Drop the Debt

1	Baba / Tiken Jah Fakoly 5:02
2	Quem Pode / Teofilo Chantre 4:35
3	Il Faut Payer (Devo E Nao Nego) / Chico César 2:46
4	Tudo Vale a Pena / MV Bill 4:16
5	Cosas Pa' Pensar 3:24
6	Boor-Yi / El Hadj N'Diaye 5:04
7	Cadeau Empoisonne / Zedess 4:30
8	Assez / Meiway 4:21
9	Osca Sankara / Massilia Sound System 2:41
10	Tilma / Sally Nyolo Remix 3:15
11	The Third World Cries Everyday / Africa South 6:14
12	Rosebud / Lenine previously unreleased 4:23
13	Bana / Lokua Kanza 3:43
14	Murimi Munhu / Oliver Mtukudzi 5:31
15	Argent Trop Cher / Tarace Boulba 4:29
16	Gracias a la Vida / Soledad Bravo 6:46

Barnes & Noble

Twenty years ago, when the issue of famine in Africa raised its head, dozens of the world's wealthiest rock and pop stars banded together to raise money and awareness. The British contingent was appropriately called Band-Aid, and that's just what the all-star efforts were. In the 21st century, poverty in the developing world persists, in large part due to the crushing debt to rich nations incurred by economic mismanagement and corruption. Now, though, the artists are speaking for themselves. Drop the Debt, a striking collection of new international pop from Africa, Asia, and the Americas, makes no bones about the causes of suffering around the world. Even as the rhythms from Brazil, West Africa, and Colombia are joyous, the lyrics are anything but. Anger and frustration boil over, track after track, as artists relate the continued downward trend in their countries' economies -- "We don't even have tobacco for cigarettes," beseeches Colombia's Toto la Momposina. "No schools, no jobs…we can't go on. Drop the debt so we can work." In the decades since USA for Africa proclaimed, "We are the world," technology has given developing nations the media for broadcasting their side of the story. These songs are part of that conversation, each impeccably produced -- some overproduced, indeed -- making their points hard to ignore. Alternating gorgeous acoustic-based performances (by Cesaria Evora, Chico Cesar, Soledad Bravo, and others) with beat-heavy electronic remixes (Sally Nyolo, Fernanda Abreu, Lenine), there's plenty of compelling sonics to match the message. Proceeds from Drop the Debt will benefit a raft of debt-forgiveness organizations, including the Jubilee U.S.A. Network. Mark Schwartz

All Music Guide

A collection of works from artists under the banner of the Jubilee Debt Campaign. A number of artists provided new works decrying the evils of the current system of debt repayment in the Third World and calling for the erasure of said debt for poor countries. The point here is to bring added exposure to the Jubilee movement, as the lyrical content of the songs drives home again. Each and every song here is an original, purpose-built for the cause. The music sits largely within the large heading of singer/songwriter music, but all with the flavors of the respective countries of the artists. The focus shifts primarily between African music and Brazilian, though there are bits and pieces from elsewhere as well (France, Japan, Cape Verde). Some of the heavy-hitters in world music are represented here, with songs contributed by Chico César, Oliver Mutukudzi, and Césaria Évora. Perhaps more musically exciting, though, are some of the smaller groups and singers: Soledad Bravo, Tiken Jah Fakoly, and the like. The highlights here come mainly from the breaks from the singer/songwriter mold, as Chico César makes use of some odd a cappella portions and the Massilia Sound System infuses a deep techno beat into their work. For the cause of the Jubilee Campaign, it's rather surprising that Bono doesn't make an appearance, but nonetheless this is a solid album. Give it a listen for the music and prepare for the wealth of pleas for jubilee. Adam Greenberg