I first discovered Keith Green back in the seventies at the same time I first discovered contemporary Christian music. I was drawn to his rich, evocative vocals and his lyrics, which avoided the cliches of music evangelism and instead called on the Church to live lives worthy of the name "Christian." Despite some later misgivings about some aspects of his theology, I've always had a soft place in my heart for albums like For Him Who Has Ears to Hear and the classic No Compromise. And I've always been interested in hearing other artists interpret Green's music, such as Phil Keaggy's fine performance of "Your Love Broke Through" so many years ago.
Having said that, this new brainchild of BEC's Brandon Ebel just doesn't do the trick. Rather than picking and choosing his artists carefully, Ebel has chosen to go primarily with bands from the Tooth & Nail family of labels. Therefore it ends up being more of a showcase than a true tribute. And the selection of bands just doesn't work. Many of the performances are unable to capture the intensity and emotion that Green put into all of his recordings.
Here is a track-by-track synopsis of the album:
Hangnail - "Run to the End of the Highway" - not much to write home about.
Cadet - "You are the One" - an OK interpretation.
Bleach - "Asleep in the Light" - one of the better tunes on the album.
Joy Electric - "Make My Life a Prayer to You" - sounds like every other Joy Electric tune.
MxPx - "You Put this Love in My Heart" - sounds like every other MxPx tune.
Starflyer 59 - "Lord, I'm Gonna Love You" - the second decent tune on the disc.
Ace Troubleshooter - "Your Love Broke Through" - same old same old.
Flight 180 - "He'll Take Care of the Rest" - yawn.
MG! The Visionary - "My Eyes are Dry" - a very boring rap tune.
Element 101 - "You!" - proof that hard rock bands shouldn't try pop ballads.
Ill Harmonics - "40 Years" - an OK rap version.
Dingees - "Dear John Letter (to the Devil)" - a departure from their normal sound, and therefore, disappointing. Rockabilly doesn't suit them.
The best tunes on the album come from Starflyer 59 and Bleach, and I wish that Ebel had looked further to find the right bands for these songs. And I'm even curious about how some of the stronger Tooth & Nailers would have done with Green's work, such as Project 86, The Juliana Theory, Stavesacre, or even the OC Supertones. So as for me, I'm still waiting for a better Keith Green tribute.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #89Reviewed by Jason DoddIt 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…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Adam L.Without Keith Green, it's hard to imagine where contemporary Christian music would be today. His absolute devotion to God was truly amazing, and his life was reflected in the music he wrote. His songs have guided many Christians, including myself. In light of all this, I was very skeptical when I first heard that a host of Tooth & Nail/BEC artists were planning a collaborative tribute to Keith. I…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Michial FarmerIt has apparently been a longstanding dream of Tooth & Nail CEO Brandon Ebel to release a tribute album to the late Keith Green. Green certainly deserves it, as we have him to thank (or blame, depending on how cynical you are) for the current surge of modern worship music. Much of his music sounds rather dated and cheesy today, but his earnestness keeps it alive, fresh, and still worth hearing.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsThe late Keith Green pioneered a new phase of contemporary Christian music, as he's often credited with inventing praise and worship music. That's fine with me, since there was a very good compilation from Sparrow in 1992 entitled No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green. BEC has updated some of Keith's finest songs, and this venture is perfect for both the newcomer to his music…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Kerry MaffeoEven after his untimely death, the music and message of Keith Green lives on. In the spirit of other tribute albums, some of today's hottest rock and alternative bands have recorded an album replete with contemporary guitar riffs and intense power rock sounds as each artist leaves their own distinctive musical mark on these classic songs. The album launches immediately into Hangnail's rendition…Similar sounding releases
2002The ZiggensThe Ziggens
1998BrowbeatsWither Wing
2000SundryThe Toughest No-Brainer Yet
2004Gatsbys American DreamIn The Land Of Lost Monsters
2002PlankeyeWings to Fly
2005Fivestar RiotUnfamiliar Sky
