For 31 straight days leading up to its February 17, 2009 release, the Red Hot Organization that brought you the AIDS/HIV awareness compilation No Alternative in the early 1990s, streamed all 31 tracks from its newest release Dark Was The Night (4AD) on its myspace page.
This indie hipster-based compilation’s promotion and music got the attention of the blogosphere and mp3/music video blog Stereogum in particular. The fact that two members of indie rockers The National produced this release was not lost on anyone taking a serious look at its contents. And as on No Alternative, there is no shortage of underground or emerging mainstream alternative rock and alt-country talent on these two discs.
The offbeat-yet-still-jumpy Dirty Projectors track “Knotty Pine,” featuring guest vocals by one of the fathers of alternative music David Byrne, gets disc one off to a feel good, albeit brief start, coming in at under two-and-a-half minutes. The male/female duos continue in good measure with indie superstar Leslie Feist teaming with Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard for the acoustic cover of Alasdair Clayre’s “Train Song.” The creepy chords and undertones of this folk tune come off sounding like a naked cover of a Eurythmics hit, namely “Sweet Dreams.”
The dark acoustic “Deep Blue Sea,” by experimental folkies Grizzly Bear keeps things moving along at a quiet pace, as the lone beat of the tune is supplied by what sounds like the equivalent of the crack of a wooden baseball bat. But The Nationals’ own foot-thumpin’ contribution “So Far Around The Bend” brightens up the mood significantly, with its twinkling electronics, organ and strings.
Spoon’s simple, fast-picked nylon-stringed acoustic guitar and minimal drums on “Well-Alright” and The Arcade Fire’s hip-shakin’ boogie “Lenin,” which stars Regine Chassagne (wife of Win Butler), gets disc two of Dark Was The Night off to a much needed uplifting start and groove. Southern rock powerhouse My Morning Jacket checks in with a surprisingly hooky pop ballad on “El Caporal,” one that features lead guitarist Carl Broemel on saxophone throughout. Beirut, Andrew Bird, Yo La Tengo and New Pornographers also make worthy contributions to this compilation.
Article comments
1 - Dusty Somers
Really solid compilation without much fluff at all. You're right, the Welch/Oberst collaboration is beautiful.