Charlie Hall's "The Bright Sadness": A Review
Posted September 02, 2008
By ChristianManifesto,
I have always considered Charlie Hall to be the most underrated worship leader to come out the 268generation, the minds behind the Passion conferences that are so wildly popular among twentysomethings. Everyone goes ballistic over the David Crowder Band (“Remedy: Club Tour Edition” - August 19) and Chris Tomlin (“Hello Love” – September 2) whenever they come out with a new album. Yet, lyrically, I have always felt as if Hall were the better of the three. Now, he returns to the airwaves with his fourth studio effort. “The Bright Sadness” features 12 new tracks that are guaranteed to make the worship rotation in every postmodern worship service within two weeks of its release. While not reaching the heights of “Flying Into Daybreak,” there are certainly several gems to be considered on Hall’s most recent offering.
“Chainbreaker” starts things out on a particularly high note as Hall reminds listeners that if they are in Jesus then their chains have been broken. It is destined to be a modern classic worship piece in the tradition of “Indescribable” and “O Praise Him.” The instruments are strong, Hall’s vocals shine through the din, and the lyrics are solid. The second track, “New Year” is a ballade-esque number that “was written after a long period of difficult pain and confusion,” according to Hall and looks forward to leaving behind things of the past and toward a bright new future.
“The Second Alive” and “Hookers And Robbers” are the kinds of songs I point to in order to make my point that Hall is a fantastic psalmist for a new generation of worshippers. The former is probably one of the most rock-infused songs I’ve heard out of the worship quarter. It’s great stuff that could burn up the Top 40 if it tried. The latter is…well…it’s called “Hookers And Robbers!” What more do you want? Either way, it’s a song written to those on the fringes, imploring them to ‘Come as you are.’ Inspired by excerpts from ‘The Book of Common Prayer,’ the album’s closer “Mystery” is by far the best track on the album. It is beautifully written and beautifully delivered. The instruments melt together with Hall’s smooth and reflective voice, providing a symphony of praise to the Father.
The major “miss” on the album is“Thrill.” To be honest, it’s one of those tracks that makes me scratch my head and wonder, “What were you thinking, Charlie?” It’s kind of hokey, cheesy, and so many bad things that people have come to associate with Christian music. A song like this may have been popular in the mid-90’s from the likes of Maranatha, but I expect more from Hall.
The majority of “The Bright Sadness” is pretty stellar. Again, I don’t think it reaches the heights of his previous studio effort, but even a lesser effort from Hall eclipses the efforts of his contemporaries. Fans of his earlier work and modern praise and worship will greatly enjoy the album. Not only that, they’ll greatly benefit from listening.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today! View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristianManifesto | View ChristianManifesto's Profile
|
