HELP(2), an Album That Can Change the World

“A good album can change your life.” While this adage may be trite, War Child Records’ release of HELP(2), may in fact make this statement a reality for children across the world.

HELP(2) is an extensive 23-track project organized by the charity organization War Child to raise money for children affected by war. Every cent raised off of sales and streams of this album will go towards helping children caught in the crosshairs of conflict. Acclaimed producer James Ford compiled a line-up fit for the task; simply listing the artists’ names would accomplish my job as a writer, for the names involved would enamor almost any reader who opened these covers. Olivia Rodrigo, Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, Fontaines D.C., The Last Dinner Party, and Arctic Monkeys, and more all grace this project, each appearing in peak form.

This album consists of various original songs and covers made exclusively for HELP(2). Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, and Kae Tempest team up on “Flags,” putting forth a message of solidarity and resilience, all while backed by a powerful choir made up of both children

and other great artists from Johnny Marr to Declan McKenna. “Parasite” by English Teacher may be this album’s strongest cut, a beautiful string ballad with oscillating orchestral lines crescendoing in a harrowing symphony of toxic love. Cameron Winter contributes an utterly chilling minimalist track with “Warning,” alerting the evil and immoral people of the world that their comeuppance is imminent. The album closes with Olivia Rodrigo’s beautiful cover of The Magnetic Fields’ “The Book of Love,” a reminder that despite the pain in the world, love is the one thing that can’t be taken away from us. Maybe love is the only way we can save the world—maybe this project is a start.

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Elliot Anderson is a sophomore in the College majoring in Biology and minoring in saving the world through music.