Various Artists: Graciously, A Gulf Relief Compilation

Even if it didn’t benefit a good cause, Graciously, A Gulf Relief Compilation contains enough interesting nuggets to be a worthwhile purchase no matter what. West coast alt-country rockers Richmond Fontaine contribute “The Gits”, an ode to the seminal Riot Grrl band. The ringing slide guitar of Tony Furtado’s “Waste Away the Night with You” is a beautiful roots rock plea to “let the whole world slip away / At least until we’re through… I’ve nothing left to prove / Till we have to face the day.” Amelia White’s “Skeleton Key” is another star performer. Co-written with Furtado, this bluesy romp is complete with a Jimmy Page-riff and more rock-than-folk lyrics (“You’re so bad that you’re perfect / Like a two dollar bottle of wine / I wanna drink you all up, baby / Until you know you’re mine”). Of course, there are some puzzlers in the mix. Although Howe Gelb and Scout Niblett turn in a medley of “I Want Candy / I Know What Boys Want / Who Do You Love / Not Fade Away” that confounds more than captivates, it does begin to stick in your head.