Staff Picks: Ten Best Albums of 2007
12-07-2007
by Kevan Breitinger
Well, another twelve months have flown by. Unbelievably fast, but that’s another story. This story covers a year of rich musical creativity, one that I’ve enjoyed greatly as an Editor at CMCentral (ok, seven months if you’re officially counting). Many in the music industry are trying to figure out where the current trends will land. As you will notice, one of our staff contributors makes note of the fact that she herself rarely buys albums anymore, preferring to purchase her music song by song on iTunes. But regardless of various format changes, we’re all still listening. If you’re like me, music is undeniably a huge, and irreplaceable, component of your daily life. A number of the Salem staffers, music-lovers all, have whittled down their lists of hot albums released in the past year (Dec. 1 ’06 to Nov. 30, ’07) to their ten favorites, with a little commentary for your entertainment. A bit of Christmas cheer from us to you, with great appreciation for your support and friendship. Click the link to read a more in-depth review. Favorites top each list. Let the perusing begin!
From Kevan Breitinger, Editor and writer of CMCentral content.
1. Sara Groves – Tell Me What You Know Look up ‘inspirational’ in any dictionary. There she is.
2. Derek Webb – The Ringing Bell See above. With an in-your-face prophetic edge.
3. Mike Farris – Salvation in Lights Raw and bluesy, a much needed breath of fresh air.
4. The Clark Sisters – Live: One Last Time A reunion of legends, and they tear it up!
5. Paul Wright – Kingdom Come Quirky (LOVE the quirk!), inventive, and worshipful
6. Bethany Dillon – Waking Up Wow, did she grow up! Raw and intimate.
7. Kendall Payne – Paper Skin Stripped down artful piano passion, beautifully executed.
8. Deas Vail – All The Houses Look The Same Dazzling intricacy, spellbinding creativity.
9. Group 1 Crew – Group 1 Crew Picking up where Souljahz left off.
10. Jon McLaughlin – Indiana Will do for pop piano what Billy Joel did in the ‘90s.
Honorable Mentions:
Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago: Why oh why only ten allowed on the list?
Future of Forestry – Twilight: Fresh and mysterious
Paul Baloche – Our God Saves: He stretches out, his best yet.
Chris Nesbitt – Liquid Worship: Full of heart and expressive worship, and offered free on his website
All Star United – Love and Radiation: Big fun with a ton of sly intelligence
From Joan Dyer, Salem Web Development Director.
- Hillsong United - All Of The Above I’m not usually a big Hillsong fan, so this one caught me off guard. Great stuff, fo’ sho.
- Anberlin – Cities They could be singing about bananas and their voices would probably still get me all choked up.
- The Almost - Southern Weather Underoath without the screaming meets me where I am these days (Mycurrent season in life involves two small but totally screamo children).
- The Fold - Secrets Keep You Sick Rocks! Reminds me of early Acceptance!
- Paramore – Riot! Welcome o’ ye severely too rare chick rocker!
- After Edmund - Hello Fun, unique sound - different from what's already out there.
- Neon Horse - Neon Horse If you're on your way to being in a weird mood, this will surely finish the job
- Brothers Martin - Brothers Martin I bet their parents didn't let them watch TV! (and that's a compliment)
- Michael W. Smith - It's a Wonderful Christmas Sounds like lots of money used well.
- Fono - Too Broken To Break Giving the recording away for free gets a nod! Download at fono.net
Honorable Mentions:
Chevelle – Vena Sera Nothing grabbed my heart on first listen the way their first 3 albums did, but they’re here because they are firmly planted in my top 10 all-time favorite rock bands, so for now I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt. :P
Blindside - Black Rose EP Another one of my all-time favs - so had to give them some love, even tho it's only an EP
Family Force 5 - Business Up Front / Party in the Back (Diamond edition) EP I got to see their live show last year, and this reissue gets an honorable mention just so I can say seeing them live was really swell.
