Editor’s Choice:  Top 13 Albums of 2007

It’s that time of the year - when the editor counts down what he feels like were the best albums of the year.  This year’s list includes a wide variety of styles and 13 of the strongest albums to be released this year.  Why 13 you ask?  Because it felt like a good number, and everyone else picks 10.  We just wanted to be different.

13.  Do You Feel - The Rocket Summer

Do You Feel, much like “Hello, Good Friend” isn’t the kind of evangelical album that artists like Steven Curtis Chapman or Casting Crowns would put out - but it is a creative pop record recorded by a Christian.  Do You Feel, however, does show Avery’s faith reflected in several album cuts such as “Run to You”, “So, In This Hour...”, or “Do You Feel” - which all call for a commitment to something much greater in the listeners’ lives.  Musically, there’s not much out there that can beat Avery’s clever musical arrangements and melodic hooks (all instruments were played by Bryce, with the exception of the horns).

12.  Cities - Anberlin

Anberlin followed up their first two critically-acclaimed albums (Never Take Friendship Personal and Blueprints For the Black Market) with one of the most critically acclaimed releases of the year - Cities.  The group continued to make some of the strongest modern rock oriented songs to ever grace the Christian music landscape.  Lyrically, the continued to remain abstract and at times confusing - but when the music is as good as it is on Cities - one is willing to overlook it.

11.  What a Heart Is Beating For - Chris Rice

What a Heart Is Beating For feels much like a continuation of Amusing.  Musically, Rice tries some new sound - mostly a light, ambient piano based alternative sound - more reminiscent of say David Gray or John Mayer as opposed to James Taylor and David Wilcox.  Lyrically, Rice again focuses not only on the sacred, but also a life lived to the fullest with love thrown in abundantly.  Overall - it just feels like Rice is just happy to be living life (most notably on tunes like “So Much For My Sad Song”, “Baby Take Your Bow”, and “Here Come Those Eyes"). 

10.  Remedy - David Crowder Band

David Crowder Band did exactly the opposite of what the fans expected, and they created an album of highly accessible pop/rock numbers in a straight forward album with little excess thrown in this time around.  And that’s not at all a bad thing.  Very few artists are capable of creating an album of 11 wonderful songs - with not one dud in the bunch.

9.  The Heat - Needtobreathe

The “sophomore slump” is definitely not what you’ll find with The Heat.  What you will find is a band more sure of themselves as ever before and a definitive sound that sets themselves apart from other bands on the scene today (something their debut failed to do).  The Heat is solid, southern-infused rock ‘n roll similar to the likes of Train or Counting Crows with a bit more stripped down approach as well on several cuts.

8.  Give Yourself Away - Robbie Seay Band

Give Yourself Away was inspired by organizations like Compassion International and other missions projects based out of the band’s home church - Ecclesia Church which is found in Houston, Texas.  Though the album doesn’t stay mission focused the whole time like recent efforts from Caedmon’s Call (Share the Well) or Audio Adrenaline (Worldwide), it is a nice entry into the theme-based albums field.

7.  The Fight of My Life - Kirk Franklin

The Fight of My Life continues down the path that Franklin’s past efforts have - fusing different styles together to form a sound all his own.  This album features everything from traditional Gospel ("He Will Supply” and “Chains"), contemporary Gospel ("Declaration (This Is It!)”, pop/rock ("I Am God"), urban/r&b ("Help Me Believe"), pop ("Still In Love"), old-school soul ("Little Boy” and “Hide Me"), hip hop ("I Like Me") and much more.

6.  Cannons - Phil Wickham

Cannons recalls the strongest aspects of artists like U2, Keane, Coldplay, Leeland, Jason Morant and more.  The only difference is that Wickham has some extremely impressive vocal chops.  Cannons is chock full of intense, grandiose numbers - and though at times he can over do it - songs like “After Your Heart”, “Cannons”, and “Must I Wait” are all effective displays of Wickham’s strong writing and vocals.

5.  Word of Mouth - John Reuben

Word of Mouth takes off where Professional Rapper left off and finds the rapper trying out even more new things and recalling a recognizable alt-pop sound to his music. While remaining true to hip hop at it’s core, Word of Mouth does a fantastic job of showing off Reuben’s multiple personalities as an artist - especially on the Beck-influenced cuts like “Sing It Like You Mean It” or “Word of Mouth.

4.  Indiana - Jon McLaughlin

McLaughlin is a piano-based pop musician who was influenced by the likes of Bens Fold and Billy Joel - and those influences are readily apparent on his debut album Indiana.  The album is chock full of impressive piano licks (like on “Industry” and “People” specifically) that could make even Mark Schultz or Scott Krippayne blush.

3.  The Blood - Kevin Max

The Blood is both modern and traditional in it’s sound - which is the goal Max set forth for the record - to honor the music that would influence and lay the ground work for the art that he creates today.  Overall, The Blood is a striking combination of the modern ("The Blood”, “Run On For a Long Time") with the traditional ("The Old Rugged Cross”, “Up Above My Head") that Max pulls of amazingly well.  This was the record that Max was born to create.

2.  Tell Me What You Know - Sara Groves

Sara Groves is really one of the few critically acclaimed artists that has amassed a fairly decent fanbase.  However, this time it really feels like she’s found a great bond between the radio-friendly and the artistic heart-felt songs.  Tell Me What You Know is Sara Groves at her best.  The songs are charming, music is catchy, and Groves’ vocals are spot on.  This isn’t just one of the best recordings to release this year, this is a benchmark recording for Groves as an artist.

1.  Salvation In Lights - Mike Farris

Salvation In Lights is a tribute of sorts to Farris’ lifelong love for Gospel music and the sounds of the south.  Everything Is represented well here - such as the sounds of Memphis blues or Louisana swing.  Fans of the likes of a more raw Jonny Lang, Glenn Kaiser, Marty Stuart, and shades of Johnny Cash will love everything about this release by Farris.  The listener is instantly taken in by Farris’ impressive vocal skills - most notably on tunes like “Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down”, “The Lonely Road”, “Selah! Selah!”, and “Precious Lord Take My Hand”.  Farris’ vocals are a unique mix of the blues of the south and the at-home Gospel feel of a Southern church.  The newer cuts, such as “Selah! Selah!”, “Devil Don’t Sleep”, and “I’m Gonna Get There” have a very memorable sound and fit right alongside the classics - and they are almost instantly recognizable.

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