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 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
ALBUMS Village KNG Side A + B (independent)
This Thursday, April 2, 2026
SINGLES Anike HOLY GIRLS! (WERK) - Single [Reach]
This Friday, April 3, 2026
ALBUMS Meredith Andrews Live From Liberty University (with Liberty Worship Collective) [Curb] Elevation Worship SO BE IT - Jesus Be The Name Exclusive *iTunes only [Provident/Sony] Peech. Small Town America (Vol. 2) - EP [Capitol CMG] Michael Sweet The Master Plan [Frontiers] tonyxtrotter THE ART OF GETTING UP [Syntax]
SINGLES Anthem Edition In Christ Alone - Single [Sonlite] ANTHNY x Kierra Sheard show up - Single [Provident/Sony] Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Pillow - Single [Syntax] FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL Waste Some Time - Single [Riverhouse] j. dreaming Blessed - Single [MTM] Marcus Hummon Bless the Broken Road (feat. Levi Hummon) - Single (independent) Kevi Morse & Gabe Hammes Only God Knows - Single [Syntax] Kings Theory Blood - Single [Syntax] Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson The Jesus I Know Now - Single [Provident/Sony] Vic Lucas Yeshua! - Single [Syntax] MotionPlus Refuse (feat. Alyssa Jane) - Single [Polished Arrow] Omega Levine All Things New - Single (independent) Oyinbrakemi Goosebumps - Single (independent) Chelsea Plank When You Give It Up - Single [Provident/Sony] Q-Flo Midnight Matcha - Single [Syntax] QEW, Untidld, Prodigyl Lean On Him - Single [Syntax] SNT VINCENT INTENSIFY - Single [Syntax] Jamison Strain Savior You Are - Single (independent) To Fight Fo Alive - Single (independent) Bay Turner Redeemer - Single [Centricity]
Next Wednesday, April 8, 2026
ALBUMS FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL DAWN PATROL [Riverhouse]
Next Friday, April 10, 2026
SINGLES bodie OBSESSED - Single [Provident/Sony] Freedom Church Upstream - Single [Dream Worship] Roxanne Grace Old Friends - Single [Ocean House Music] God Behind Bars Music Outlaw (feat. Stephen McWhirter) - Single [Provident/Sony] GVTH DVDDY Doom Kitty - Single [Provident/Sony] Lloyd Nicks A Little More - Single [Curb] Matthew Plante GOD FIRST! - Single [Dream] Sleeping At Last An Honest Mirror (Philautia) - Single (independent) We Are Messengers Halfway Home - Single [Curb]