For iTunes users like me who rarely buy by album anymore, here are some cool individual songs:
Jeremy Riddle Close
Phil Wickham After Your Heart
Future of Forestry All I Want
Mary J. Blige Just Fine
This Beautiful Republic Right Now
Mainstay Believe
FLAME When You Step
Vicky Beeching Join the Song
Maylene & the sons of disaster death in an alcoholic
Pettidee I'm a Vet
The Send Begin
From Jay Swartzendruber, CCM Editor
1. Sara Groves - Tell Me What You Know Wanna know why the Christian community's best lyricists admire her so? Consider this Exhibit A.
2. Relient K - Five Score And Seven Years Ago Every time I think I have them figured out, Relient K surprises me with their next album.
3. The Innocence Mission - We Walked in Song Perhaps more than any band—even U2—The Innocence Mission makes me think of Philippians 4:8. Here's another reason why.
4. Deas Vail - All the Houses Look the Same If you enjoy introducing your friends to brilliant bands they've never heard of, then put this disc at the top of your Christmas lists.
5. David Crowder Band - Remedy Thoughtful, relational modern worship at its disarming—and arming—best.
6. Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home The solo debut from Thrice's front man is an acoustic gut-rock gem flavored with folk, blues, rockabilly and yes, worship.
7. Anberlin - Cities If you're not an Anberlin fan yet, you simply haven't heard this album.
8. Verbs - Groundwork Theory To knowdaverbs is to lovedaverbs.
9. Future of Forestry Twilight The first time I heard this album I was surprised by joy.
10. The Almost - Southern Weather Aaron Gillespie, a could-be worship leader, cooks up a sonic delight.
From Lindsay Williams, CCM Managing Editor
1. David Crowder Band - Remedy The world’s about to change (thanks to David Crowder).
2. Jon McLaughlin - Indiana It should be a crime to be this talented. Piano pop/rock never sounded so good.
3. TobyMac - Portable Sounds With a solo record this good, do we really need a dcTalk reunion?
4. Jackson Waters - Come Undone Hook-laden and memorable… If this is any indication of the potential this band possesses, I can’t wait to hear what’s next.
5. Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago Sounds like the Beach Boys have been teaching these guys a thing or two. And “Deathbed” is a masterpiece that only a band with the perfect mix of humor and faith could pull off.
6. Until June - Until June Amazing guitars, brilliant, airy vocals… If it’s good enough for “Private Practice” preview spots, it’s good enough for me.
7. Bethany Dillon - Waking Up The most vulnerable project of her career.
8. Needtobreathe - The Heat They just keep getting better.
9. Robbie Seay Band - Give Yourself Away These songs teach us what it’s all about.
10. Future of Forestry - Twilight Melodic, unique, a definite breath of fresh air.
From Chris Well, CCM Contributing Editor
1. Anberlin - Cities Urgent modern rock for the masses. No wonder the big labels came calling.
2. Relient K - Five Score And Seven Years Ago More mature, more accomplished—yet, inexplicably, as off-kilter as ever. Relient K could one day rule the world.
3. Lost Ocean - Lost Ocean A rock opus that is at times moody, murky, dreamy—but always thoroughly engaging.
4. J. Moss V2 – PAJAM A crankin' R&B masterpiece.
5. Ryan Wilkins - Beautiful Disrepair Smart pop hooks and crisp musicianship. And “The Other Side” is one of the most haunting songs you will ever hear.
6. The Send - Cosmos Former Falling Up member Joe Kisselburgh goes solo in style, with a brilliant debut that mixes bouncy alt-rock with melodic piano pop.
7. Robbie Seay Band - Give Yourself Away Aggressive modern worship and rock, challenging listeners to be more heartful.
8. Falling Up - Captiva Fantastic third rock effort will have you singing along.
9. Jon McLaughlin - Indiana Thoughtful, poetic, haunting piano rock.
10. Manic Drive - Reset & Rewind Equal parts modern and retro, chock-full of hard rock licks, rhythmic grooves, and surprising harmonies.
From Lindsay Scranton, Salem Content Coordinator
1. BarlowGirl - How Can We Be Silent It’s the soundtrack to my life and the challenge to my faith. To be brief: They are great girls who adore God. They have awesome music. They provoke me to love. (That’s a good thing. J)
2. Sara Groves - Tell Me What You Know I love the way Sara’s songs are so socially loud while being so dynamically quiet. When the saints go marching in, she will be one of them.
