Bridging the Distance

Portland, OR is a beautiful city of bridges (10 to be exact), all spanning the Willamette River and connecting East and West Portland. It's also one of the best cultural hotspots in America and a breeding ground for amazing musical talent. Therefore, it makes sense to bring the two themes together with a compilation to benefit p:ear, a Portland charity aimed at helping the city's youth "bridge" obstacles in their lives through education, arts and recreation. 19 Portland musicians (including the Decemberists, Chris Walla of Deathcab For Cutie, Britt Daniel of Spoon, The Thermals, Viva Voce, Talkdemonic, and Blitzen Trapper) contributed tracks to the cause, each covering artists like Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Zeppelin, Skynyrd, and Sam Cooke. The result is a choppy but always interesting collection of songs for a good cause. There's even a rendition of the Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes" sung entirely in faux Michael McDonald falsetto.

Listen:
The Whip - White Wedding (Billy Idol)
Point Juncture, WA - Pearl of the Quarter (Steely Dan)
The Joggers - Long Distance Runaround (Yes)
[from Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation|buy]