Tony Cummings and Mike Rimmer survey all the releases to find the best Christian music albums of 2006.
Tony Cummings and Mike Rimmer have between them listened to over 1,500 Christian music albums in 2006. As with last year, they have pinpointed what they believe to be the very, very best.
VERRA CRUZ - Emancipation
Day (Fierce!)
It's been a long and hard journey
from their days as Dust to finally releasing a debut album but Marc,
Nick and Jimmy have delivered 11 songs that totally capture the
passion and edge of their live performances. Marc James' songwriting
is central here and somehow the band have rolled all their influences
old and new into a set that sounds thoroughly modern and yet shows
respect to those who have gone before. Still chasing that elusive
mainstream deal as they head into 2007, songs like "Strange Food",
"Guns In The Distance" and "Storm Will Come" mark them out as one of
the most exciting British bands around.
Mike Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
VARIOUS - The Best Of
Movation (Movation)
A 2CD compilation which
throws the spotlight on one of the most creative and spiritually
successful production companies/labels in the history of the UK scene.
Manchester's Movation, headed up by composers Mark Pennell and Zarc
Porter, have for more than a decade created evangelistic pop and dance
music brilliantly targeted at the quixotic tastes of Manchester school
kids. Seldom has evangelism been more fun and this delightful set is
full of stone classics like the World Wide Message Tribe's "I'm On My
Way (To Zion)", V*enna's "Where I Wanna Be", "Shine's "Lifted" and
that immortal collision of HOG and The Tribe on "Jumping In The House
Of God". There are also plenty of obscurities and previously
unreleased tracks and the fact that one of them, "Set My Heart On
Fire" by Jenna, could make the Cross Rhythms playlist in 2006 shows
that Pennell's and Porter's take on teen pop has aged amazingly
well.
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
SWITCHFOOT - Oh!
Gravity (Sparrow)
Released in the US on 26th
December and in the UK on 13th January therefore sneaking into this
survey on a technicality, once you hear this fine album you'll know
why we shoe-horned this into our 20 Best. Take the title track, with
its chunky riff, singable chorus and that clever bit where it sounds
exactly like someone falling off a piano stool - "Oh! Gravity" has the
same pop rock immediacy that made Jars Of Clay's "Dead Man" such a
radio staple. But there's also plenty of poignancy and passion that
exudes from Jon Foreman's best songwriting so that when he sings the
final line "All my world resting on your love" on the haunting
acoustic "Let Your Love Be Strong" there's a flash of the transcendent
amid all the clever put-downs of the mad, helter-skelter world that
has seen the American Dream mutate into a nightmare. It is hard to
execute rock that conveys intelligence and insight yet is framed in
the flashy clothes of Top 40 Radio. The fact that San Diego's finest
have achieved this so viscerally must be heartily applauded.
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
AYIESHA WOODS - Introducing
Ayiesha Woods (Gotee)
Bursting onto the scene
with a high profile Gotee Records release, Ayiesha Woods is one artist
who actually lived up to hype about her this year! Despite the various
musical influences combining together, Woods manages to create a sound
that is uniquely hers without being pigeonholed into the usual R&B
slot. A song like "Happy" is a superb slab of perfect pop and "Crazy"
is reggae whilst the acoustic R&B flavour of "The Remedy" is
irresistible. It all sounds like Ayiesha Woods and if this is the
debut, one can only marvel at what she might do next!
Mike
Rimmer
(£7.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
THE BURN BAND - 'All From
You' (Vineyard Music UK)
One of the most
difficult things to do in today's album-crowded market is to record a
modern worship album which still retains a creative freshness. The
fact that this difficult feat has been achieved by a team of local
church musicians (out of St Albans Vineyard) is hugely impressive.
Helped by quality studio production by Paul Burton and Tom Mills, the
songs here (largely penned by worship leader Sam Lane) sound great on
radio and are powerfully anointed in worship. "All From You", "You're
The Love", "Have Mercy" and "Joy" have all been given Cross Rhythms
radio exposure. An album every bit as good as those touted by the top
names in contemporary worship.
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
LEELAND - Sound Of
Melodies (Essential)
17 year old Leeland
Mooring is a child prodigy whose debut album mixes melodic pop rock
ala Keane with lyrics that are inspirational and worshipful without
Leeland being a worship band. In a scene where increasingly a careful
examination of the lyric sheet is needed to see whether the band
you're listening to are actually believers, I like the fact that
Leeland are uncompromising lyrically. Songs like the title cut and
"Yes You Have" unfold with a Godly devotion and celebration. Mooring
has the ability to pen gutsy songs that hit you right in the heart
reminiscent of Delirious? and Waterdeep at their best. "Tears Of The
Saints" is a masterpiece of a song that is another contender for song
of the year. It's a moving hymn to those who have walked away from God
and it stands at the heart of this excellent set.
Mike
Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
ALL SAVED FREAK BAND - Harps
On Willows Vol 1: The Best Of The All Saved Freak Band
(Well Done Productions, US import)
I've long been
fascinated by the era when the Jesus music of the '70s pioneered
today's CCM scene though it's only with the release of this
fascinating compilation that I've been able to hear for myself one of
the most highly regarded bands in the whole Jesus music era. (Their
original vinyl today sell for hundreds of dollars a shot on eBay.) My
musical education wrought by this compilation was highly rewarding.
