In a perfect world, a benefit compilation disc will accomplish two things: raise funds for the intended cause and encourage listeners to search out more music by the featured artists. The hitch is that it can be difficult to get people to purchase an album's worth of material from artists that they have either never heard of, or whose contribution to the disc they already possess from a previous release. This is where the masterminds behind Seen/Unseen excel beyond the normal expectations. As far as the accomplishment of the two main goals, one can only hope that Toronto-based Absalom Recordings will raise a significant amount of funds for their intended recipient, the Evergreen Center for Street Youth -- but at the very least, increased interest in the bands featured on Seen/Unseen is inevitable. The winning pitch comes in the form of rare and never-before-released recordings from the artist contributors. Though this isn't the first compilation to include rare releases, the quality of Seen/Unseen's material is exceptional.

Noteworthy participants here range from Frank Black And The Catholics, The Czars, The Roman Candles, Over The Rhine and the Denver Gentlemen -- certainly enough to encourage picking up a copy. Consider it a huge bonus, then, that this compilation also includes tracks by lesser known, but equally worthy artists. In particular, Shannon Stephens' "If You Want Me" is a beautiful, soft song with a simple melody that encourages listeners to support Stephens by singing a harmony. I admit, while alone in my car, I tried, but I can't say it was pretty. The Psalters offer a remix of "We're All Lepers Here" that reminds me a bit of what Porno For Pyros would sound like if they were accompanied by a Middle Eastern band, while Denison Witmer's "Stations" provides a subtle and somber view of plain old human love. On "Vulture Girl", the Denver Gentlemen turn things up a notch, sounding similar to what Rusted Root might have produced if performing a song written specifically for a bar mitzvah. It sounds odd, but it's wonderful.

There's not a loser in the bunch, and that in itself is an accomplishment. Benefit CDs can be a bit sketchy in the quality department; even when a label manages to secure unreleased tracks from its contributors, they can often range from throwaway remixes to blatantly sub-par songs. That's not the case here.

And what if, for some reason (a reason I would probably not understand), you buy the CD and find only a couple of tracks worth your listening time? In the very least you've contributed to a youth center that provides relief to homeless or "street involved" kids. You'd have to feel good about that.