R.E.M, My Morning Jacket, Phoebe Bridgers, Angel Olsen Join Massive Benefit Compilation

'Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy' will be sold through this week's Bandcamp Friday event

BY Allie GregoryPublished Sep 2, 2020

Dozens of musicians have come together on a massive compilation benefitting American democracy ahead of the U.S. election later this year. The comp — titled Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy — arrives this Friday (September 4) via Bandcamp for the retailer's Bandcamp Fridays charity initiative.

Contributors include R.E.M.Angel OlsenFlume, Tycho, My Morning Jacket, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Jamila Woods, the Decemberists, Phoebe BridgersDeath Cab for CutieCourtney Barnettthe National's Matt BerningerSylvan Esso, Real Estate, Soccer MommyAlex G, Laura Jane Grace, Preservation Jazz Hall Band, Sudan ArchivesTegan and SaraHelado NegroBest CoastFleet Foxes' Robin PecknoldWeyes BloodRostam, Hayley Williams, clipping., Sharon Van Etten and many more.

The massive project includes previously unreleased songs, covers, remixes, live recordings and demos from a host of the music industry's biggest names who have gathered to fight against voter suppression and advocate for electoral reform by donating all proceeds to Fair Fight.

According to Fair Fight's website, the organization's aim is to "bring awareness to the public on election reform, advocate for election reform at all levels, and engage in other voter education programs and communications."

The release was orchestrated by author Dave Eggers, artist managers Jordan Kurland and Darius Zelkha, Christian Stavros, and Barsuk Records label head Josh Rosenfeld. Eggers and Kurland previously organized three charity compilations surrounding presidential elections.

"As in our previous election-based projects, Dave [Eggers] and I were looking for a relatively simple platform for artists to get involved in the political process," Kurland said of the project in a release. "Seeing how impactful Bandcamp Fridays have become, we felt  this was the perfect way to create urgency by releasing new music from a collection of amazing artists for a very short window of time."

The Good Music compilation will only be available to purchase on September 4 through Bandcamp, so make sure to set a reminder. A limited-edition signed poster of Shepard Fairey's album art will also be available to purchase on Friday, with proceeds going toward Color of Change.

See the compilation's full tracklisting below.

Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy:

1. Hayley Williams – "Colour Me In" (Broadcast Cover)
2. Tycho x Ben Gibbard – "Only Love Will Save This Place" (Demo Version)
3. R.E.M. – "Begin The Begin" (Live in Hampton, VA 1989)
4. Matt Berninger – "In Between Days" (The Cure Cover)
5. Grouplove – "Hardware Store"
6. Rostam – "Half-Light" (Acoustic)
7. Soccer Mommy – "Girl Next Door" (Saving Jane Cover)
8. Flume x Eprom – "Nor. 7"
9. clipping. – "Chapter 319" (Jonathan's Full Stop Remix)
10. My Morning Jacket – "Bring the Power Back Home"
11. Sudan Archives – "War"
12. Helado Negro – "Us Meeting Them"
13. Death Cab for Cutie – "The New Year" (Live in Seattle, WA 2020)
14. Jeff Tweedy – "Whisper"
15. Sharon Van Etten – "malibu, driving down the one" (demo)
16. Weyes Blood – "River" (Joni Mitchell Cover)
17. Thurston Moore – "L'Ephemere"
18. The Decemberists – "Death-Defying" (Hoodoo Gurus Cover, Live in Australia 2016)
19. Tegan and Sara – "God Help Yourself" (Demo)
20. Best Coast – "Our Deal" (Live in Studio 2020)
21. Poolside x Todd Edwards – "Getting There From Here" (Instrumental)
22. Jamila Woods – "HEAVN" (Slot-A Remix)
23. Robin Pecknold – "Hammond Song" (The Roches Cover)
24. Beverly Glenn-Copeland – "Dream On" (1977 Studio Recording)
25. Devendra Banhart – "Taking a Page" (Demo)
26. Phoebe Bridgers – "Chinese Satellite" (Voice Memo)
27. Real Estate – "People's Parties" (Joni Mitchell Cover)
28. Sylvan Esso – "Ferris Wheel" (Live In-Studio)
29. Josh Ritter – "Someday" (In Progress)
30. Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers – "Vancouver Divorce (Gord Downie Cover)
31. Alex G – "Skull Eyes" (True Widow Cover)
32. Frankie Cosmos – "Another Piece"
33. King Tuff – "Evergreen" (Demo)
34. Superchunk – "Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing" (Minutemen Cover)
35. Jay Som – "Time Off Work"
36. Angel Olsen – "All Mirrors" (Johnny Jewel Chamber Remix)
37. Gilligan Moss – "Ultraparadíso" (Campfire Edit)
38. Bhi Bhiman – "Takin' It Easy"
39. Courtney Barnett – "Sunday Roast" (Live in Estes Park, CO 2020)
40. Preservation Hall Jazz Band – "One Hundred Fires" (Live in Seattle, WA 2019)

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