3. Relient K - Five Score And Seven Years Ago Silly one minute and totally profound in the next.
4. Brandon Heath - Don’t Get Comfortable One of those albums that I can listen to repeatedly…for days. With each new spin of the disc, I find something else I appreciate about Brandon’s music.
5. tobyMac - Portable Sounds - Toby is really good at mixing touching and tender songs with upbeat, igniting music. (That was a reference to “Ignition.” Did ya catch it?)
6. Cool Hand Luke - The Balancing Act Though the band is often labeled as emo, I think their music really goes beyond that.
7. Wavorly - Conquering The Fear Of Flight Their song “Praise and Adore” is so very catchy. I truly enjoy it when rock/punk bands write worship songs.
8. Plumb - Blink Though I’m not a mother of small children (Not even close. Holla back, single folks!) I really like this album. This CD is seriously soothing and would no doubt serve as a lullaby to send me off to dream land.
9. Grey Holiday - The Glorious Revolution My only grievance is that it isn’t longer. There are only a few songs. However, I suppose that’s a good thing, because it makes me desire more music.
10. Jackson Waters - Come Undone I l-o-v-e their song “Center of Attention.” The lead singer has such an interesting voice. Beyond that, I’m very glad to report that I’ve heard two of Jackson Waters’ songs in Wal*Mart. I love it when I hear Christian music in a mainstream environment.
From Barry French, Salem Publishing Programmer
- Demon Hunter – Storm the Gates of Hell Brutal. Beautiful. Punishing. Demon Hunter.
- Carrie Underwood – Carnival Ride I really don’t care much for American Idol but if we had to put up with the show just so that we could hear Carrie Underwood on this album, it was well worth it.
- Mitch Malloy – Faith This album will be available in December and you need to get it! Several songs on here should receive some major airplay on Christian radio. Great voice, great person.
- Disciple – Scars Remain (Special Edition) This album combines some of the best elements of their older more aggressive material with the more recent polished sound from their previous album. Favorite album by Disciple yet.
- Seventh Day Slumber – Finally Awake Massive riffs. Powerful hooks. Passionate vocals. What else do you need?
- Thousand Foot Krutch – The Flame In All Of Us I’m not sure who has influenced TFK but on this album I hear traces of Blindside, Sevendust, Pillar and Skillet, and to me, that’s a good thing.
- Spoken – Spoken Wyrick produced it (look for another Wyrick-produced album in 2008 by Eowyn that I’m already putting on my Top 10 list next year). The guy knows how to get a big sound of a band.
- Plumb – Blink Of all the albums on this list, this pick even surprised me! But after all the headbanging I do while listening to other albums on this list, I need something to calm me back down.
- Lifehouse – Who We Are From the first time I heard their debut hit “Hanging By A Moment” I’ve been a fan. They know how to construct a great melody.
- Phil Keaggy – The Song Within I’ve always been amazed by the mastery that Phil Keaggy has shown on the acoustic guitar. This album has an interesting twist to it.
From Andrew Schwab, “New Noise” Editor
1. Children 18:3 - Songs of Desperation They dominate. [Editor’s Note: At press time this album had been reset for a 2/26/08 release.]
2. The Glorious Unseen - The Stars Speak I don’t really listen to worship music, unless it rules like this.
3. Neon Horse - Neon Horse Cuckoo, cuckoo. A far cry from the Crucified, but genius nonetheless.
4. Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home I admire his commitment to be unscene.
5. Ken Andrews - Secrets of the Lost Satellite I think this is the best thing he has ever done.
6. Jeremy Enigk - The Missing Link Though it has only four new tracks, the live tracks are some of the best I have ever heard by any artist. I don’t think he is capable of putting out something poor.
7. Mainstay - Become Who You Are Great guys, took it up a huge notch. Next level.
8. MxPx - Secret Weapon One of the best live bands around with some great new jams.
9. Chasing Victory - Fiends Huge step forward for these guys—out of the screamo and into the rock. This is the dark horse of the year in my opinion.
10. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - II I love this new “Southern” trend.
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