'Southern-bluegrass-island-story-telling: Stephen Sloan's debut CD is a collection of his experiences and observations, "True Stories", while sailing from Texas to the Atlantic coast and the Caribbean.
11 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Power-folk, BLUES: Texas Style

Details: The difference between a sailor's story and a fairy tail is: a fairy tail starts off Once upon a time and a sailor's story starts off True story, no sh**.

Described as southern-bluegrass-island-story-telling Stephen Sloan's debut CD is a collection of his experiences and observations, True Stories, while sailing from Texas to the Atlantic coast and the Caribbean. His influences range from Texas cowboy and blues to hill-country bluegrass to straight-up rock-n-roll to island calypso.

It's as if Stephen Sloan; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Jimmy Buffet; and the ghosts of Hank Williams and Stevie Ray Von went limin in the islands.
True Stories captures the soul of Stephen's music and brings it home. The lyrically poignant “Geographical Cure†addresses the myth that moving solves life's problems. “Would You, uses comic relief and a bluegrass twang to probe the consequences of following a dream. The bluesy, funky Cuts Me to the Bone swings down to the bar room attraction scene. If the Boat is Rockin, is a straightforward rock-n-roll story about the nitty-gritty of the sailor's love life while the calypso-esque “Who’s Next†describes the true nature of island relationships. Eulogizing well-known donkey hill on St. Thomas, “Donkey Hill Breakdown†relates the harrowing experience of a car’s brakes failing in a toe-tapping, hand-clapping bluegrass breakdown. “Gone With the Wind,†is an island folk rock acoustic guitar story in the boy meets girl and they sail off into the future’ vein. The jumping beat Stomp Box tells a more common story of ‘boy meets girl and gets his heart ‘stomped’ on.’ “Island State of Mind†is a sailor’s island blues complete with steel pan that describes how to deal with getting jilted. In the slow southern waltz “Best Years of My Life,†Stephen put into words and music his true feelings for his darling wife. “Old Man†is an acoustic cover of Neil Young's classic tune and a favorite at Stephen’s live shows.

Excerpts from CD purchasers e-mail:

...I just received the CD (True Stories) and WOW! NICE JOB BUDDY! As a matter of fact it is playing for the second time through right now as I write this note...You guys did a great job on the CD. I truly enjoy your style of writing. I was very pleased to hear that "Would You" was included on this CD. It was one of the songs that you sang for us (in St.Thomas) that I still have on video. That was one of the nicest time that we have had on our vacations and I will never forget it. Now every time I listen to your songs it will take me back there for just a short time...keep on writing for the next CD.

Got the copy of the CD and have listened to it several times. Did a really good job mixing and have some nice instrumentation

Would You still makes me laugh my ASS off! - Very COOL!!!