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Andrew Peterson
Watershed / Essential

In a near photo finish between this album and Bebo Norman's Big Blue Sky, I'm going to give the edge to Andrew by a nose. His insightful songwriting features the same kind of simple-yet-profound storytelling that Rich Mullins was so renowned for. Andrew seems capable of expressing God's grace through anything, whether recalling the time he lost luggage in Kalamazoo or speaking from the perspective of a penny contemplating its meager value in the financial world. Though I'd like to see Andrew expand his musical palette in the future, this is a first-rate folk-pop album, featuring songwriting as thoughtful as any you'll find.

Read the original review here.

Apt•Core
Rocketown

I can't stop listening to this album, or praising it for that matter. Rhythms of Remembrance is a terrific electronic music album, skillfully blending techno and trance with world music influences and layering that with spoken Scripture passages. The production is top-notch and really cool, but I also appreciate the album for its multi-functionality — you can work to it, exercise to it, use it for worship, etc. Though the musical idea is not original, this is something new for Christian music, and I think it paves the way for an exciting and interesting new Christian music genre.

Read the original review here.

Katy Hudson
Red Hill

She's just 17 years old! I have to keep reminding myself that as I listen to this stunning debut from Katy, who wrote or co-wrote every track herself. Here's a teen who easily could have come across as a second-rate Jennifer Knapp or Fiona Apple. Instead, she writes and performs alternative pop/rock with the best of them, even blending jazz into songs such as "Growing Pains" and "When There's Nothing Left." This album is rife with the musical maturity and intelligence of a twentysomething. She's just 17 years old!

Read the original review here.

steve
Forefront

I suspect steve may be the most underrated new band of the year. Sure, they have a modern British rock sound similar to Delirious … but they do it so well! The album production is raw, but stuffed with clever hooks. The band's musicianship is impressive all around, especially the guitar sounds and the bass riffs. Lead singer Neil Wilson writes very simple worship songs that are nevertheless very catchy, and they express worship to the Lord with original words and ideas in ways that mainstream audiences also have appreciated. A great worshipful modern rock debut.

Read the original review here.

Out of the Grey
Rocketown

It's been a great year for Rocketown, and the highlight for me has been the return of this talented husband-wife duo. What could have been just another Christian pop album is elevated by smart songwriting and creative production. The Dentés combine thoughtful and honest lyrics with sophisticated pop to create songs that are catchy, yet melodically abstract. Scott's guitars and Christine's vocals are superb as usual, but it is producer Monroe Jones who adds the last puzzle piece to make a rich, progressive pop tapestry. If there's any complaint, it's that 6.1 is too short.

Read the original review here.

P.O.D.
Atlantic

I could talk about how P.O.D. artistically blends hardcore rock with elements of rap, pop, jazz, and reggae. I could also comment on the plethora of electrifying anthems that constitute Satellite, such as "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation," and how powerfully the band performs them. But above all that, I most appreciate P.O.D.'s success at bringing the Gospel beyond our subculture. Christian artists who truly want to influence the world around them should study what this band is accomplishing and take notes.

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