Rather than assemble rich rock stars for a Band Aid-style pityfest, Drop the Debt gathers musicians from countries affected by the unfair loans that cripple their impoverished homelands. Tracks such as Africa South's multilingual "The Third World Cries Everyday" speak persuasively, and the collection serves as a smart introduction to impassioned world-music heavyweights such as Cesaria Evora, Brazil's Chico Cesar and Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi.

 

-- Barry Walters