Reviewed by Gareth Hills

In some ways, "Best Of. . ." compilations can be difficult to assess because their whole purpose is to show the finest examples of whatever the ". . ." happens to be. So it is with this particular collection of songs from some of the most popular singer/songwriters in the Nashville Christian music scene at the moment. Kicking things off is an offering from Josh Wilson, "3 Minute Song", which ironically deals with the issue of creating genuine expressions of worship within the confines of an often commercialised music industry. It's an excellent song, the perfect fusion of well-crafted lyrics, and inventive use of instrumentation. This accomplished level of songwriting continues throughout the album - through Jeremy Camp's cello-tinged "Give Me Jesus", the achingly beautiful "Every Season" from Nichole Nordeman, and Shawn McDonald's Newton Faulkner-esque "Gravity". The compilation keeps things varied, and while it is inevitably representative of current trends in the music industry (a uniformly rich, dense sound, and top-notch production), each contributor's addition to the album is impressively fresh. A great introduction to the current crop of American CCM singer/songwriters, this compilation is well worth picking up.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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The playlist: everyone creates them; most people share them; but what happens if you don’t know where to start?

Christian Music’s Best Pop, Worship, & Singer-Songwriter series is the perfect collection to not only build a stellar playlist but to ensure you have the best songs & artists in Christian music today.

Featuring current radio favorites as well as hits from the last several years, Christian Music’s Best series is the perfect gift for yourself or a friend. Includes artists such as Amy Grant, Josh Wilson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Shane & Shane.