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Regarding this year's selection process for the best Christian Music Albums of 2002, I think I can speak for all six panelists by saying that it was a trickier process than expected. There was no shortage in excellent music this year, as reflected by the huge list of nominations; we brought close to 50 to the table, and we could have easily presented a lot more! You can click on the panelists� names anywhere in this feature to view their individual lists and note all the different albums that were considered; clicking on the album images will take you directly to Musicforce.com to listen to sound clips and buy the album. Despite the varying tastes and opinions, twelve albums rose to the top to make the final list. Additionally, the top three of those twelve blew away the competition, and the top two ranked within a whisker of each other

The following writers contributed to the 2002 music panel:

• Andy Argyrakis, freelance music critic and writer for ChristianityToday.com Music.
• Russ Breimeier, lead music critic and co-director of ChristianityToday.com Music.
• Michael Herman, writer and co-director of ChristianityToday.com Music.
• Todd Hertz, assistant online editor and entertainment writer for Christianity Today.
• Mark Moring, music editor for Campus Life magazine.
• Amy Tatum, assistant editor of Today's Christian Woman.

It's with great pleasure that we present to you ChristianityToday.com Music�s Top 12 picks for Best Christian Music Albums of 2002

Thrive
Newsboys
Sparrow

Andy: " … the Newsboys' best album to date … Not many bands a decade and a half into their career can continue to evolve with as much ease as the Newsboys, all while maintaining their position as a thriving force in Christian music."
Russ: " … the band's best work since 1996's Take Me to Your Leader … I'd be happy to see them play twenty more years if they can keep making music this good."

Contact
The Benjamin Gate
Forefront

Andy: " … much more accessible and down to earth than their debut … Moments of plain old fun and excitement are appropriately balanced out with tactful presentations of spiritual truths in a culturally relevant manner."
Todd:"Contact delivers all the confidence, sound, and force of The Benjamin Gate's debut, but adds greater musical maturity and improved lyrical depth."

Psalms
Shane Barnard & Shane Everett
Inpop

It's worth mentioning that this album was independently released in April 2001. However, it was only widely distributed beginning June 2002. We also suspect that most critics did not fairly consider Psalms for their 2001 best-of lists because it was an independent release at the time.
Mike: " … catchy and insightful songwriting … I can't say enough good things about this one without repeating myself – it's simply one of the year's very best."
Russ: " … the musicianship is excellent … Shane and Shane have succeeded spectacularly, effortlessly combining worship, Scripture, and art."

Then Is the New Now
Denison Marrs
Floodgate

Todd: " … I haven't found another album this year whose lyrics relate more to me. Denison Marrs isn't only talented with the pen – the tight musicianship is top notch."
Russ: "Their lyrics are vivid, poetic, and meaningful … undoubtedly one of the best modern rock bands in Christian Music Today"
Andy: "Denison Marrs shines on their first national release, showcasing increased continuity between each song's lyrical construction and the musical backdrops that encompass them."

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