Give the Gift of Music: Dark Was The Night

It's the time of the year when you start thinking about your gift-giving list, trying to figure out the perfect gift for all the certain someones on that list. Got a certain someone who's into really good music? Then I've got the perfect gift idea.

Photo courtesy of Last.fm

My boyfriend recently let me borrow the Dark Was the Night compilation that he'd been talking up to me for months. He described it as a "who's who" of indie music. The phrase "who's who" gave me pause, because music is so subjective and my taste is often described as both eclectic and snobbish. Yes, I've been called a pretentious hipster and an indie music snob. But...I have to give the BF props, this album is incredible and it stands up to his description.

Quite possibly my favorite song on the compilation...not a real video, but the only way I could find for you to have a listen.



Released on February 17th, 2009, a total of 31 exclusive tracks were recorded for the compilation. With performances from indie music staples like Feist, Grizzly Bear, Ben Gibbard, Iron & Wine and many, many more...the compilation benefits the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. So, should you purchase the compilation for someone on your gift list, you're not only getting them an awesome music gift, you're also making a charitable donation in their name!

There aren't many videos for these songs, so in this case the only way to give you a listen is to link to the YouTube "videos" available. So, enjoy a little hip-hop indie goodness courtesy of this collaboration:

Buck 65 Remix (ft Sufjan Stevens) - Blood Pt 2

If melodic folk rock is more your thing, you can't go wrong with Andrew Bird.



And a who's who compilation of indie rock big names just wouldn't pass muster without a song by Arcade Fire, now would it? Enjoy!

Lenin by Arcade Fire

Seriously, if you're looking for a great gift for a music lover, not necessarily an indie music lover, you can't go wrong with this compilation. Available in double CD or triple vinyl (my choice would be vinyl...these songs were made for the scratchy goodness of a record player) formats, this would top any music nut's all-time favorite gift list.