Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For the Record: 9/12/03

VARIOUS ARTISTS
'LIGHT OF DAY: A TRIBUTE TO BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN' (SCHOOLHOUSE RECORDS)

Elliot Murphy writes in the liner notes that when he was approached for "Light of Day" he was the most famous artist on the list.

Fortunately, before they committed this tribute to plastic, Murphy helped them come up with some household names -- Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Dion, Graham Parker and Billy Bragg, among them -- but the 37 cuts that make up "Light of Day" are still dominated by acts that will stump even diehard Boss fans. We're talking Lucky 7, Crazysloth, Cindy Bullens, Mike Rimbaud and Jennifer Glass -- and that's just a few from disc one.

Judging from the many undistinguished performances on "Light of Day," Bruce doesn't have to worry about any of them taking his title as The Boss.

But "Light of Day" certainly has the makings of one good disc, most of it coming from disc two.

Costello takes "Brilliant Disguise" and applies the simple country twang that he used so effectively on "Blue." Pete Yorn travails all the dramatic twists of the beautiful and ambitious "New York Serenade" without getting lost. And Jason Ringenberg, of Scorchers fame, actually bests Bruce with a heartbreakingly sad reading of "My Hometown" (go ahead, argue among yourselves).

Best of show goes to none other than hometown heroes Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Rather than phoning one in, Bruce's buddies Houserockers rev up and turn the title track into a wicked country stomp, with Marc Reisman's harmonica sparring with Grushecky's growl.

The Clarks also do our hometown proud with a surprisingly hard-rocking version of "The River." Other highlights include Patty Griffin's familiar, delicate reading of "Stolen Car," Rosie Flores' homespun "Lucky Town" and Cowboy Mouth's over-the-top romp through his signature song, "Born to Run."

All in all, it's a pretty mixed affair, with a good share of uninspired covers but plenty to keep Bruce fans happy. Regardless of quality, the artists all deserve credit for taking part in a noble cause. The record's proceeds will be split equally between the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, focusing on the treatment of the sarcomas that took the life of Springsteen's friend, Kristen.

-- Scott Mervis