Prime Cuts: Goodbye Gravity, Letter I Wrote, Neon Dreams
Overall Grade: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
"Into The Blue" arrives at a pivotal moment in Brandon Hixson's career-and it sounds like an artist fully aware of that moment. Coming on the heels of Room With a View winning Album of the Year at the 2025 Josie Music Awards, Hixson could have easily played it safe. Instead, he leans forward, offering one of his most adventurous, emotionally open, and sonically confident records to date.
True to its title, Into The Blue is an album about movement-leaving weight behind, stepping beyond the familiar, and trusting God in spaces where certainty fades. Written and crafted during a season of renewal, the record feels both unburdened and intentional, capturing the tension between comfort and calling. Hixson's songwriting consistently invites the listener into that same moment of trust, framing faith not as static belief but as lived obedience.
Musically, the album marks a clear evolution. While Hixson's earlier work often leaned into classic '90s CCM sensibilities, Into The Blue broadens the palette significantly. There's a confident blend of '70s-inspired funk bass lines, modern pop sheen, and heartfelt CCM foundations, all anchored by Hixson's expressive vocals. The radio-ready "Goodbye Gravity" sets the tone with buoyant momentum, while "Neon Dreams" taps into nostalgia without getting stuck there-vibrant, playful, and groove-driven. "Letter I Wrote" slows things down, offering reflective depth that underscores the album's emotional core.
Lyrically, Hixson continues his legacy of faith-driven storytelling, a hallmark that longtime listeners will recognize from earlier standouts like "When I Finally Make It Home," "Autumn Fall," and "The Man in the Middle." On Into The Blue, that same sincerity is present, but sharpened. The songs feel less concerned with proving something and more interested in bearing witness-to growth, risk, family, memory, and hope. Even at its most upbeat, the album maintains an undercurrent of spiritual attentiveness.
The project also reflects Hixson's broader artistic reach. Known for his genre-blending instincts and a YouTube presence that has surpassed 60 million views, he understands how songs live beyond the album format-yet Into The Blue still plays best as a full, immersive listen. It's cohesive without being repetitive, adventurous without losing its center.
Ultimately, Into The Blue stands as one of Brandon Hixson's most fully realized works. It's an album that rewards casual listening while offering deeper resonance for those willing to sit with it. More than just a follow-up to an award-winning release, it confirms Hixson as an artist unafraid to trust the next step-even when the path ahead disappears into the blue.
