While the merit of things done in the name of social justice are debated elsewhere on rednoW, allow us to point towards another example of it. Dark Was The Night is a two disc compilation that boasts a jaw dropping list of contributors [see below]. Compiled by RedHot, an international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture, DWTN is brimming with great sounds. What is so captivating about DWTN is the overall tone and quality of the album(s). The vibe of introspection, pain and hope is consistent through out the entire compilatioin. What makes this more than just an AIDS fundraiser is the sense that this music was truly affected by the cause for which is was created. The reality of the AIDS pandemic around our globe is infused in the sounds of DWTN. Those infected affected the art profoundly.
As you listen to the wonderful sounds of Dark Was The Night,maybe you can add to the couple bucks your purchase provied a prayerthat a dawning would come to bring an end to this long, cold night.
Sneak a listen:
DARK WAS THE NIGHT
THIS DISC
1 Knotty Pine – Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2 Cello Song (Nick Drake) – The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3 Train Song (Vashti Bunyan recorded, written by Alasdair Clayre) – Feist + Ben Gibbard
4 Brackett, WI – Bon Iver
5 Deep Blue Sea – Grizzly Bear
6 So Far Around the Bend – The National (arrangement by Nico Muhly)
7 Tightrope – Yeasayer
8 Feeling Good (popularized by Nina Simone) – My Brightest Diamond
9 Dark Was the Night (Blind Willie Johnson) – Kronos Quartet
10 I Was Young When I Left Home (Bob Dylan) – Antony + Bryce Dessner
11 Big Red Machine – Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12 Sleepless – The Decemberists
13 Stolen Houses (Die) – Iron and Wine
14 Service Bell – Grizzly Bear + Feist
15 You Are The Blood – Sufjan Stevens
THAT DISC
1 Well-Alright – Spoon
2 Lenin – Arcade Fire
3 Mimizan – Beirut
4 El Caporal – My Morning Jacket
5 Inspiration Information (Shuggie Otis) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
6 With A Girl Like You (The Troggs) – Dave Sitek
7 Blood Pt 2 (based on original song “You are the Blood” by theCastanets) – Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8 Hey, Snow White (Destroyer) – The New Pornographers
9 Gentle Hour (Snapper) – Yo La Tengo
10 Another Saturday (traditional song) – Stuart Murdoch
11 Happiness – Riceboy Sleeps
12 Amazing Grace (traditional song) – Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues
13 The Giant Of Illinois (Handsome Family) – Andrew Bird
14 Lua – Conor Oberst + Gillian Welch
15 When the Road Runs Out – Blonde Redhead + Devastations
16 Love vs. Porn – Kevin Drew
