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This 22-year-old turned several heads in 2006 with his self-titled debut, and if we're all honest about it, his captivating vocal performance was the primary reason for that. It's not that he's stuck in one mode either, ranging from the parlor pop croon of Rufus Wainwright to the stadium rock wail of Bono—Wickham's with Jeff Buckley and Jason Morant somewhere in between. He shows surprising richness and control for someone his age, making his gorgeous voice part of the artistry, not just the means by which it's delivered.

Cottrell has earned much respect in recent years a worship leader, recognized most for his work with Beth Moore's conferences, and his blended worship style already demonstrates great range. But he outdid himself in 2006 with Found, a pop-classical album reminiscent of Josh Groban and Steve Green that revealed an obviously well trained voice, pure and flawless. Amazing that this guy can so effortlessly shift from gospel-inflected pop to something approaching the operatic.

The band still hasn't broken big, and so he's still not a household name. But any fan of Downhere knows what a terrific lead singer Marc Martel is, and he continues to mature as a vocalist, varying his technique to suit the song. He's previously been compared to Kevin Max of dc Talk, but on Downhere's third album Wide Eyed & Mystified Martel makes those high notes sound easy—enough to recall a young Freddie Mercury (Queen).

Because Lang is so skilled as a guitarist, it's easy to lose sight of how great a singer he is. Especially considering that a 25-year-old white kid from North Dakota can sound so much like a seasoned blues veteran. But the styles clearly come naturally to Lang as he switches between blues, pop, soul, rock, and gospel on Turn Around, which is rapidly earning him a following in Christian circles beyond the mainstream.

If you have doubts about this band placing first, then you obviously haven't seen them in concert. Hands down, Mute Math is the most exciting live act we've seen in a long time—and this coming from guys who enjoyed last year's tours from Coldplay and U2. They've got the anthemic accessibility of those bands, plus the instrumental precision of journeymen, the modern sonic experimentation of Blue Man Group, and the extended jams of a classic progressive rock band. Oh, and their faith is manifested in their lyrics and vocal ad libs. Next time they come to town, we'll be there.

Speaking of jam bands, Robert Randolph & The Family Band has a reputation for wild improvisation with their sacred steel fusion of funk, rock, and gospel. Their new album Colorblind, however, finds them scaling back on the ten-minute instrumentals in favor of tighter hook-laced songs. The result makes their music more memorable while still showing off their talents with infectious grooves and guitar solos. Others seem to agree, with many of the songs appearing in commercials and promo ads for AT&T, college football, and more. A fun album that is sure to be at least as exciting in concert.

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