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Another year has come and gone, bringing with it a long list of new Christian artists vying for the public's attention. Like the contestants on American Idol, some are bound to remain obscure, while others seem to have what it takes to connect with audiences for the long haul. Listed alphabetically, here are twelve talented bands and solo artists who made their national debut in 2006 that we hope to see continue for many years to come.

Uncommon Days (Centricity Records)

For a while, it looked like this national debut from Circleslide would never release. We're glad it finally did, though we all agree that the band doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel with their songwriting, which often treads into familiar worship-rock territory—think By the Tree or Ten Shekel Shirt. But Circleslide compensates with an appealingly polished modern rock sound, the soaring vocal of Gabe Martinez, anthemic choruses ("Get Up"), and some occasionally progressive arrangements ("Meteor"). No, they don't really resemble The Choir, the '80s alternative rock band from which they derive their name. But given time, Circleslide could well pick up where bands like PFR and Paul Colman Trio left off, continuing with vertically focused pop/rock that's undeniably catchy.

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DecembeRadio (Slanted Records)

If Third Day had continued in the direction of their harder-edged Conspiracy No. 5 from 1997, they might have ended up with something similar to this powerhouse national debut from DecembeRadio. With so many of today's bands trying to develop a fresh rock sound based on grunge, emo, punk, and hardcore, it's nice to finally find one firmly rooted in the classic Southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Black Crowes, not to mention the pop-metal of Foreigner, Kansas, and Petra. In doing so, DecembeRadio provides something old-yet-new for today's oft neglected 30-to-40-something males raised on this stuff. The retro approach may prevent them from becoming superstars, but it's still impressive enough to earn them a Grammy nomination already, and strong enough to keep them afloat with a devoted following.

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A Burn or a Shiver (Credential Recordings)

A natural inclusion since A Burn or a Shiver made our list for the Best Albums of 2006. There are plenty of sound-alike comparisons here—Lovedrug, Denison Marrs, House of Heroes, and Sleeping at Last to name a few. But as far as post-emo and indie rock goes, Edison Glass is way ahead of the pack, improving upon what's worked well for others in the last five years. They're progressive and powerful, yet still melodic, plus it's nice to hear a band that's intentional and artful with their Christian beliefs rather than vague and general. Edison Glass is more proof that faith and creativity can co-exist comfortably in modern rock. We're all too curious to hear what's next from these guys.

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Business Up Front / Party in the Back (Gotee Records)

Say this much for Family Force 5. Their debut is surely the wildest trip of the year, and they've come up with a sound of their own ("crunk rock" indeed). A little bit Beastie Boys, a little bit Linkin Park, with some Duran Duran and dc Talk thrown in because they can—it's irresistibly fun stuff. Though energetic, raucous, and over-the-top (their concerts are wacky to say the least), the sound doesn't make your ears bleed or bore you with the usual conventions. These guys are all about fun, and it comes across loud and clear. We only wish the lyrics offered some cleverly written faith expressions along the lines of Relient K, newsboys, and All Star United. When that happens, it'll make the fact that they have a foot in both Christian and mainstream markets all the more meaningful.

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