Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play The Music Of R.E.M. is being released on May 29, 2007, on Iron Horse Records and athensmusic.net. It’s a recording of a September 12, 2006, charity tribute concert that raised money for the Community Connection of Northeast Georgia and Family Connection/Communities in Schools.

It’ll have stuff by lots of folks, including Liz Durrett, Tin Cup Prophette, Patterson Hood (of Drive-By Truckers), and some actual members of R.E.M. (oooooh! A Stipe Sighting!)

This is a Warner Bros. Records release, but I’m making an exception to the indie-only rule because this is for charity.

I for one, am psyched by the track list and tastes provided below.

Track Listing:
1. Liz Durrett – The One I Love*
2. Claire Campbell – Wendell Gee
3. Tin Cup Prophette – Leave
4. Modern Skirts – Perfect Circle
5. Bain Mattox – Finest Worksong
6. Bain Mattox – (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
7. Bain Mattox – Fall on Me
8. The Observatory* – Underneath The Bunker
9. The Observatory – Pilgrimage (w/Vanessa Hay of
Pylon)
10. The Observatory – Feeling Gravity’s Pull
11. Patterson Hood – So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
12. Patterson Hood – Burning Hell
13. Patterson Hood – Second Guessing Intro
14. Patterson Hood – Second Guessing
15. Patterson Hood – Belong (w/Mike Mills)
16. Five Eight – Fiver 8
17. Five Eight – Leaving New York (w/Scott McGaughey
of The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows)
18. Five Eight – Radio Free Europe (w/ Peter Buck, Mike Mills)
19. Five Eight & Everyone – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (w/ Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills)
20. Patterson Hood – (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville