From All of Us, various artists (Diet)

I guess it's a sign of my provincial nature that I'm so easily impressed when somebody sends me a disc from some far-flung non-U.S. locale. The 2006 winner of the farthest submission prize is Sweden, courtesy of the baker's dozen of recording artists who created this disc, not to mention producers Larry Forsberg and Erik Süss. It's a benefit album to raise money to support the homeless in Gävle, and it's a bit of a melange of progressive and classic rock, pop and folk. It kicks off with the progressive-sounding "It's Chrismas" from Ariel Kill Him, swings into Andy Juveson's poppier "Winter Rain" and the organ-driven "One Stop Past My Destination" from Bootcut and Anna Frank. Petra Rydgren goes to the torch song well with "Blue December," Monastir brings in the hard rock with "December Depression," and Katyusha takes the antique folk approach with "Bert Mabbit's Eyes." A Friend of Mine tries a sort of Waitresses-like approach with "Gloria," talking about hooking up while choruses and orchestras riff in the background. Myles With Feet has that sort of post-hippy 70s vibe going in "There Ain't No Santa Claus." My favorite is Liondub's reggae take on the Rudolph story, "Rudie, Come Home." A little much all at once but a fair number of good mix disc cuts. UPDATE: By the way, those of you who labor under the notion that the Swedes are dour folks because of all that light deprivation should check out this story about the good folks who live in Gävle. FURTHER UPDATE: The producers' regular website is long gone, and their MySpace page just barely mentions this disc, with no purchase information included.