Various Artists
Start Right Here: Remembering the Life of Keith Green
Reviewed by Jason Dodd
It sounds like a good idea, I guess - doing modern covers of Keith Green songs in tribute to him, but can it be pulled off? Well, Hangnail do alright with a 'pop-punk-a-fied' "Run to the End of the Highway," even capturing some of Keith's vocal tenderness in places. Cadet do a youth worship take on "You are the One." Bleach seem to get "Asleep in the Light," losing some of the tin from their own songs. You've heard the Joy Electric ("Make My Life a Prayer") and MxPx ("You Put this Love in My Heart") tracks before. Ace Troubleshooter's handling of "Your Love Broke Through" feels forced and is, frankly, boring. Flight 180 monotonely funk up "He'll Take Care of the Rest." Element 101 bless "My Eyes are Dry" with Crissie Verhagen's voice, and curse it with a lounge-pop dragging. So far nothing special, but leave it to the Dingees, Starflyer 59, Ill Harmonics, and MG! the Visionary to save the day, especially Starflyer and MG!. Jason Martin reveals a spiritual humility and vulnerability in his gazing interpretation of "Lord I'm Gonna Love You" that leaves my cheeks puffy. And MG!'s coverage of "My Eyes are Dry" is so smooth and skillful that Keith himself has to be swaying and groovin' in his rest - "In the wine of [His] love."