On June 11, 2009, musician Chris Knox suffered a life-altering stroke at his home in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox is a celebration of Chris and his music. He was instrumental in bringing New Zealand punk and alternative music to international audiences with Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love, and his solo work. Artists from the U.S. (Jeff Mangum, Yo La Tengo, The Mountain Goats, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Lambchop, Stephin Merritt, Portastatic, Bill Callahan, Lou Barlow, Jay Reatard), New Zealand (The Bats, The Verlaines, The Chills), and the world over have donated their time and talent so that all proceeds can go towards assisting Chris with his recovery.
Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox is available for download now from the Merge store and the usual digital outlets. The 2-CD limited-edition release will be available in stores on February 23, but you can pre-order it today and receive the digital download via email after your order is complete! [We assume the preorder deal is also at the Merge store]
Full Tracklisting:
*Tracks are arranged chronologically
Disc 1:
1. Jay Reatard - Pull Down The Shades
2. The Checks - Rebel
3. The Bleeding Allstars - Ain't It Nice
4. Peter Gutteridge - Don't Catch Fire
5. The Chills - Luck Or Loveliness
6. David Kilgour - Nothing's Going To Happen
7. The Crying Wolfs - All My Hollowness To You
8. Stephin Merritt - Beauty
9. Portastatic - Nostalgia's No Excuse
10. The Mint Chicks - Crush
11. Jay & Sam Clarkson - I've Left Memories Behind
12. Sky Green Leopards - Burning Blue
13. Shayne Carter - The Slide
14. Pumice - Grand Mal
15. Hamish Kilgour - Knoxed Out
Disc 2:
1. Boh Runga - Not Given Lightly
2. Red & Zeke (Feat. Bill Doss and Neil Cleary) - Bodies
3. Jeff Mangum - Sign The Dotted Line
4. Bill Callahan - Lapse
5. Genghis Smith - Growth Spurt
6. Yo La Tengo - Coloured
7. AC Newman - Dunno Much About Life But I Know How To Breathe
8. Alec Bathgate - Glide
9. Don McGlashan - Inside Story
10. Sean Donnelly - The Outer Skin
11. Lambchop - What Goes Up
12. The Mountain Goats - Brave
13. The Tokey Tones (and friends) - Round These Walls
14. The Bats - Just Do It
15. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - My Only Friend
16. The Finn Family - It's Love
17. Jordan Luck - Becoming Something Other
18. The Verlaines - Driftwood
19. Lou Barlow - Song Of The Tall Poppy
20. The Nothing - Napping In Lapland
21. Tall Dwarfs - Sunday Son
Visit the Stroke website for updates on Chris Knox, information on all of the artists who contributed songs, and for previews of many of the tracks--originals and covers.
