Justin Gage, head of Autumn Tone Records, has assembled a great list of bands from his native Los Angeles to record cover versions of songs from Paul McCartney's 1971 album, RAM. The resulting compilation is called, not surprisingly, RAM On L.A. The album will be available starting next week as a free download on Aquarium Drunkard, though you are encouraged to donate to No More Landmines, which works to remove the threat of landmines and unexploded weapons in communities around the world.

The album includes contributions from Earlimart, the Broken West, Radar Bros., and this version of "Dear Boy" from Bodies of Water. It is a relatively faithful cover that, surprisingly, lacks the band's usual cinematic sound. But the more stripped-down tune is far from short on their quirky energy. In fact, they actually sound a little more straightforward on the track than McCartney does on the original, and as the band sheds some of Sir Paul's cluttered layers, it turns out there's a pretty great pop song underneath there. And if this song is representative of the quality of RAM On L.A., the compilation could turn out to be a nice surprise. [Gorilla vs. Bear]