Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review



Charlie Hall
The Bright Sadness



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 46 minutes, 57 seconds
Street Date: August 19, 2008


Anyone who's attended a contemporary worship service or Passion event is probably at least familiar with Charlie Hall's music, and if not by name, then at least they've sung along to "Marvelous Light" once or twice. After 2006's outstanding Flying Into Daybreak, from whence the aforementioned song came, expectations from the postmodern worship fan may be high. Even though the title of his latest album, The Bright Sadness, may give the impression of a bittersweet affair with less of the boisterousness prior works exuded- it is in fact quite upbeat. Hall returns and I'm pleased to say he's brought all that God-given talent with him again.

Immediately, "Chainbreaker" allays those fears of a more brooding work, with a driving guitar intro and rousing chorus- declaring the greatness of Jesus' role as our Redeemer. Aside from the opener, "Walk the World" may be the most immediately added into your Sunday morning worship roster, with its typical progression and generally accessible melody. Not to say either song is dull- they simply do what they were designed for, in providing sing-able, upbeat praise with well-penned lyrics.

Conversely, songs like "Bloom Again" are more in the vein of indie-experimental worship (ala recent Crowder) with its ever-expanding epic atmosphere and building, echoed instrumentation. But the experiment goes slightly awry with "Thrill" and its out-of-place synth hook, accompanied by a chorus and lyrics which are rather… well, boring, actually.

Hall expands his storytelling ability beyond the church walls with "Hookers and Robbers" and "The Second Alive," taking inspiration and hope and reflecting the message out to those who exist in the fringes of our culture. You have to applaud his effort to share these tales, instead of playing it safe and keeping to his attributed genre. He goes so far as to include some slightly more personal lyrics in "My Brightness," reflecting Hall's inner fights wonderfully: "Yesterday I felt so angry/ and today so insecure/ And I hated that I wrestled/ with the God that I adore." The melding of the personal, the reaching, and the worship all converge in the album's final track "Mystery," a tender declarative hymn that seems to focus all the energies touched upon in the earlier songs into a musical arrow aimed squarely at Jesus.

All things considered, The Bright Sadness is a very good Charlie Hall album, worthy of any fan's attention. Although never quite reaching the polish of his previous collection- there are some quality worship tunes, and some poignant and lyrically affecting moments scattered throughout.

- Review date: 8/18/08, written by David Goodman of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: sixstepsrecords
. Album length: 12 tracks: 46 minutes, 57 seconds
. Street Date: August 19, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Chainbreaker
  2. New Year
  3. Walk The World
  4. My Brightness
  5. Scenes
  6. Thrill
  7. The Second Alive
  8. Hookers And Robbers
  9. Bloom Again
  10. You Are God
  11. Knit My Heart
  12. Mystery
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images