Mike Rimmer and Tony Cummings have sifted through 1,500 Christian music releases to identify the very best tracks of the year. Here they are, in no particular order.
Hillsong United -
Hosanna/For All Who Are To Come
From 'All Of The
Above' (Hillsong)
There is also a version of this Brooke
Fraser composition on the Hillsong album 'Saviour King' but this is
the version to get. A truly transcendent piece of worship with Brooke
showing she is one of the finest singers ever to lead worship with the
haunting song over the ricocheting drum rhythms seguing into a
prophetic song "For All Who Are To Come". To those who've suggested
that Hillsong United can only do stadium rockers with simplistic
theology had better listen to this spine-tingling gem.
Tony
Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Group 1 Crew - Love Is A
Beautiful Thing
From 'Group 1 Crew' (Word)
With their blend of Latin, pop and hip-hop, Group 1 Crew have
garnered comparisons with Black Eyed Peas. On this song the group
manage to create a perfect pop song for radio. There's something
wonderfully happy, upbeat and optimistic about the whole thing. From
the catchy sung chorus to the stylish word play in the rapping to the
overall breezy feel of the song, it always brings a smile to the face
when you hear it.
Mike Rimmer
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Randy Travis - Labor Of
Love
From 'Songs Of The Season' (Word)
Few
indeed are new Christmas songs that do any kind of justice to the
incarnation. But his gem of a composition from the pen of the hugely
underrated Andrew Peterson is just such a song - a graphic depiction
of the suffering and transcendent courage shown by Mary when she
brought the Christ child into the world. Bringing out all the pathos
of the memorable lyrics is one of the great voices of modern country
music. However strong your aversion to country might be, you should
try and hear this.
Tony Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Mavis Staples - Down In
Mississippi
From 'We'll Never Turn Back'
(Anti)
The swampy production on the song from Ry Cooder sums
up the mood perfectly as Mavis takes the listener on a road trip
through time back to her childhood when as a young black girl she
discovered for herself the injustices of racial intolerance in the
Southern States. There's so much heat coming from the track in the
form of Cooder's guitar that if you close your eyes, you feel like you
could be on a Tupelo back road. Staples' voice, with its guttural
growls and head-to-the-sky swoops, has never sounded finer recalling
her halcyon days with the Staple Singers. She effortlessly conveys the
righteous passion of the civil rights movement.
Mike
Rimmer
£11.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Casting Crowns - What This
World Needs
From 'The Altar And The Door'
(Reunion)
I have to say at the outset that this kicks off
with possibly my favourite opening line ever. "What this world needs
is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind." No indeed. What
our modern world needs is someone who can effortlessly turn out
tuneful pop rock which abound in spiritual truth, are enjoyed by both
the youth celebration crowd and their Christian mums and dads and are
every bit as radio friendly as the big mainstream hitmakers. A band
like Casting Crowns no less. There's nothing "cool" about these youth
workers from Atlanta. But there's a sincerity of heart that goes
deeper than much "cutting edge" posturing.
Tony
Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Relient K -
Deathbed
From 'Five Score And Seven Years Ago'
(Gotee)
'Five Score. . .' was the album that finally
convinced us that Relient K were so much more than pop punk pun
purveyors. And "Deathbed" was the last track climax to a great album,
an 11-minute epic which, with no hint of maudlin overkill, portrays a
man dying of lung cancer, reflecting on his life. By the time
Switchfoot's Jon Foreman, as God, makes an entrance at the climax of
the song one has both been dazzled by the building crescendos of the
arrangement and convinced that Relient's Matt Thiessen is one of the
greatest songwriters currently knocking out pop songs. A sonic feast
which still retains the ability to draw tears from the listener.
Tony Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Bluetree - God Of This
City
From 'Greater Things' (Independent)
A
song's origins are seldom as strange as this. "God Of This City"
originally came into being as a spontaneous number while the band
played worship songs at an outreach in a strip club in Thailand. This
remarkable song retains its spiritual power. The band do a fine job in
creating vibey rock with uplifting anthemic moments. It takes no
account of what you can see with human eyes but instead pulls the
listener into the world of the unseen and the impossible to remind us
all that wherever we live, God has his plans and nothing can stop
them. Inspiring!
