Album Review: Various Artists - Dark Was the Night

Originally published April 14, 2009 in Soundcheck Magazine.
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Various Artists
Dark Was the Night: Red Hot Compilation
4AD

The 20th installment in the compilation series by the Red Hot Organization tempts listeners to choose a favorite track early on, but with plentiful talent, each song after becomes a strong contender for the top spot.

With The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner as curators, Dark Was the Night brings together some of the most notable indie rock artists from the past decade to support Red Hot in raising awareness about AIDS prevention, which the organization has been doing for 20 years. Named after the song “Dark Was the Night” by blues artist Blind Willie Johnson, the compilation is inspired by traditional folk themes.

The dilemma of choosing a favorite track is most severe on the first disc of the two-disc compilation, also available as a triple vinyl set and digital download (iTunes offers an extra track from Beach House). Indie royalty, such as Feist, Arcade Fire and Spoon, span across the entire compilation, offering original compositions, covers, and compelling collaborations, but the stand-out tracks predominantly are bundled on the first disc.

From the euphoric opening by Dirty Projectors and David Byrne to Antony and Bryce Dessner’s simple cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Was Young When I Left Home”, the first disc displays indie rock’s delightful dynamics. Furthermore, Yeasayer’s passion and dreamy atmosphere on “Tightrope” encompasses the mix of landscapes.

However, between two collaborations, Feist is one of the more radiant stars of Dark Was the Night. She and Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard team up for a beautiful cover of Vashti Bunyan’s “Train Song”. Gibbard’s reflective vocals and Feist’s higher-pitched voice fit together like puzzle pieces. On “Service Bell”, Feist’s voice is even more stunning, supported by Grizzly Bear’s delicate-but-vivid instrumentation.

Although the first disc is difficult to follow up, the second still is a worthwhile listen. My Morning Jacket’s “El Caporal” and a cover of Shuggie Otis’ “Inspiration Information”, performed by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, throw diversity into the mix.

The horns on Jones’ cover are pure bliss, and her soulful voice is the compilation’s only source of funk. The 31 tracks show a lot of variety, but they are limited. With the exception of a few songs, the overall energy does not travel far from a tranquil state. A few roaring peaks would have been ideal, but considering the cause, that small shortcoming hardly is crucial.