Both a postive and negative, more originals would have been much appreciated on Hallowell. Each of them - "The Wreath," "Golden In Spring," "Another World," and "You Take It All" - end up being the true gems of the album thanks to Pensak's cutting lyrical style. A verse from the poignant and shifty "You Take It All" has stayed with me since my first listen: "In imagined solace, I'm alone/Banish all unlike us, it's them that's wrong/We're a fallen nation waving bye/Buzzin' country station, hate for hire." Still, Pensak's delicate dressing of sacred sentiment makes his debut a worthwhile effort, and the few peeks we get into his lyrical ability mean that this Vermont pastor should be more than welcomed as an impactful voice in the liturgical music repertoire.