After making music quietly as a family band for several years, Leeland crashed onto the national CCM scene 10 years ago with one of the most lauded debut albums since Jars of Clay's over a decade prior. Sound of Melodies brought the band some significant radio airplay and positioned Leeland to be a powerhouse presence in the business. Subsequent releases provided their own hits, but after their 4th album, it seemed like Leeland quietly dropped into obscurity, dropping an EP or so but mostly going radio silent... until now.

Signed to Bethel Music and releasing their first full-length in nearly 5 years, Leeland released Invisible this summer, a summer that finds lots of fellow veteran acts releasing new music. Hopefully this will signal both a creative and commercial resurgence for the pop/worship act. But with the time lapsed since their last release, it could be easy to forget just what it is that made so many fall in love with the teenage redhead with a writing ability many decades his senior. Here's a look back at 10 of the songs that made us love Leeland. 

1. "Sounds of Melodies" 
from Sounds of Melodies
This was the original Leeland single, the title track of their debut, and the moment we knew this was going to be a special band. I'm not sure what it was about this single, but it captured a musical magic that blended contemporary pop with epic melodies and cinematic wonder. Leeland slammed into our hearts and our stereos with a song that still evokes chills even 10 years later. "Can you hear it rising up to You?"

2. "Yes You Have" 
from Sound of Melodies
Leeland proved they were versatile by offering a pop gem that was primed for radio but a cut above the standard chart topper. Ridiculously catchy, this song helped further solidify the band as a force to be reckoned with in the business. They stole our hearts with this one.

3. "Tears of the Saints" 
from Sound of Melodies
Leeland followed up their initial hits with an emotional gut punch of a ballad that was arguably one of the most critically lauded songs of the decade in the genre. Powerful, emotional, raw, honest and passionate, this song capitalized on Leeland's success thus far and gave CCM fans something to really be excited about and to shed tears of beauty over.

4. "Count Me In" 
from Opposite Way
Leeland's sophomore album was introduced with what was perhaps their most radio-ready song yet. Taking a step toward the more conventional, Leeland proved that even a less ambitious sound from them was still exciting and well worth paying attention to. Count us in on being a fan.

5. "Opposite Way" 
from Opposite Way
The title track of their sophomore release again showed that the band is at their best when they are offering music on a grander scope. A slow-builder that explodes into a tremendous finish, the song encouraged listeners to go against the grain. While hardly a revolutionary theme, Leeland sold the idea as their own and created yet another standout track you wanted to run right to.

6. "Follow You" 
from Love is on the Move 
Boasting guest vocals from Brandon Heath, this was a more laid-back Leeland. The more acoustic approach to back themes of living out our faith in our lives provided some diversity to the Leeland sound and was a fine introduction to their third release. Once again, Leeland proved that radio ready doesn't have to mean boring and that they were a band well worth following.

7. "The Great Awakening" 
from The Great Awakening 
Leeland's title track from their 4th album was a unique stylistic sidestep for the band. While spreading the love of Christ wasn't a lyrical revolution, the music was a noticeable evolution for the band. Even forgoing a standard chorus, the song still managed to be catchy, memorable and a great awakening to what this band was capable of.

8. "Pages"
from The Great Awakening 
Singing of the results of our final judgment, "Pages" was one of the most memorable cuts on the album, a soaring pop anthem that Leeland hadn't really had in a while. While it didn't achieve the commercial recognition past hits have, Leeland showed they could still create anthemic smash hits ready for the arena. This is definitely one of the more exciting musical pages of the band's catalog. 

9. "I Wonder"
from The Great Awakening 
"I Wonder" was Leeland's last song to crash the WOW Hits series and perhaps a noticeable first step into a more corporate worship sound that the band seems to be trending towards. Still, like usual, when Leeland tries their hand at something they give it their all and pull it off. An awe-inspiring musical offering, Leeland delivered another wondrous gift to the Church with this tune. 

10. "The Lion and the Lamb" 
from Invisible
Featured on their return Invisible, this song served as the both the band's reintroduction to the scene and the preview of their partnership with Bethel. Being featured on the latest Bethel release Have It All, the song is promising to be another of Leeland's classic anthems to our Creator, introducing some new electronic elements to the band's sound that the new album favors. This could be the song that kicks off an exciting new era for the band. Welcome back, Leeland!