This 14 track CD brings together tracks from their four albums, all
recorded in the '70s, and while the bluesy thing is going on, there
are also moments when the girly vocals bring in some of the hippier,
folky elements. This is noticeable on album opener "Peace, Love And
Rock'n'Roll". "Seek Him" might be blues but then there's a string
section doing their thing too. The result is that the band's music is
not easily pigeon holed. But whether it's the stunning Hendrix-like
guitar work of Glenn Schwartz, the testifying mainly spoken word of
"There Is Still Hope In Jesus" or the swampy "Old Man Daniel", one
thing is certain - this is a wonderful retrospective.
Tony
Cummings
ARVO PART, ELORA FESTIVAL
SINGERS, NOEL EDISON - Triodion, Ode VII, I Am The True Vine
(Naxos)
For those unfamiliar with choral music, Arvo
Part has composed much which is truly exquisite. Sung here by a much
respected Canadian choir, the performances are superb and the
production catches every nuance of one of the finest choral composers
of the last 100 years. Such compositions as "Tribute To Caesar", "I Am
The True Vine" and "The Woman With The Alabaster Box" are each
breathtaking and easily some of the most beautiful music you'll hear
this or any year. For those already familiar with Part's genius or
those just looking for spiritual music, this budget priced release is
recommended.
Tony Cummings
THE HARBOUR LIGHTS - Leaving
Safe Anchorage (ICC)
Songwriter and producer
Phil Baggaley's credentials are once again set out in this gorgeous
album recorded by his new band. Interestingly enough, it's other band
members that shine most brightly as they contribute their skills to
bringing Baggaley's songs to life. The guitar and harmonica of Rob
Bullock add plenty of spice to the proceedings but it's the pristine,
pure voice of Bethan Court which really tops everything here. Still at
school, it's the crystal-clear tone of Bethan's voice which stops the
listener in their tracks. Whether it's the insistent optimism of "The
Light Is Still Burning" or the gentle encouragement of "Rest For The
Weary Traveller", this album wins through. Seldom has
acoustic-orientated music sounded so good.
Mike
Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE -
Terminate Damnation (Solid State)
It was Demon
Hunter's Ryan Clark who spotted Becoming The Archetype and brought
them to Solid State/Tooth & Nail. Seldom has a new band made such
an impact as these amazing Atlanta, Georgia masters of metal. The
11-minute long "Elegy" is a dazzling tour de force while "The
Epigone", with its dramatic opening, its guitar meanderings matched by
guttural vocals its "THERE IS NO OPPOSITION" shrieked in repetition,
followed by the fattest breakdown you've ever heard, is the kind of
bone-crunching climax most metal bands could only dream of. Equally
impressive are the lyrics which often spell out spiritual truth with
the skill of the poet. Music as brutal as this isn't, of course, to
everyone's taste. But in its own way 'Terminate Damnation' is a stone
classic.
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
BRIAN HOUSTON - Sugar
Queen (Independent)
The Belfast-based Brian
Houston has been lauded this year by mainstream critics and major
radio figures like Bob Harris and Janice Long who have discovered what
Cross Rhythms readers and festival goers have known for years, Brian
is one of Britain's finest singer/songwriters! 'Sugar Queen' looks
like finally putting him on the map after a pile of excellent previous
releases. His observational songwriting is aimed firmly at the
mainstream as he tackles relationships, memories and social
commentary. There are plenty of songs here that I've been playing on
the radio for the last six months and it's the Van Morrison-influenced
"Childish Things" and "These Days" that grabbed me first but repeated
plays only brought out the skill of other songs here. His combination
of Americana influences are infectious and poignant, songs like "The
Ballad Of Matthew Shepard" or "Red Badge Of Courage" show the breadth
of his abilities. Maybe after spending 15 years being touted as the
next big thing, he actually will hit it big. He deserves it when there
are plenty of lesser talents around with higher profiles.
Mike Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
BOB DYLAN - Modern
Times (Columbia)
This is the rock maestro's
return to top creative form. Musically this is more reminiscent of his
last new set 'Love And Theft' with plenty of blues riffs in evidence
but lyrically it's closer to 'Time Out Of Mind'. The key themes here
are the struggle to live life to the ideal you have found and the
coming apocalypse. What is obvious is that this set of songs is set
just before the end of the world. A time when "a day that only the
Lord could make" may be upon us and when "salvation could be behind
the next bend in the road." As Darren Hirst wrote in his Cross Rhythms
review, "The lyrics are redolent with a New Testament feel but they
will find a much wider audience than most songwriters with a biblical
bent because they are in touch with humanity's plight. Sit back and
listen to a master at work."
Tony Cummings
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
THE 29TH CHAPTER -
Underdogz (OTR)
Their previous album 'Full
Time' was a real lift off but 'Underdogz' sees the London-based
evangelistic rappers head for the stratosphere. Combining original and
creative beats with lyrics that aren't afraid to tackle hard subjects,
this is the album which finally puts UK gospel hip-hop up there with
anything the Americans have made. From the fun of "29 Train" and the
collaboration with Sammy G on "For The One" which shines a light on
faux rappers, the group have plenty to say. "This Little Gangsta" is
as strong an attack on gangsta lifestyle as anything recorded in 2006
and yet it uses humour as its chief weapon. Their version of
"Shackles" with Tim Hughes brought them to the Soul Survivor audience
so it's fitting the album closes with them reworking another of
Hughes' songs with "Saviour" showing their diversity musically and
spiritually. As for me, every time the 29 Train passes this station,
I'm a sucker for taking a ride with them on this album!
Mike
Rimmer
(£9.97 @ Cross Rhythms Direct)
swichfoot are awesome band!!