various artists

With an A-list of artists and a worthy cause, Dark Was The Night is your newest guilty pleasure-minus the guilt.

To be released in North America Tuesday, Dark Was The Night is a 31-track, two-disc compilation album put together by 4AD, a British independent record label, and produced by The National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner. The album will benefit the Red Hot Organization, an international charity aimed at raising funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS.

Starring indie darlings like Andrew Bird, Bon Iver, Feist, Grizzly Bear and Yo La Tengo amongst others, the collaboration deserves praise if only for meeting the high expectations all that name-dropping generates. In lead track "Knotty Pine," the Dirty Projectors team with David Byrne to set a progressive tone and pace for the rest of the release. It's followed by the Books and Jose Gonzalez covering Nick Drake's "Cello Song," which has a bouncy beat reminiscent of Gonzalez's "Heartbeats."

The remainder of the first disc does not disappoint, and standout tracks include the National's upbeat "So Far Around the Bend," My Brightest Diamond's jazzy "Feeling Good" and the Decemberists' melodic yet melancholy "Sleepless." Of note too is Sufjan Stevens' cover of the Castanets' "You Are The Blood," which at 10 minutes and 14 seconds highlights his increasingly diversified sound. Combining Illinois' orchestration with a stronger electro vibe, the song's overall effect hints at Radiohead or even Chad VanGaalen. The second disc then picks up the pace with Spoon's "Well-Alright" and the Arcade Fire's "Lenin," both of which are irresistibly catchy, and slows it down again with Cat Power's surprisingly peaceful rendition of "Amazing Grace."

With new pieces by old favorites, the ambitious compilation is refreshing and familiar at the same time-sort of like reuniting with friends or experiencing 70-degree weather in the middle of February.