When the Bridge School held its first fund raising concert a few years back, an impressive line-up turned out. It helped that the school's co-founder, Pegi Young, was the wife of Neil Young. The now annual event has finally spawned a soundtrack to document the conflagration of talent. This compilation, the first released by the Bridge School, boasts some of the music industry's hottest acts playing stripped down versions of their songs.

Neil Young leads off playing "I Am A Child". Tom Petty's "Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)" follows, sounding buoyant and refreshed in this environment. Tracy Chapman returns to her acoustic roots with "All That You Have is Your Soul." Simon & Garfunkel's "America" finds the troubadours every bit as precise as they ever were. Elvis Costello's "Allison" gives the king another chance to show off his maturity and stride. Beck, no stranger to acoustic shows, does "It's All in Your Mind," though he's got better songs in his catalog. The common bind on this disc seems to be the topic of hope, as many songs ruminate on hope and love, for children and for the world.

In an era where so much music tends to focus on death and loss, it's refreshing to hear songs that are uplifting, especially when they are done well.

-Lang Whitaker