I’ve become obsessed with the new Red Hot compilation, Dark Was The Night, an AIDS benefit album just released on Tuesday. Tracks have been sprinkled around the internet and airwaves, teasing the release which includes nearly every buzz-band of the festival scene in the last 5 years (Feist, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Decemberists, Sufjan, New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, Sharon Jones, Yo La Tengo, Andrew Bird and on and on and on…). Curated by The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner, nearly song in all of its 29 track, double-disk glory warrants an attentive listen, if not dire obsession.
As I merrily drifted through the first few tracks, I thought to myself, “Hmmm…this is pretty good.” Then…something happened. Track 6 came on. Yeasayer‘s “Tightrope.” World beat cymbals clashing over distorted keyboards under harsh guitar riffs leading up to an almost tribal drumline…my brain froze, “Wait a minute…hold on…STOP! Reverse. Turn up the volume. More. Play…Wow. WOW!”
Try it for yourself…
Then feel good about yourself for doing something good and pick up the rest of the amazing album here…