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JFH Indie Review

JFH Indie Inspection Review

Brandon Hixson
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Brandon Hixson
Take Me to the River

Street Date: May 19, 2023
Style: Adult Contemporary
Official Site: BrandonHixson.com
Buy It: Amazon



While the 2020 pandemic brought a lot of things to a halt, Brandon Hixson's music release schedule only sped up, with at least one full-length each year since then. His latest offering (and third official release in 2023 alone) is a CCM/pop album called Take Me to the River. As no surprise to anyone who's listened to any of his past material, the album shows that Hixson is quite clearly a competent singer and songwriter, with a solid grasp of melody and a passion for giving God the glory. "Crown Him (Lord of All)," for instance, is a near-epic worship song that shines light entirely on Christ's lordship and His gift of everlasting life. Our victory through Jesus also permeates the album, such as in songs like "When I Finally Make It Home" and "My Only Hope." Each song is solid - even the weaker tracks at least have some merit, causing next to no complaints about any individual song. However, the album does suffer as a whole from too much diversity. There were multiple times where I thought I had somehow started listening to a completely different album once a new song started. "Walking On Water" starts things off with a very synthy pop rock sound that is almost never revisited again, "The Good Old Days" is an upbeat country/bluegrass tune (with plenty of banjo and fiddle), "Saving Grace" is a '90s-inspired CCM ballad, and "Failure to a Dream" ends the record with disco and funk music. In all fairness, more than half of the record coheres quite nicely as a CCM/pop album, but several of the songs really stick out and feel completely out of place. But again, at the end of the day, if each song is taken individually for what it is, there's not really a bad one in the bunch. Brandon Hixson is a very talented singer/songwriter, and fans of artists such as Chris Tomlin and Lincoln Brewster should find a lot to like about Take Me to the River.

- Review date: 6/5/23, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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This Wednesday, July 16, 2025
SINGLES
1K Phew Yet - Single [Reach]

This Friday, July 18, 2025
ALBUMS
Justin Gambino Just Like Jesus - EP [Residence Music]
The Inspirations Up Above The World So High [Horizon]
Mary-Clair Enough [Vere]
MotionPlus Improper Decorum [SoulFeeder, Polished Arrow Music]
Planetshakers Weight of Heaven [Venture3Media]
The Rocky Valentines Music On The Shelf [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Come Through (Studio Session) - EP [BEC]

SINGLES
Chris Caro OTW - Single [Syntax]
Aaron Cole Mercy - Single [RCAI]
Melvin Crispell III Reason To Dance - Single [RCAI]
Crowder STILL (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ellie Holcomb Hope's Gonna Find You - Single [Capitol CMG]
Influence Music How You Do It - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Holy Ghost (ft. Lady Audri) - Single [Syntax]
Paul and Hannah McClure Holy Hands (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Lizzie Morgan Can't Help But Praise - Single [Provident]
Kevi Morse Honest Cvlture ft. STIXX aka Conejo) - Single [Syntax]
Shekts Nelson Your Love - Single [Churchboy]
Blessing Offor Crying Out Loud - Single [Capitol CMG]
Remedy Drive Brighter Than Apathy (Reimagined) - Single (independent)
Rhymes in Harmony Lift Your Name - Single [Syntax]
Speedy the Artist Reach For Elohim - Single [Syntax]
Thrive Worship The One Who Saves - Single [Integrity]
Zane Walls Think About Me - Single [DREAM]

This Sunday, July 20, 2025
VINYL
King's X Manic Moonlight Vinyl [Girder]

Next Wednesday, July 23, 2025
ALBUMS
Eric Roberson Beautifully All Over The Place (independent)

Next Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]



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