Music I Recommend (Christian Pop & Rock)

I just want to say that I was never a big fan of "contemporary Christian" music. Not that it wasn't good--it was just that too much of it belonged inside of a church or a revival gathering. But for the day-to-day trials of life, I wanted music with some personality to it. The Christian road is a tough one and there are (too) many days that I don't feel like belting out in "praise and worship". In those times music that is similar to the tunes I enjoy from non-Christian music bands are what I need; also I wanted something that I could listen to while other people are in the car who may not be Christian and/or also need a more personal pick-me-up.

As Always, God provides. My wife listened to a station called K-LOVE often; that's where the station was when I needed something like it most when Kas was gone for three months in 2007. And within a matter of weeks, I realised that the current Christian music scene is very much different from what I remember throughout most of the 90s. I am happy to say that Christian music has blended some of the best of mainstream rock and pop rhythms with poignant lyrics that could match the poeticism of some of the music's best. Another word of caution: don't judge a song as being "too preachy" until you actually hear it. The singer/songwriter musicians do tend towards the "praise and worship" theme, but often there is much more to the song than the title lends, and you may find it much more on the conservative side than you anticipated.

Whether looking for spirtual understanding, or are in the mood to declare your faith (which hopefully is more often than not), here are artists and albums--with favourite songs in parentheses--that I highly reccommend to anyone who has never heard modern Christian music, or who is a fan and may be looking for some new delectibles:

NOTE: Albums in bold are recommended in their entirety.

AARON SHUST (singer/songwriter - John Mayer, Ed McCain)
Anything Worth Saying ("Matchless", "Give it All Away", "My Saviour My God")
Whispered and Shouted ("Give Me Words to Speak", "Can't Hide From Yor Love")

BEBO NORMAN (singer/songwriter - Ed McCain, Dave Matthews Band)
Ten Thousand Days ("The Hammer Holds", "I'm Alright", "Deeper Still", "Where Angels Sleep", "In Your Hands")
Big Blue Sky ("I Am", "Cover Me", "You Surround Me", "Underneath", "Break Me Through")
Myself When I Am Real ("Our Mystery", "Great Light of the World", "Long Way Home", "So Afraid")
Try ("Disappear", "Soldier", "Drifting")
Between the Dreaming and the Coming True ("Into the Day", "Time Takes Its Toll On Us", "I Know Now", "I Will Lift My Eyes", "The Way We Mend")

CASTING CROWNS (Rock - Lifehouse, Matchbox 20, Staind)
Casting Crowns ("If We Are the Body", "Voice of Truth", "Who Am I", "American Dream", "Here I Go Again")
Lifesong ("Lifesong", "Praise You In This Storm", "Stained Glass Masquerade", "Set Me Free", "Prodigal")
The Altar and the Door ("East to West", "Somewhere in the Middle")

CHRIS TOMLIN (singer/songwriter - Tal Bachman, Evan & Jaron)
Not to Us ("Enough", "Not to Us", "Famous One", "The River", "Come Home Running")
Arriving ("Indescribable", "Holy Is the Lord", "How Great is Our God", "Unfailing Love", "On Our Side")
See the Morning ("How Can I Keep From Singing", "Made to Worship", "Everlasting God")

DELIRIOUS? (European Rock - U2, Coldplay)
World Service ("Grace Like A River", "Rain Down", "Majesty--Here I Am", "Inside Outside", "Everyone Knows", "With You")

KUTLESS (Rock - Creed, 3 Doors Down)
Strong Tower ("We Fall Down", "Take Me In", "Draw Me Close", "Better is One Day", "All the Words", "Strong Tower", "Word of God Speak")

MARK SCHULTZ (singer/songwriter - Billy Joel, Marc Cohn)
Mark Schultz ("I Am The Way", "He's My Son", "When You Give", "Learn to Let Go", "Remember Me")
Song Cinema ("When the Mountains Fall", "Back in His Arms Again", "I Have Been There", "Kyrie Eleison")
Stories & Songs ("You Are a Child of Mine", "Letters from War", "He Will Carry Me")
Live... A Night of Stories & Songs ("live" versions of most songs listed above and below plus debut of "Walking Her Home", "I Am - Guitars Up Version")
Broken & Beautiful ("40 Days", "Broken & Beautiful", "Walking Her Home", "1000 Miles", "Lord You Are", "God of Life", "Now That You've Come Into My Life")

MERCYME (Rock, Country - Train, The Calling, Lonestar)
Almost There ("How Great is Your Love", "I Can Only Imagine")
Undone ("In the Blink of an Eye")
Coming Up To Breathe ("So Long Self", "Hold Fast", "No More No Less", "Where I Belong", "Bring the Rain", "3:42 AM")
All That is Within Me ("Goodbye Ordinary", "Time Has Come", "I Know", "God With Us", "Alright", "My Heart Will Fly")

