Usually when a compilation is put together for a charity, the tracks that are thrown together are throwaways from the artists that contribute or just some sort of crappy remix of a song you already know. That is not how the Red Hot foundation rolls however. Already known for their great compilations in the past where the contributions go towards AIDS research and awareness, the selfless people at the Red Hot foundation have outdone themselves this time. Bringing in Bryce and Aaron Dessner from Indie-Rock stalwarts The National to curate, Red Hot have handed over the keys to two artists that cashed in a lot of favors to put together one of the greatest compilation albums of all time.

Clocking in at a whopping two discs and 31 unreleased tracks, Dark Was the Night is probably the greatest collection of Indie acts to ever appear together. The guest list reads like a critics yearly best of; the top of the heap being artists such as The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Feist with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and Spoon just to name a select few. The kicker is that all the tracks are brand spanking new with not a rehash or remix to be found. The best tracks here though end up coming from acts that maybe some of you haven't heard of before. Electronic act The Books collaborate with Sweedish Folkie Jose Gonzalez on a breathtaking cover of Nick Drake's "Cello Song" and Justin Vernon of 2008's much lauded Bon Iver contributes not one but two excellent new tracks. The one (and only) slight problem with Dark Was the Night is the pacing of the entire proceedings. The first disc is a five star masterpiece bar none, but the second disc has more than a few clunkers that make it difficult to listen all the way to the very end. But beggars can't be choosers and I thank the Dessner's whole heartedly for putting together such a fantastic array of artists all under the same two-disc compilation roof.