A love letter to my city.

Three years ago we started composing a love letter. An ode to the city I was born in and grew up in. An idea to celebrate this city and it's unique musical history - a history that shaped our life, our world view, and who we are. It was a solid concept. But this concept would find it's purpose in January of 2010. Watching the news, and looking at photos on Huffington Post in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake, we decided to help the only way we knew how, with the only thing that ever mattered to us: music.

Curated by myself, Angel Mendoza and our good friend Shahin Ewalt of Narnack Records, released jointly by Angel and my label Greatminds and Narnack Records and featuring liner notes from LA scene legend Geza X, BEAT LA brings together some of our favorite LA based artists donating their time and music for an amazing cause (100% of profits generated from sales of the record will benefit Doctors Without Borders and their efforts in Haiti). The concept is simple. LA bands we love covering the songs of LA bands we love from the past, all to help the cause.

You can pre-order the compilation on iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/beat-la-a-benefit-for-haiti/id449024995

We'll be following up the digital release with cd and double LP gatefold vinyl soon!!!!

Also Pitchfork is previewing the first single off the comp, Crystal Antlers' take on Black Randy and Metrosquad's "I Slept In An Arcade"... you can download it here: http://www.pitchfork.com/forkcast/15992-i-slept-in-an-arcade-black-randy-the-metrosquad-cover/

An immense and heartfelt thank you to every band, publisher, and songwriter who got involved and helped along the way. (Track list is below...)

1. Jarrett Silberman "I Hear Your Heart Singing" (Gun Club)
2. Rats "The Unheard Music" (X)
3. Modern Memory "Brave Captain" (fIREHOSE)
4. Brother Reade "Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth?" (Minutemen)
5. Imaad Wasif "Go Insane" (Doors)
6. Bobb Bruno "Scratch Out The Sky" (Distorted Pony)
7. Slang Chickens "Romeo's Distress" (Christian Death)
8. The Dylan Trees "Topanga" (Kathy Smith)
9. Nathaniel Eras "Gidget Goes To Hell" (Suburban Lawns)
10. Boom Bip w/ Buck 65 "Lost Weekend" (Wall of Voodoo)
11. Microphonies "We Got The Beat" (The Go-Gos)
12. Devon Williams "Yellow Pills" (20/20)
13. Josh Klinghoffer "Anymore" (Thelonius Monster)
14. Crystal Antlers "I Slept In An Arcade" (Black Randy & Metrosquad)
15. No Age "Male Masturbation" (Urinals)
16. Nonon "White Girl" (X)
17. Signals "Richie Dagger's Crime" (Germs)
18. Lords of Altamont "Knock Knock" (The Humane Society)
19. Night Horse "Lie Beg Borrow and Steal" (Plimsouls)
20. Angus Khan "Rock Fight" (Cheech & Chong)
21. Anglos "Days of Wine and Roses" (Dream Syndicate)
22. Lucky Dragons "Alien Point of View" (Nervous Gender)