MICHELLE TUMES (Ethreal - Enya, Dido, Vanessa Carlton)
Listen ("Listen", "Healing Waters", "Heaven Will Be Near Me", "Feel", "Christ of Hope", "Untame Lion")
Center of My Universe ("Lovely", "With the Angels", "Chant", "Christe Elesion")
Dream ("King of My Heart", "Image Of", "God of My Hope", "Blessings")
Michelle Tumes ("Introit", "Domine", "Let It Rain", "Fair Weather", "Gypsy Heart", "Caelum Infinitum")

NEWSBOYS (European Rock - Cranberries, Savage Garden)
Shine - The Hits ("Shine", "Joy")
Thrive ("Million Pieces", "Thrive", "Rescue", "It Is You", "Cornelius", "The Fad of the Land")
Newsboys: Remixed (Electronica and Dance versions of hits and exclusives from Step Up to the Microphone, Love Liberty Disco, Shine - The Hits, and Thrive)
Adoration: The Worship Album ("He Reigns", "You Are My King", "Take My Hands", "Adoration", "In Christ Alone")
Devotion ("Presence", "Blessed Be Your Name", "When the Tears Fall")
Go ("Everywhere We Go", "Go", "Something Beautiful", "In Wonder", "I Am Free", "Secret Kingdom", "The Letter")
Go: Remixed (Electronica and Dance versions of the full song list from their top-selling album, Go)

REBECCA ST JAMES (Alternative, Electronica & Dance, Rock, Pop - Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch)
Transform ("For the Love of God", "Reborn", "One", "Universe", "Lean On", "All Around Me", "My Hope")
Worship God ("Song of Love", "Breathe", "God of Wonders", "Lamb of God", "Quiet You With My Love", "Omega - Remix")
If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something ("God Help Me", "Alive", "You Are Loved", "Shadowlands", "Love Being Loved By You", "I Need You", "Beautiful Stranger", "I Can Trust You")

RUSH OF FOOLS (Pop - The Calling)
Rush of Fools ("Undo", "When Our Hearts Sing", "Your Love", "Fame", "Peace Be Still", "Can't Get Away")

OTHER FAVOURITES
AVALON: "Testify to Love"; A Maze of Grace
BIG DADDY WEAVE: "Let it Rise", "Everytime I Breathe"; Everytime I Breathe
CASTING PEARLS: "Alright"; Casting Pearls
DAVID CROWDER BAND: "Everything Glorious" (single)
ECHOING ANGELS: "Coming Back to Life"; You Alone
JOHN WALLER: "The Blessing"; The Blessing
MATTHEW WEST: "More"; Happy - "You Are Everything"; Something to Say
NATALIE GRANT: "I WIll Not Be Moved", "In Better Hands"; Relentless
NATE SALLIE: "Lone Ranger", "Ruined"; Ruined for Ordinary
PAUL COLMAN: "The One Thing", "I Owe It All"; Let It Go
PHILLIPS, CRAIG & DEAN: "Friend of God", "You Are God Alone"; Let the Worshippers Arise
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN: "Dive"; Speechless - "Miracle of the Moment"; This Moment
THIRD DAY: "Call My Name" (single)
TOBYMAC: "Made to Love"; Portable Sounds

CARMAN:
Carman (along with Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay, and Ray Bolz) was one of Christian music's biggest and most revolutionary artists from the late 80s and early 90s; in many ways he could be considered an "Elvis" of the Christian music industry in terms of popularity and marketibility. He didn't have a style, instead preferring to perform in all genres--from Gospel to Classic Rock; Country to Rap/Hip-Hop--in order to reach the widest audience possible. He also is known for performing several original musical vignettes, such as "The Champion" (the Gospel told like the climax to a Rocky movie), "A Witch's Invitation" (a bit of a comic book-style story), "Satan, Bite the Dust" (a fun little story with the background of a western and using several well-known western themes from classic TV and film), and "Revival in the Land" (a hell-ion underling reports to Satan on the state of the world and the war with Christianity); he had some excellent mini-sermons that included "America Again" (mixes a brief American history lesson with a commentary on modern American culture) and "There is a God" (Christianity VS Atheism).

Carman is full-on charismatic music of the type seen on Trinity Broadcasting Network (which is where he is currently). I'm not apologising or anything for his style--it's just that his stuff can be in your face if you're not prepared, which is what it's supposed to be. Generally, I'm not into heavily evangelistic art, but Carman did have some really good mainstream stuff, and that is what I have listed mostly below. Carman has released over a dozen albums, so if you're looking for a good sampling of his work over the last twenty years pick up The Absolute Best and The Ultimate Collection--most of his biggest hits and vignettes are on there; The Standard and R.I.O.T. are probably his two best non-compilation albums.

"Revive Us Oh Lord", "Fear Not My Child", "The Champion"; The Champion
"Hunger for Holiness", "Come Into This House"; Addicted to Jesus
"Serve the Lord"; The Absolute Best
"Everybody Praise the Lord", "The River"; The Standard
"Whiter Than Snow", "Step of Faith", "There is a God"; R.I.O.T.
"Mission 3:16", "Slam"; Mission 3:16
"Let the Fire Fall"; Passion for Praise
"Just Like He Said", "Heart of a Champion", "Jesus Period", "Faith Enough"; The Ultimate Collection