Music is Hope eclectic collection

It's always good to see musicians step away from the ultimate goal of fame and riches to help raise awareness and support charities.

The various artists who compose what's left of Buffalo's local music scene have come together to help benefit children with autism and other developmental disorders in an album titled "Music is Hope," which was released on Oct. 30.

Sponsored by Summit Educational Resources, Music is Art and Good Charamel Records, the compilation contains 11 songs by Western New York recording artists like the Goo Goo Dolls, Ani Difranco, Klear and Last Conservative.

The proceeds from the album sales go directly to Summit Educational Resources, a not-for-profit organization out of Amherst that provides educational and therapeutic services to children with learning and behavioral disabilities.

Good will aside, this album is an eclectic collection of musical tastes. Among 11 songs, there is rap from Milkfat, country twang from Klear, punk rock from The Juliet Dagger and electronica.

Despite expectations for the Goo Goo Dolls to be the best artist on the album, the live version of "Here is Gone" is rather weak and the sound quality is lacking.

Good Charamel Records is owned by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls and the collection also includes new bands signed to his label like Agent Me, Damien Simon and Terry Sullivan.

The most potent band on the album is Agent Me, who could potentially become an emo-punk powerhouse in the Buffalo area.

Takac is also the founder of Music is Art, a not-for-profit organization supporting of the arts in Western New York schools and communities.

This album could be used as a marketing tool for these bands on top of benefiting a good cause. Here's hoping that these charitable bands get some good exposure.