Various Artists: Dark Was the Night

Copy at Case Memorial Library
Nate Chinen wrote in the New York Times: "During the final moments of Dark Was the Night Live, a benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night, more than a dozen singers … huddled at one end of the stage to warble 'This Land Is Your Land.' … The concert was a tie-in to 'Dark Was the Night' (4AD), the latest in a series of compilation albums made for the Red Hot Organization, an AIDS relief charity. … Like the album, the show was spearheaded by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of the National. … Feist made her appearance feel like a coffeehouse cameo. … Singing in her warm, flexible voice, she easily held the spotlight by herself. The one exception was 'Train Song,' a Vashti Bunyan ballad on which she welcomed Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. In his own set Mr. Vernon began with 'Brackett, WI,' one of his two haunting tracks on the album. … On 'Flume,' he delegated a verse to Shara Worden, who handled it well. Ms. Worden, appearing as My Brightest Diamond with backing from the National, struck one of the evening’s high points; her potent take on 'Feeling Good' evoked Nina Simone without an ounce of burden."