Mike Rimmer
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Neuma - Good
Morning
From 'City On A Hill' (Independent)
It was a great idea to take an old track from veteran soulman Don
Covay and use some extensive samples of Don's summery laid-back vocals
as the starting point for a delicious piece of rap. The fact that
hip-hop driven by a kazoo works so brilliantly is thanks to the
fertile imagination of this American-born UK-based rapper. A clear
demonstration that there are still many styles and textures to be
explored within the hip-hop template.
Tony Cummings
Kevin Max, Erica Campbell -
People Get Ready
From 'The Blood' (Infinity, US
import)
You have to be a brave (or foolish) man to try your
hand at covering this song since there are literally hundreds of
versions out there. Until now I've not come across anyone who could
touch the original Curtis Mayfield version with The Impressions from
1966. Enter Kevin Max, a man blessed with one of the most distinctive
voices in Christendom. On this he duets with Erica Campbell from Mary
Mary and demonstrates that he has plenty of soul. Aside from Max's
excellent vocal performance, there is some extremely tasty electric
guitar playing from Vince Gill. The result is a powerfully soulful and
completely fresh version of a classic song.
Mike
Rimmer
£8.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Paul Poulton Project - I
Don't Know Bob Dylan
From 'Dumb Dogs'
(Independent)
A set of interlocking guitar riffs conceived
by veteran Midlands songsmith Poulton able supported by his funky
bassman and mad-yet-extremely-gifted drummer. It's a deliciously
funky, bluesy groove allowed to build and build (it weighs in at an
impressive seven and a half minutes long) while the throwaway lyric is
Poulton at his laconic best. With his brilliant band members Poulton
is in the most creative period of his life though it's only rumour
that Mr Dylan is to record "I Don't Know Larry Norman".
Tony
Cummings
Three Cord Wonder - Jesus
Rock Show
From 'Jesus Rock Show'
(Independent)
Based in Denver, Colorado, Three Cord Wonder's
debut album 'Jesus Rock Show' has a snappy title cut which in three
minutes of high energy pop punk says more about the American Christian
music scene than 100 articles in CCM Magazine. It tells the story of a
kid who goes to a Christian rock show and encounters bands who instead
of telling him about life-changing truth simply point fans to their
merchandise tables to buy their product. Three Cord Wonder are
committed to something else, full-on ministry. This track makes its
point with passion and poignancy.
Mike Rimmer
Foy Vance - Gabriel And The
Vagabond
From 'Hope' (Worda Mouth)
The
Sunday Mail described this brilliant Irish songsmith as "steeped in
soul, blues and funk and his voice calls to mind Otis Redding with a
husky touch of Tom Waits" which isn't a bad shot at conveying the
cathartic intensity of a GREAT voice. If that wasn't sufficient, Foy
writes lyrics which go extremely deep. This is a narrative song about
a tramp and his encounter with an other-worldly being who whispers
"hope" into his ear. A song that once you've heard it you'll never
forget.
Tony Cummings
Thebandwithnoname -
Misfit
From 'Dying To Be There' (Movation)
This is the big radio hit from the album and the first track that
really grabbed me when I played the album. It's a fun song but it has
so many hooks built into three minutes that Zarc Porter could make a
living as a cloakroom attendant. It's perfect pop with a great message
and live the song is a highlight of the band's stage show. Great fun
without compromising the message. The really fast synth solo is Zarc's
tribute to '80s band After the Fire. A song that you never really get
tired of hearing.
Mike Rimmer
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Vini Contreas - Christ
Crucified
From 'Kingdom Of Conscience'
(Independent)
With Mexican horns that sound like they were
plucked straight from Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire", this quirky little
song catches the ear from the get go. This Californian has put
together a song that pitches together the most ridiculously catchy
melody with a very deep message of knowing Christ intimately. In a
sense, this has the naivety of early Jesus music because it rejoices
simply in the truth of the message and yet dressed up in this
imaginative arrangement complete with its many fake endings makes it
really work.
