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It'd be great to uncover a reliable statistic on how many albums are released in a year. Or how many artists make their debut in a given year. We cover most of the major label releases in Christian music—about 250-300 albums with 50-75 from new artists. And that doesn't include albums from the much wider pool of mainstream releases, nor the seemingly infinite pool of independent releases.

The music business is more competitive than ever, and that's reflected in this latest list of top Christian independent artists. The press kits are better, the packaging is better, and indeed, the music is much better. The quality of these albums is so good in most cases, it's sometimes hard to distinguish them from signed artists with supposedly bigger recording budgets.

So if you're looking for something new and perhaps different for your music collection—some artful expressions of Christian faith—look no further than these ten independent artists you should know.

Photo by Jeremy Cowart

War and Peace
Folk/Acoustic pop
www.randallgoodgame.com

It almost seems unfair to include Goodgame in a list of virtual unknowns because his work is so familiar and handled with such impressive artistry. Touring with his wife and children, he's shared the stage with several prominent Christian and mainstream artists. He may be best known for his work with Caedmon's Call, lending his writing to "Only Hope," "Hands of the Potter," and most of Share the Well—a newly recorded version of the title track appears on this disc. His fourth solo album, War and Peace features some amazing musicianship from the likes of guitarist Kenny Meeks, pianist Ben Shive, and Caedmon's Call's rhythm section. But the highlight is Goodgame's inviting vocals and songwriting, which both capture the '70s folk singer/songwriter vibe better than most, recalling the likes of Jim Croce, Dan Fogelberg, Bill Mallonee, and Andrew Osenga. Like Chris Rice, he's particularly adept at storytelling, making life observations and then subtly pointing to Christian truths in most cases. There's simply not enough space here to get into his songwriting highlights about Peanuts, Pope Joan, the troops in Iraq, and Compassion International. Suffice to say that this is a wonderful folk album, with rich and textured songs that can make you think and move you to tears.

Say Yes!
Sacred steel gospel and blues
www.leeboys.com

Much has been made about the new revival in "sacred steel," a mixture of gospel, funk, and blues revolving around pedal steel guitar solos—but it seems that Robert Randolph and The Family Band are the only ones gaining notoriety for it. Not many can live up to their level of musicianship, but The Lee Boys come close. Comprised of six brothers and nephews from Miami, these are fourth generation musicians in the sacred steel tradition; all of them started playing when they were 7 or 8. Say Yes!, the band's second album, is a bit more gospel influenced, which might sit better with those who feel that Randolph & Co. rock too hard. Instrumental jams abound between catchy family originals like "Walk with Me" and "Call Him by His Name," as well as spirited covers of "Amazing Grace," "You've Got to Move," and even a familiar favorite like "If You're Happy and You Know It," rendered with a fun Latin-jazz feel. You'll find Say Yes! through the band's independent label.

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