I’m listening to Instant Karma, a benefit album for Amnesty International and Darfur. The entire album is made up of Lennon songs covered by contemporary artists. Everyone from U2 and REM to Postal Service and Jack Johnson. I’m trying to get some work done, but I had to post about one little (well, ok, not little) complaint. In an album with some of the best artists ever, and one Christina Aguilera a few tracks earlier, why in God’s name did they pick Avril Lavigne to sing Imagine??!

She’s talented, no doubt, and a decent entertainer, but she has a weak voice unless she’s screaming. Her rendition sounds thin, not gentle, and it’s easily the biggest let down of the album. Thankfully, we have Jack Johnson on disc 2 also performing Imagine. His version is actually quite good. Nothing will ever match the original I guess, so maybe I shouldn’t be picky.

Overall, good album, great price. Get it, and support a good cause. As it says on the back of the album:

The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, has led to some of the worst human rights abuses imaginable, including systematic and widespread murder, rape, abduction and displacement. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed by deliberate and indiscriminate attacks, and over 2.5 million civilians have been displaced. Help Amnesty International end the atrocities.

You can find out more about the project at InstantKarma.org.