Brightwork is a group of four guys who got together in early 2009 and have been relentlessly playing shows and recording albums ever since. 2010 saw their first official EP, and now they're back a year later with their follow up EP, Loving Rescue. The five songs show a talent for their respective instruments, but they also give off the feeling of "playing it safe." Brightwork's sound is somewhat of a hybrid of Jars of Clay, Nevertheless and MercyMe. While those aren't bad choices of bands to emulate (if you must), they're bands with sounds that people love. So to sound like them is, in a sense, playing it safe. It's rather disheartening; even more so when the band's bio states that they have "a fresh and refined repertoire." Some of the songs also suffer sonically; I think they could've sounded a lot better had they thrown in a bit more guitar to take away from some of the emptiness of the songs. Outside of the music portion, their lyrics aren't the most well-written, but I really do appreciate and respect the message that they portray. They're either worshipping God ("Hope Unchanging") or sending out encouragement to the broken-hearted and hurting ("Yesterdays"). It's hard to start a band with its own identity these days, but it's well worth the fight if you can do it. Brightwork is still a new band, and despite the missteps taken on Loving Rescue, there's a lot of potential in these guys, and they should have a pretty bright future.
- Review date: 12/20/11, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
This Friday, May 22, 2026
ALBUMS Jason Dunn Formerly Known As... (independent) The Figs How Did We Get Here? (independent) Grand Motel Tooth of the Lion: A Spring Perennial (independent) Philippa Hanna x Irael Houghton Magnificent [Integrity] Jenn Johnson Happy [Bethel] Lakewood Music + Worship Together Thank The Lord (Worship Together Session) EP [Worship Together] Under the Myrtles The Curse is Broken - EP (independent) Rusty Vining & His Friends Already / Not Yet (independent)
SINGLES Cory Asbury Outsing The Angels - Single [BEC] Autumn's Descent Caesar (I'll Haunt You Now) - Single (independent) Caleb & John x Steven Curtis Chapman Proud - Single [Fair Trade] CCV Music He's Working (Everything for Good) - Single [Harmony Group] GVTH DVDDY Who Knows How It Ends? - Single [Velvet Blue Music] J. Solo In the Good & Bad ft. Boannski - Single [Syntax] Kamban No Chainmail (Freestyle) - Single [Syntax] Myles Maestro LONELY SOUL - Single [Syntax] Eddy Mann I Will Never Know the Desert Again - Single [MTS] Darius Mullin Tombstone Blues ft. Paper Watch - Single (independent) outr.cty, Zippy, OnBeatMusic CHEESIN' - Single [Syntax] Presence Music Pick Up That Book - Single (independent) Razzie, TUVÍ, & Baruch WEWHOOPINHELL - Single [Syntax] Tyraels Ascension Bittersweet - Single [Rottweiler] Wavorly EXILE - Single (independent) Charles Weems I Will Follow - Single [Provident] Ayiesha Woods No Rock (feat. Mr. Talkbox) - Single (independent)
Next Tuesday, May 26, 2026
SINGLES Stryper I'm Alright, (I'm Okay) - Single [Frontiers]
Next Friday, May 29, 2026
ALBUMS Benjamin William Hastings x Aodhán King Happy To Be Here [Anotherland/Capitol CMG] Heartbound Lamentations (independent) Narnia X [Sound Pollution] Skye Peterson Through Line (independent) Mike Rogers Mike Rogers [Gaither] Tenroc God Is A Person [Provident] Various Artists To Hell with the Devil - A 40th Anniversary Salute [Roxx]
SINGLES Abandoned Pools Einstein's Space and Van Gogh's Sky - Single (independent) Gracie Binion & John Wilds Show Me Your Face - Single [BEC] KNGDM REVIVAL Psalm 44 - Single [Dream] Hillside Recording Every Morning - Single [Ocean House] Northview Worship Wildly Faithful - Single [BEC] Matthew Plante Like You Do - Single [Dream] Jordan St. Cyr Every Reason To Bellieve - Single [BEC]
VINYL Newsboys Take Me To Your Leader (30th Anniversary Edition) [Red] [Girder]
Provident Entertainment Signs Worship Leader Charles Weems
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Jason Dunn 
