The Bright Sadness

Worship music veteran Charlie Hall reinvigorates his Christ-centered sound on The Bright Sadness. After more than a decade of involvement with the influential Passion movement, this album finds him exploring new ways to uplift and inspire. Hall is willing to step outside the familiar conventions of the worship subgenre, treating his songs as personal expressions as much as calls to praise. True, there are hosanna-filled rockers like “Chainbreaker” and “Thrill” here that would fit comfortably on any number of worship albums. More unusual though are tracks like the otherworldly “The Second Alive” and the skittering, nuanced “Scenes.” From the twitchy groove of “Walk the World” to the orchestral grandeur of “Bloom Again,” Hall successfully tests his sonic limits. His inclusive vision extends to the most reviled sinner (“Hookers and Robbers”) as well as the conflicted believer (“My Brightness”). As a singer, Hall can push a bit too hard, though he's certainly capable of more subtle vocalizing — as “Mystery” shows. And that’s a small complaint to register about an album as impressive as this one. Hall goes his own way on The Bright Sadness — and in the process, reaffirms his spiritual message.