken away! His voice is excellent, moving. The overtones of the strings are very folky and lend themselves to comparisons with David Gray. Overall a great driving or listening CD - nothing to party to - just sit back, relax and take it in.

Quite possibly my CD of the year. Incredible musicianship (particularly his often blinding and always beautiful finger-picking guitar), wonderful variety of songs, and deep powerful lyrics. Crisp production, crystal clarity of voice, and simultaneously catchy and innovative songs make this masterful album a MUST have!

If you're into singer-songwriter talent, this is the place to start! The music is real, steven's own talent pushes the songs forward. Though his faith warms the music, he remains true to human emotion and thought, there's nothing candy or canned about his dylan like lyrics. Be ready if you see him live, the recording is amazing, but his energy and personal dynamic cannot be fully captured... his voice rolls and crecendo's by his own power, he's not dependent on recording tricks to make him sound good.

If Burlap to Cashmere was the Christian version of Rusted Root, then Steven Delopoulos as a solo artist is the Christian version of Paul Simon.

This CD, like Burlap's "Anybody Out There?", is so full of quoteable lyrics and hummable melodies that you will find yourself singing the songs to yourself even after the first listen. But instead of the heavy Mediterranian-influenced music, this album has a sort of light, finger-picking and strumming sound to the songs -- not unlike the ubiquitous "kid you know" who brings his guitar everywhere with him, then sits down and plays beautifully with what seems like no effort. Very organic and honest.

I loved "Anybody Out There?" because it was folksy and raw, almost dark in some places ("Divorce", "Anybody out there?"). This album takes the same themes and emotions from that record and brings them into the light. The result is a warm and sincere record that you will want to play over and over.

Avid fans of Christian music will recognize Steven from his days as frontman of the critically acclaimed band Burlap to Cashmere, quite possibly the most original and exciting group to hit the Christian music industry in the last 20 years. While Me Died Blue is an excellent solo record, it lacks the punch of Burlap's uniqueness, mostly due to the sudden influx of singer-songwriters in the last few years (John Mayer, Jack Johnson). Still, despite having considerably less promotion at his disposal, Steven does his job well enough to decidedly stand out.
Steven's influences are obvious: Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin, Paul Simon, perhaps early Springsteen ... basically the best storytellers of the `70s, all mixed with urgent Mediterranean-fused rhythms that will hook you, but usually not until the second or third listen. However, the lyrics are what truly set Steven apart. Reeking of humanity, Steven paints powerful visual portraits of people you would like to meet, places you would like to visit, and dreams we have all secretly kept inside.
Monroe Jones (Third Day, Chris Rice) contributes yet another superb production job, allowing Steven to cut loose at times yet still capturing an intimate feel when necessary. The result is an album that is less accessible than the storytellers paraded before us on the radio, but much more emotionally addicting.
While there are a few potential singles (Me Died Blue, Daisies and Sandalwood), most of the album is simply an introspective testament to every man's struggle for fulfillment in the face of this instable thing we call life. Still, there is hope. "Every drama dreamer never really drowns and dies, `cause drama dreamers tumble but we fade and then we fly high" (Runaway Train). If this record is any indication, Steven should be flying high for quite some time.

If you like great acoustic guitar music like Harry Chapin, Tracy Chapman, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, David Grey, John Mayer, etc., you will LOVE this CD! Steven has his own very distinct signature and style, with such powerful heartfelt vocal delivery and staccato like guitar playing that is downright haunting and compelling like nothing i've heard before! The songs/arrangements are world class and very memorable melodies. I would even venture to say that he IS the best in his genre, currently. I can't stop playing this CD! The songs make you smile and make you cry. There aren't too many artists that can elicit that kind of response from me. Shout this wonderful artist/performer from the mountaintops, because it would be a crying shame if not many people heard of this boy wonder from New Jersey! A MUST BUY!!!

Steve Delopoulos' solo disk finds him venturing away from the sounds of Burlap to Cashmere and taking more of a singer/songwriter aproach. He avoids the excesses of "Anybody Out There?," weeding out the over-drama of songs such as "Divorce" and "Scenes." Unfortunately, Delopoulos throws out the baby with the bathwater so to speak, as none of his songs reach the intimacy of "Eileen's Song" or "Mansions." These are still a fine set of tunes and there are many highlights including the beautiful guitar picking on "Another Day" and the exuberant synthesized "Rocky Boat." Although the song writing weakens towards the end of the album with the underwelming "Mediteranean Waters," and the anti-climatic "People Come and Go," "Me Died Blue" is an exceptional cd well worth a listen.

I had the great pleasure of hearing Steven for the first time last week at the Cadman's Call/Jars of Clay concert in Urbana, IL. I was absolutely floored by the talent and the way his music flowed through your soul. You could feel what he felt and the passion he has in his writing. I had to take home the Me Died Blue/Live at the Bluebird Cafe combo pack. Jungle Trail has got to be one of the most moving songs I've ever heard. Eileen's Song (on the live cd) touches something deep within my heart and makes me want to write my poetry again.

You must have this cd. You will never be the same again after hearing such beautiful, passionate music. It will truly touch you heart and soul.

I did not know who Steven Delopoulos was when I bought this album, but I have been very pleased with it. He sometimes sounds a little like Bob Dylan. If you like sort-of mellow, folk-y, type music with good, bouncy rythm, neat melodies, great instrumentation, and upbeat, original lyrics that manage not to be preachy or banal then I believe that you also will find it quite nice. Holy Sunlight is one of my favorites songs on this CD. I also think that it is nice to hear music of the Christian persuasion that doesn't sound like all the rest of the songs you hear on the radio (if you have ever listened to Christian stations you know what I mean.)