View source for Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox

{{Infobox album
| name       = Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
| type       = Compilation
| artist     = Various Artists
| cover      = Stroke-songs-for-chris-knox.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = November 16, 2009
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Indie rock]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=126|s=08}}
| label      = [[Merge Records|Merge]] <small>(MRG367)</small>
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
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}}
'''''Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox''''' is a benefit compilation released to raise money for the rehabilitation of New Zealand musician [[Chris Knox]] after he suffered from a stroke on June 11, 2009.<ref name="radionz">[http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/13/1245b5db98e0 Musician Chris Knox Suffers stroke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222060714/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/13/1245b5db98e0 |date=2012-02-22 }}, Radio New Zealand.</ref> The album features covers of Knox's songs by several New Zealand bands such as [[The Bats (New Zealand band)|The Bats]], [[The Checks (band)|The Checks]], and  [[The Verlaines]], as well as prominent North American artists influenced by Knox.
Notable tracks include "Sign the Dotted Line", the first song released by [[Jeff Mangum]] in several years, "Pull Down the Shades", recorded by [[Jay Reatard]] shortly before his death, and two new songs by Knox himself ("Nappin' in Lapland" and "Sunday Song").
==Critical reception==
Reviewers gave the album positive reviews. [[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]]'s Joshua Klein rated the album 8.2/10, noting that the quality of contributors "really shows how far Knox's influence has reached".<ref>{{cite web|last=Klein |first=Joshua |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13859-stroke-songs-for-chris-knox/ |title=Various Artists: Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2010-01-29 |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref> Evan Sawdey of [[PopMatters]] gave the album 8/10 stars and said ''Stroke'' "is as smart, funny, and memorable a tribute album as you’re likely to find".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sawdey |first=Evan |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/121774-various-artists-stroke-songs-for-chris-knox/ |title=Various Artists: Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox |publisher=PopMatters |date=2010-03-04 |accessdate=2013-10-05}}</ref>
==Track listing==
===Disc 1 – "Yellow Disc"===
# Pull Down the Shades – [[Jay Reatard]] – 2:12
# Rebel – [[The Checks (band)|The Checks]] – 2:42
# Ain't it Nice – The Bleeding Allstars – 2:18
# Don't Catch Fire – [[Peter Gutteridge]] – 6:39
# Luck or Loveliness – [[The Chills]] – 3:16
# Nothing's Going to Happen – [[David Kilgour (musician)|David Kilgour]] – 3:37
# All My Hollowness – The Crying Wolfs – 4:23
# Beauty – [[Stephin Merritt]] – 3:29
# Nostalgia's No Excuse – [[Portastatic]] – 2:09
# Crush – [[The Mint Chicks]] – 4:15
# I've Left Memories Behind – Jay Clarkson & Sam Clarkson – 3:04
# Burning Blue – Sky Green Leopards – 2:26
# The Slide – [[Shayne Carter]] – 3:36
# Grand Mal – Pumice – 2:47
# Knoxed Out – [[Hamish Kilgour]] – 6:25
===Disc 2 – "Black Disc"===
# Not Given Lightly – [[Boh Runga]] – 3:27
# Bodies – Red & Zeke (featuring [[Bill Doss]] and Neil Cleary) – 2:15
# Sign the Dotted Line – [[Jeff Mangum]] – 2:10
# Lapse – [[Bill Callahan (musician)|Bill Callahan]] – 6:29
# Growth Spurt – Genghis Smith – 2:27
# Coloured – [[Yo La Tengo]] – 3:34
# Dunno Much About Life but I Know How to Breathe – [[A.C. Newman]] – 2:09
# Glide – [[Alec Bathgate]] – 3:01
# Inside Story – [[Don McGlashan]] – 3:38
# The Outer Skin – [[SJD (musician)|Sean Donnelly]] – 3:53
# What Goes Up – [[Lambchop (band)|Lambchop]] – 3:02
# Brave – [[The Mountain Goats]] – 3:31
# Round These Walls – [[The Tokey Tones]] (and friends) – 3:32
# Just Do It – [[The Bats (New Zealand band)|The Bats]] – 3:45
# My Only Friend – [[Bonnie "Prince" Billy]] – 4:27
# It's Love – The Finn Family – 2:41
# Becoming Something Other – [[Jordan Luck]] – 5:20
# Driftwood – [[The Verlaines]] – 4:31
# Song of the Tall Poppy – [[Lou Barlow]] – 3:17
# Nappin' in Lapland – The Nothing – 3:45
# Sunday Song – [[Tall Dwarfs]] – 1:56
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2009 compilation albums]]
[[Category:Merge Records compilation albums]]
[[Category:Charity albums]]