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 Monday, September 7
SINGLES Michael W. Smith There She Stands - Single [The Fuel]
This Wednesday, September 9
ALBUMS Natalie Layne Still Running To You - EP [Centricity]
SINGLES Limoblaze Super Power II (feat. Rua Young) - Single [Reach]
This Friday, September 11
ALBUMS Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA Unscripted (Live) [Motown Gospel] Limoblaze Do It Now (Acoustic) - EP [Reach] The Rock Music Not Alone (independent)
SINGLES Johan Asgarde No Other - Single [Gotee] Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Free Indeed - Single [Syntax] K3hlab The Realm of Grief - Single [Syntax] Myles Maestro SOUTHPAW - Single [Syntax] Charly Perry Masterpieces - Single [Gotee] Matthew Plante HAND ON ME! - Single [Dream] QEW & Cyrus Sonata Chamber Exit - Single [Syntax] Saints in Exile Stay For You - Single [Syntax] Carly Ann Taylor Something Good Is Coming - Single [Curb]
Next Tuesday, September 15
SINGLES Grace Frances The Promised Land - Single (independent)
Next Friday, September 18
ALBUMS Anthony Brown & group therAPy Full Disclosure [Tyscot] Cory Asbury Outsing The Angels [BEC] Franni Cash Here I Am [Capitol CMG] for KING & COUNTRY the most beautiful colours [Curb Records] Hillside Recording Proverbs & Prayers (Morning) (independent) Living Again Living Again II (independent) Joseph O'Brien What's Good For Me? [Gotee]
SINGLES ChristianXXII Lift Me Up - Single [Dream] Dreamers The God Who Goes Before Me - Single [Dream] Josh Grove I'm Done Running - Single (independent) Steven Malcolm Kick It To My Twin (ft. DreBreeze Da Godson & DKG KIE) - Single [Curb] Lloyd Nicks Can't Take My Eyes Off Heaven - Single [Curb] Matthew Plante GOD FEARING! - Single [Dream] Xander Sallows hidden treasure - Single [Dream] Allan Scott Foxhole Prayers - Single [Dream] Victory House Worship Returning - Single (independent) Whosoever South Y'all My People - Single (independent)
VINYL Newsboys Not Ashamed [Magenta] Vinyl [Girder]