Mike Rimmer
Jeremy Riddle - Stand In
Awe
From 'Full Attention' (Vineyard Music)
It's taken American Vineyard Music quite awhile to catch up with the
passion and rock and roll bite coming out of UK and Canadian Vineyard
churches. But this album from the worship leader at California's
Anaheim Vineyard is utterly breathtaking with this song showing what
can be achieved when a talented musician is prepared to bare his very
soul before the living God. With a voice breaking with emotion, Jeremy
conveys the heart of intense spiritual experience.
Tony
Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Fee - We Shine
From 'We Shine' (INO)
There is a moment in this song
where the initial slow build of the intro and the verses are delivered
with such high energy that you think it would be impossible to top
them. And then suddenly the song goes into punch the air overdrive and
the chorus kicks in. Band leader Steve Fee sings triumphantly, "We are
the Redeemed, we are the ones who are free and we belong to Jesus."
It's a glorious moment on a glorious song. It's impossible not to be
moved! Built on a pile of incendiary guitars, this fires along at an
incredible pace and makes rockers from Hillsong United or
Planetshakers seem like tame, damp things by comparison. Plug in, turn
it up and really get excited!
Mike Rimmer
£8.99 at Cross Rhythms Direct
TBC - Beautiful
From 'Talk Of The Town' (Movation)
I doubt whether
I'll hear a prettier melody this year. The tweenie pop of tbc isn't
exactly to my taste but this Pennells and Porter ballad is completely
breathtaking and with an arrangement which brings out all the power of
the lyrics. Goodness knows how many songs have been written about the
sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth on the cross but this does the job
beautifully for tbc's sub-teen audience to get hold of a life-changing
truth.
Tony Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Sara Groves - In The Girl
There's A Room
From 'Tell Me What You Know'
(INO)
Charlie Peacock has built a musical career on creating
understated funky grooves like this for his solo records and other
artists. Here he teams up with Sara Groves to concoct a song that is
arresting and brings out the best of Sara's bitter sweet voice. Groves
is quickly turning into one of the most interesting lyricists on the
scene, moving away from the platitudes of so many other Nashville
artists to create songs that have heart, soul and much to say. The
combination of groove and lyric makes this a huge song. Lyrically it
celebrates the depths of the human soul and how our hope motivates us
to have faith and continue to make a difference despite our setbacks.
Optimistic and inspiring, there's a touch of KT Tunstall in the
lyrical structure but Sara Groves has delivered a beaut here!
Mike Rimmer
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
MercyMe - God With
Us
From 'All That Is Within Me' (INO)
To
be honest I'd all but written these veterans off as Yesterday Men.
Okay, "I Can Only Imagine" was a classic song but that was quite
awhile ago. But now 'All That Is Within Me', crammed full of
melody-driven pop rock songs, has forced me to reassess Bart Millard
and co. Locking themselves away in a log cabin studio in Idaho, with
Abbey Road for overdubs and producer Brown Bannister's studio for
mixing, the album is packed with top rate songs and sonically exciting
production. And this powerful, worshipful gem is the pick of the
litter.
Tony Cummings
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct
Godfrey Birtill - R U
Ready
From 'Very God' (Kingsway Music)
At
first glance, this seems such a throwaway silly song that it's
possible to completely miss the deeper message of it. Basically, this
is a life-changing lyric dressed in a silly '50s drape jacket. It's a
hugely danceable retro slice of rock'n'roll which at the Grapevine
event had worshipers jiving joyfully in the aisles. It's what I'd call
a Marmite song - you either love it or hate it. I love it but my wife
Pippa hates it and complains every time I play it! Lyrically it
reminds us that we can experience the glory of God everywhere in life
and not just in church services so whether we're at the dentist's or
sitting in the kitchen, we need to be taking the glory of God with us.
I particularly like it when at 1.44 into the song Godfrey shouts out
"get on your dancing shoes!" Listen and decide to experience God's
glory on the bus to work!
Mike Rimmer
£9.97 at Cross Rhythms Direct