Tweet

Comments (0)

 1 of 3

Like all of Christian music, worship is a diverse genre. Some albums are designed for use in congregational settings, others for seeker-friendly audiences or personal times of worship. Yet while these albums—and artists—approach things differently, they all ultimately serve the same purpose of glorifying our Creator.

Because of this diversity, we don't ranked our annual list of Favorite Worship Albums. We're not looking to elevate one form of worship over another, but simply to share 12 of the finest praise albums from the last year.

Eight of this year's 12 albums are associated with Integrity Music, but that's just a matter of excellence, not favoritism. Selections are based on quality of songwriting and arrangements, practicality of music in various settings, and achievements in production and performance.

Our favorites (listed in alphabetical order by artist's last name):

Read the original review here.

Would any list of the year's finest worship albums be complete without the latest from Delirious? This band has remained true to its worshipful roots while alternating between congregational and creative albums. World Service offers a little bit of both, returning to anthemic sing-alongs that characterized Delirious' Cutting Edge days while also offering the aggressive U2-styled modern rock heard on their more recent albums. "Rain Down" and "Grace Like a River" both have readily recognizable choruses, and "Majesty (Here I Am)" is an instant prayerful classic. These guys have always been great, and this is exactly the sort of album we've come to expect from them over the last ten years.

Read the original review here.

Here's one that offers a bit of everything. Doerksen has quietly become one of today's most important worship writers of the contemporary church, and here he presents a mix of creative hymn arrangements ("Great Is Thy Faithfulness"), old favorites ("Refiner's Fire," "Creation Calls"), and new originals ("Today," "Fortress 144"). The genres are varied between the traditional and the modern, with diverse sounds that include guitars, keyboards, a rhythm section, a jazz ensemble, and two choirs. All of that without even touching on the visual arts and the brief teaching monologues—you'll need to see the DVD to catch those treats. This is almost surely a glimpse of what heaven's like, with everyone going beyond music to lend a hand in contributing to and experiencing true worship with the Creator.

Read the original review here.

We are a diverse body of worshipers, and it's reflected through the variety of sounds and styles represented by various denominations and the slew of worship albums released each year. This outstanding album brings it all together. A longtime labor of love for Natalie Grant and her husband, producer Bernie Herms, Worship successfully offers a fresh and diverse mix of old and new, including gospel ("Come into This House"), pop ("Breathe on Me/I Need Thee Every Hour"), R&B ("You Are My All in All"), funk ("Let It Rise"), and Latin ("Crown You With Praise"). And don't miss the ingeniously over-the-top rendition of Michael W. Smith's "Agnus Dei." Great arrangements, stunning musicianship, amazing production, and enthusiastic performances—this album is your invitation to the party.

next page... |  1 of 3