‘Songs Around the World’ charity album never quite resonates

Published 10:47 pm Saturday, April 25, 2009

WHY CARE: On Tuesday Starbucks’ Hear Music label co-releases “Songs Around the World,” a charity album by Playing for Change that includes street musicians and Bono.

TRIVIA: For each track, producers recorded musicians from around the world: drums from American Indians, choral vocals from South Africa, cello from Russia. The parts were layered in a studio to make the final version of the songs.

STANDOUTS: A cover of “Stand By Me,” viewed more than 9 million times on YouTube, feels the most sincere.

FANS DIG: Jamaica

ANDY SAYS: The charm of this effort is mostly lost on the CD, as the colossal work done by the producers fails to come across. Thankfully, the album also includes a DVD that shows several of the best songs being assembled. There, the idea that music can unite the globe feels like a genuine possibility.

GRADE: C-plus

Camera Obscura, “My Maudlin Career”

WHY CARE: Camera Obscura jumped to the label 4AD to release the follow-up to its well-loved 2006 album “Let’s Get Out of This Country.”

TRIVIA: The indie pop group is based out of Glasgow, Scotland.

STANDOUT: You can’t go wrong with the first single, “French Navy,” an enchantingly produced rush of 1960s-styled pop.

FANS DIG: John Peel’s favorite bands

ANDY SAYS: Camera Obscura gets endlessly linked to another cute indie pop band from Glasgow, Belle and Sebastian. While the two have definite similarities — both sing sunny songs about being sad-hearted — Camera Obscura takes a more defined step toward a Phil Spector-styled production on this heavenly album.

GRADE: A-minus

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.