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, January 23, 2026
ALBUMS Dragons & Astronauts 11:28 (independent) JusJames WHIL3 U WAIT - EP [Polished Arrow] Tim Lovelace On a Different Note [StowTown] Jamie MacDonald Jamie MacDonald [Capitol CMG] Various Artists House of Worship [The Fuel] VOTA Back to the Start (independent)
SINGLES Gracie Binion Hosanna - Single [BEC] CAIN So Long Sad Songs - Single [Provident] Dubem Lately - Single [Syntax] Jason Dunn Divided States of America - Single (independent) ELEOS Fool's Gold - Single [Ocean House] Elevation Worship SO BE IT - Single [Provident] Grace Graber That's Who I Praise - Single (independent) Jonah Greene I Need You - Single (independent) Griffin Mega Church - Single [Polished Arrow] Ian Austin, Brice Davis Like The Prodigal (Come Home) - Single [Ocean House] Amber Lynn Yahweh (Your Will Your Way) - Single [Sonlite] Daniel Mulkey Pass It On - Single (independent) NEEDTOBREATHE The Long Surrender - Single [UMG] Troy Patterson Creating Something - Single [Syntax]
Warren Peay Gimme a Hallelujah - Single [Integrity] Heather Suzanne Kingdom Walls - Single [Ocean House] tylerhateslife mental health (heaven's remix) - Single [Syntax] Zane Walls NAH UH - Single (independent) Katy Weirich The River - Single [Wings] Zach Williams Wait For Me (feat. Ben Fuller) - Single [Provident]
Next Tuesday, January 27, 2026
SINGLES Pipe Bomb I Will Kill The Worst Parts Of Myself - Single (independent)
Next Friday, January 30, 2026
ALBUMS Dreamers let love be your highest goal. - EP [DREAM Worship] Kingdmusic JOY (independent) Eddy Mann The Unveiling [MTS] We The Kingdom Dear Jesus [Capitol CMG]
SINGLES John Long The Perfect Love of Christ - Single [Ocean House] Mainstream Worship & Josh Daughtry Fresh Start (Live) - Single [DREAM Worship] Seph Schlueter Life With You - Single [Provident/Sony]