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Welcome to our fifth annual list of the Best Christian Albums of the year. Six editors and writers associated with Christian Music Today and Christianity Today International teamed up to nominate close to 50 Christian albums and select the 12 best. Each of our top 12 picks were voted in by at least half the panel for their originality, eclecticism, musical growth, talent, and/or message. Check out the ones that sound like they would appeal to you, and see if you don't agree.

New West

Alt country/folk is an often under-appreciated genre that typically champions first-rate songwriting and skilled musicianship over commercial viability. And this veteran is an oft overlooked, though widely regarded, guitarist and artist. With the popularity of the genre slowly on the rise, here's hoping Buddy Miller earns more credibility and success with this timely, relevant and deservedly acclaimed effort—his most overtly spiritual CD yet and, in part, a heartfelt response to worldwide strife and the passing of Miller's brother-in-law, with gutsy and vulnerable lyrics that point to God as our one true hope and salvation.
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Sparrow/EMI

Who says old(er) dogs can't learn new tricks? After 15 years of success, it would be easy for Steven Curtis Chapman to rely solely on what's worked for him before. To some extent he does that here, but how refreshing to also hear him try new things, like adapting his style to contemporaries such as Five for Fighting and Coldplay, and collaborating with musicians outside of the usual Nashville music community. His songwriting is as thoughtful and heartfelt as ever, and he's revitalizing his sound with age. All Things New may not be the milestone that some of Chapman's past recordings were, but it once again establishes the artist as one of the best in Christian music … and still getting better.
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Inpop

What an amazing testimony this 22-year-old has! James Clay certainly isn't the first Christian artist to have one, but he's surprisingly one of the few to actually apply it to his songwriting. And he also does well applying his own clever perspective to familiar subjects like evangelism ("Wicker Park"), prayer ("On Your Knees"), and temptation ("Wicked Woman"). But the real revelation is his varied approach to rock, at different times stylistically resembling Counting Crows, Blues Traveler, Eric Clapton, and Todd Agnew without merely copying them. The production is just right too, balancing a quality sound with appropriate grit. The best part? This is only Clay's first album, and hopefully not his last.
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Word/Warner

Well, well, look who's all grown up. Rachael Lampa takes a huge artistic leap with her fourth album and shows us all that she's not just a pretty voice, though she still puts it to good use with newfound musical diversity. This is a rich and eclectic pop album that successfully blends and bounces between rock, R&B, ska, soul, and dance, yet it all remains remarkably cohesive. Lampa also co-wrote the songs more this time, revealing more of herself with more mature lyricism that's catchy, thoughtful, and accessible. It's been more than four years since she first hit the scene, but this is such a musical evolution, it could well be considered Lampa's true debut.
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