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 Wednesday, March 4, 2026
SINGLES 1K Phew Havin - Single [Reach]
This Friday, March 6, 2026
ALBUMS Autumn Owls Here in the Bardos (independent) Michael Bethany Sanctuary [Re:Think/Capitol CMG] Collective Dust Do People Even Use CDs Anymore? - EP [Charon Collective] Falling Up Reimagined Volume I (independent) Passion Just That Good [Capitol CMG] Zach Williams Jesus Loves (Deluxe) [Provident/Sony] Woodlands Worship In The Meantime [Wings]
SINGLES Altira Black Hole - Single [The Fuel] Mark Bishop You Better Go Read It - Single [Sonlite] Chris Caro Lately - Single [Syntax] Engedi Music Resurrection Saves - Single (independent) Grace + Max Better Place - Single [WieRok] Taylor Hill DIE 4 ME - Single [Provident/Sony] I.A.N. & Joel Gibson Jr. Good Times - Single [Syntax] IDEGO SHOCKING! - Single (independent) Jericko Let You In ft. No Vain Glory - Single [Syntax] Jenn Johnson Walk With Me (feat. Tiffany Hudson) - Single [Bethel] KELO & DreBeezeDaGodSon FORGIVE ME - Single [Syntax] Living Again Let Me Be Yours - Single [Near Kingdom Records] Alicia Monee' & EJ Swavv `Metallic - Single [Syntax] Jeannie Ortega Woozy - Single [Syntax] Alexander Pappas It Is So Sweet (feat. Chelsea Plank) - Single [Integrity] Tommee Profitt Nothing But the Blood "(feat. Jeremy Rosado) - Single [Capitol CMG] Red Rocks Worship The Lord Is With Me (feat. Chris Brown) - Single [Provident/Sony] Xander Sallows it's been a while - Single [Ocean House] tonyxtrotter OUTTA THE WAY ft. Q-Flo - Single [Syntax] Anne Wilson Still Do (feat. Cole Swindell) - Single [Capitol CMG] Wilson Fairchild I Saw The Light - Single [Gaither]
Next Monday, March 9, 2026
ALBUMS DPB Undefeated [MTS]
Next Friday, March 13, 2026
ALBUMS Pat Barrett Break Open (Live) [Capitol CMG] Tomb Slayer Radiance: A Modern Hymns Project [Tomb Slayer] Phil Wickham Song of the Saints (Deluxe) [Fair Trade]
SINGLES GLADDEN Love Came Down - Single [DREAM] Chandler Letner Patiently - Single [DREAM] John Long Boxes - Single [Ocean House] Jake MacAdam The Father's Plan - Single [Ocean House] Poets & Prophets Make Room - Single [Fair Trade] Seph Schlueter Valley of Worship - Single [Provident/Sony] Stand41TrueGod Wilderness - Single (independent)
Alexander Pappas Releases New Song with Chelsea Plank of SEU Worship
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1K Phew Havin - Single [Reach]
