recommended music...
All I Need Is Here
The Michael Gungor Band
All I Need Is Here represents the first fruits of this new season in Gungor's worship ministry, and a fine example of alternative worship music. This excellent album leads people to worship and to a deeper understanding of what worship is all about.
All My Days
An early career CD from crooner Nathan Pettijohn, now lead singer of the indie-rock band The New Frontiers, hearkens back to the likes of early Bebo Norman and Shane Barnard. A few of his songs have become staples here at Vail Christian Church, and his CD, “All My Days” was the first ever recording produced by Layne Rogers. A relatively undiscovered gem, this album is certainly a diamond in the rough, and will become an instant favorite.
All To You
Lincoln Brewster
Lincoln Brewster...a gifted worship leader, guitar player and songwriter, revered as one of the best musicians in Christian music today - releases his 4th worship project - All To You. As the worship leader for Bayside Church in Sacramento, Lincoln forges forward with a live recording of songs that capture the heart and soul of the worship experience from the West Coast.
The Alter and the Door
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns third album, The Altar and The Door, draws on this first-hand ministry experience with real people, real life struggle and the faith that overcomes. At the altar, everything makes sense, says Hall. When we’re in the church and spending time with God, we know what we’re supposed to do and how to live. Everything is black and white. But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out. Everything gets gray again. It’s like we have these two lives, and the Christian life is the journey between the altar and door....trying to get the things you’ve got in your head, into your hands, into your feet, and into your life. This album is all about that journey of realization, the struggles we encounter and the victory of seeing it as possible.
Austins Bridge
Country roots run deep when it comes to soulful singers Mike Kofoul, Justin Rivers, Jason Baird. Nashville based trio, Austins Bridge, has grown up with an embedded passion to sing and write and they are ready to share it with the world. Southern Gospel music with a modern country rock twist.
Beauty in the Broken
Starfield
Beauty In The Broken follows Starfield’s critically acclaimed debut release. Singer/ writer Tim Neufeld says of the new album, “The underlying theme of the CD is the idea of looking through the everyday and into the sacred... the idea that the sacred IS the reality, and not the earthly. It’s about us fitting into God’s reality and not the reverse.” The songs are the full range of the human response to this kind of grand theme: abandonment, surrender, apprehension, doubt, joy and more.
The Best of Passion
Built on a platform of songs to make the name of Jesus renowned around the world, Passion puts together the definitive collection of songs from the movement over the last ten years. 2 CD set with 25 of the best songs from Passion, including 5 Passion songs never before released on CD.
Casting Crowns
Lifesong
Christmas Songs
by Jars of Clay
New Christmas projects seldom sound quite this elaborate or vibrant, with the traditional covers revived in often brand new ways and originals simply having fun or beautifully reflective tones. After multiple listens, the initial wonder does not wane: Jars Of Clay's Christmas Songs may be the best modern Christmas album to come along in a long, long time.
Colorblind
by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Colorblind isn't an adequate title for this album. Randolph's follow-up to 2003's Grammy-nominated Unclassified is bright and energetic as a tie-dye-patterned pinwheel. Mostly its 11 tunes are about grooves plucked from the era of Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder, dappled with brilliant classic rock musicianship (think Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck) and driven by frenetic verve. When things slow down, it's usually to let the young pedal steel virtuoso revisit his roots in the Holiness Church. Ultimately this album's all about Randolph himself, who has loosened his grip on the blues and gospel bedrock of his earlier playing to become a master of flashy funk and rock riffs and the owner of a tone so gargantuan it's earned him a place in rock-guitar Olympus--if not Heaven.
David Crowder Band
A Collision
David Crowder Band's, 'A Collision', is more than a collection of songs, the album is a musical journey, inviting the listener to consider and celebrate what God has done. There's more than enough for everyone's musical tastes as Crowder seamlessly weaves together varied styles that offer more than one unexpected turn.
Ever Stays Red
I'll tell the world
Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship
The idea behind the rootsy compilation album, "Glory Revealed," is to draw listeners into the Word, enabling them to find God's glory revealed in His Word. A tall but noble task in this frenetic day, but if warmth, well-crafted songs, and intelligent production have anything to do with it, “Glory Revealed” proves effective.
Jeremy Camp
Stay
Kutless
Hearts of the Innocent
Kutless
Strong Tower
Layne Rogers
Altogether Lovely
Learning to Lose
The Turning
Driving guitars, booming drums and a prison break open the first track of Learning to Lose, the debut modern rock CD from new RKT Music band The Turning. But the escape alluded to doesn’t involve running from any sort of illegal activity; rather, The Turning hopes to use its music to persuade all who will listen to break free of the insecurities, doubts, confusion and fears that hold them captive.
Matt Redman
Blessed Be your Name Vol.1
Matt Redman
Beautiful News
Matt Redman is one of the most prolific songwriters in the church today. We are likely going to be singing his songs for generations to come. "Blessed Be Your Name," "The Heart of Worship," and "Better is One Day" are just a few of his most popular songs. On this new CD, Matt communicated the "Beautiful News" of Christ that is certain to encourage, inspire, and challenge God's people.
Mute Math
Mute Math is on the short list of those operating at the highest level of artistic excellence, and their full-length debut still represents the creative salvation of modern rock, both Christian and mainstream. For fans of the genre searching for inventive sounds and lyrics, this disc is essential.
Our God Saves
Paul Baloche
Paul Baloche, one of the world¹s leading worship songwriters, adds to his growing list of top worship songs with his new release Our God Saves. Paul has been seeking to be more intentional about the theology and Gospel-centeredness of the songs he writes. It¹s evident from this project that he¹s succeeding. This is ne of the year¹s most interesting worship projects, for sure.
Passion: Everything Glorious
This album is the perfect blend of brand new songs from Tomlin, Crowder, Redman and Hall along with a few re-arranged hymns.
Passion’s Hymns Ancient & Modern
Worship melodies change with the times... but the lyrics remain the same. This musical offering is grounded with the desire to rally around songs of the faith - songs of the church. Passion's vibrant collection of hymns-made-new resurrects the need to offer our lives as living sacrifices in awe of God's unwavering love for us.
Passion Worship Band
How Great is our God
Phil Wickham
Phil Wickham crafts a noteworthy self-titled debut that will undoubtedly turn heads as he raises the bar for what we expect from worship music. Fans of Keane looking for a worship record more in tune with their tastes should look no further. Seeing how this young worship leader develops his craft over the next few years should be an exciting process.
Remedy
by David Crowder Band
David Crowder Band continues to break the conventions of worship music. Most worship albums offer music as a praise response to glorify our Creator. Remedy is more an engaging pop/rock album designed to spark worship because of who our Creator is. When the music is this good, worship comes naturally.
See the Morning
Chris Tomlin
“See The Morning expresses the idea that God’s as faithful as the rising sun,” explains Tomlin. “Though your life may be shifting all around you and it may be dark, there is hope.” Chris cites empowering Biblical stories and accounts of Jesus’ miracles to draw a resolute conclusion. “Morning is brand new. It’s fresh. It’s new life. That while the darkness came and was for a while, light is breaking through into morning.”
Tim Hughes
Holding Nothing Back
Holding Nothing Back is Tim Hughes' strongest batch of songs yet, a set that isn't afraid to be simultaneously rocking and worshipful.
Todd Agnew
Reflection of Something
Wherever You Are
Third Day
It's no secret that life's darkest moments often place us face-to-face with whatever, or wherever, we've placed our faith. That is the emotional climate listeners will find themselves in with Third Day's Wherever You Are, the band's eighth major release and a transparent and stark portrayal of where one finds the reason to carry on.
Worth Fighting For
Warren Barfield
Barfield’s third record out May 20, 2008 on Essential Records, expresses a vulnerability and passion born out of the realization of how much life passes by without intentionally living, how little we invest in those we love, and how often we settle for the status quo. The songs of Worth Fighting For draw on the sanctity and sacrifice of relationships—the encouragement, prayer, the listening and the commitment we make to those we love, to those we choose to ‘do life’ with.
