Benefit cd features broad range of female vocalists

Respond II is a two-disc benefit album that features thirty-two different female artists from all walks of life. Produced entirely by volunteers, all proceeds from the sales of the set go to RESPOND, Inc. and the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to benefit families affected by domestic violence.

The collection opens with "Lily" by Joan Baez, a folk singer whose dedication to community activism, civil rights, and the anti-war movement stretches all the way back to her days in the anti-Vietnam War movement. "Lily" features Baez's smooth voice and sets an uplifting tone for the rest of the album. It's followed by "Steady Pull" by Jonatha Brooke, a more contemporary piece with a laid-back swing. The Indigo Girls' "She's Saving Me" has lyrics settling well against an acoustic guitar harmony.

"Lost in Space" by Aimee Mann returns the album to a more pop tone and is followed by the upbeat rhythm of Sleater-Kinney's "You're No Rock 'N' Roll Fun" and Ely Guerra's "Yo No," a relaxing Latin pop number. The smooth, recognizable tones of Ani DiFranco are up next in her popular song, "So What?," and transitions well into "Good Things Come To Those Who Wait", a laid-back Blues piece featuring the vocal talents of Toni Lynn Washington. "Tumba," another Latino song sung by Angelique Kidjo, injects a burst of energy, and is followed by Patty Griffin's "Chief", a short bluegrass number that contributes its own positive tune.

Karaugh Brown's "Buffalo" is up next, though it slows down the rhythm of the album considerably with its quiet harmonies. The energetic beat of "Sheltering Sky" is one of the highlights of the collection, accentuating the vocal talents of Kay Hanley. The haunting lyrics of "Silver", sung by Meghan Toohey and The So and Sos, soar high over the rest of the album, and build well into the final few pieces of the first disc. The rest of the disc includes "Spain" by Kristin Hersh, "Looking for Answers" by Susan Tedeschi, and "Last Rain" by Tanya Donelly.

The smooth tones of Suzanne Vega's "Luka" start off the second CD, a beautiful piece that continues the laid-back feel of the previous album. "Mountain Top", sung by Toshi Reagon, features haunting bluegrass melodies that soar over the beautiful rhythmic harmonies and make the piece one of the prominent songs of the collection. Sarah McLachlan's "Witness" and Dolly Parton's "Endless Stream of Tears" both add a more contemporary flavor to the album with their well-known artists, and Tracy Bonham's short feature, "I'm No Giant," showcases her unique lyrical ability and vocal talents. The second disc does a decent job of picking up where the first left off, though it employs many more energetic songs, like Erin McKeown's "Queen of Quiet", and finally culminates in the riveting "More Love" by Wannetta Jackson.

Overall, collection is well put together, with a wide range of musical styles. Fans of all genres, ranging from punk, country, bluegrass, and R&B to Latin pop and more the classical rock, should be able to find something to connect to. Though some songs seem to drag a bit at times, and the first disc features a few too many early slow pieces to really work up much of an energetic feel, Respond II is overall a solid album and a necessary addition to any CD collection.