Christmas From California | Posted December-14-2016 Jeanette Thulin Claesson is certainly no stranger to ministering through music. Growing up in a musical family, Jeanette (sister to fellow CCM artists Jonathan and David Thulin) has been singing for 30 years, traveling around the world to share the Gospel and serving with multiple University bands and worship teams. With a heart for songwriting, her catalog holds well over 200 songs, some that have been recorded and are being sung by other artists.
With brother/producer David Thulin at the helm, Jeanette partnered with Harvest Church in California (where she leads worship) to create her new Christmas album Home For Christmas. As an added highlight, the church's choir is featured on half the album, even including a special song from their children's choir.
"Merry Medley" gets the album off to a festive start by mixing classics like "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas," "Silver Bells" and "Sleigh Ride." A triumphant "Joy To The World" follows and displays the strong vocal talent of the Harvest Church Choir, much like "Christmas Time Is Here," the song written specifically for the Ordained Praise Children's Choir. Heartfelt "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Oh Holy Night" play on Jeanette's soulful, powerful voice to create beautiful versions of the beloved Christmas classics.
Jeanette is joined by her family on "Silent Night," producing the standout moment on the album by combining her captivating vocals with the talent of the family and giving off a Christmas caroling feel. As for the originals featured here, "Nothing Like" is an acoustic account of the memories that make the holiday special. Worshipful "Who Would Imagine A King & Glory" and fun gospel-styled "Oh Hallelujah" end the album on a high note.
The Bottom Line: This project was absolutely a team effort, and the collective hard work shines through on both the classic covers and the new material. The addition of the church choir gives a fullness to these songs, making Home For Christmas an album that spreads Christmas cheer from beginning to end.
Song To Download Now:
"Silent Night (feat. The Thulin Family)" (Get it on iTunes here.)
2016's Artist To Watch | Posted December-13-2016
It's almost unheard of for an artist's debut single to be nominated for a GRAMMY just months after its release, but that's exactly what has happened for Zach Williams. As "Chain Breaker" erupted onto Christian radio this summer, it quickly became a hit with fans and, almost out of nowhere, Zach became the artist to watch heading into 2017. As the newcomer offers fans a stylistic mix of Crowder meets Third Day meets NEEDTOBREATHE with his rock country roots running through each song, his debut EP Chain Breaker gives listeners an enticing first taste of what's to come from Zach Williams.
The breakout title track opens the album with a powerful spirit of worship, carried gracefully by Zach's grungy vocals. "If you've got pain, He's a pain taker / if you feel lost, He's a way maker / if you need freedom, saving, He's a prison shaking Savior / if you got chains, He's a chain breaker," the hopeful chorus proclaims, resonating with listeners everywhere. Zach's musical infusion of southern rock grit is present throughout the whole album, but especially on "Old Church Choir" and "Song Of Deliverance," both of which offer unique expressions of his country music style.
The EP wraps up with a much slower tempo than its opening, settling down into reverent moments of worship. "Revival" proves to be a highlight on the album, as Zach sings of the redemption and life brought to us through Christ: "You gave me life cause that's what You do / oh, I was dead but look at me now / I found revival in You." EP closer "To The Table" offers captivating lyrical imagery that beautifully describes the grace Christ offers to us in our difficulties: "Bring it all to the table, it's nothing He ain't seen before / for all your trials, all your worries, and your burdens, there's a Savior and He calls."
The Bottom Line: Zach Williams has absolutely proven himself the artist to watch this year, first with the hit single and now the standout EP to match. I've said before that I'm a fan of EPs because they force the artist to display all the styles they want represented in their music in a much smaller space--something Zach does well here as he offers good portions of both southern rock and simple worship in only five tracks. 2017 looks to be a big year for the GRAMMY nominee, as we'll hopefully catch a full-length album and see what else the newcomer has up his sleeve.
Christmas Classics That Stand The Test Of Time | Posted November-28-2016
To most Christian music fans, NewSong is a band that needs little introduction. The founders and hosts of WinterJam, Christian music's largest tour, NewSong has ministered to millions of fans across the country. With more than 20 albums released in their over 30 year span as a group, it's easy to see that Newsong has an enduring passion for leading people in worship and inviting them to know Christ in a deeper way.
Another thing you should know about NewSong is that they have a special love for Christmas. Their annual Very Merry Christmas Tour runs through the majority of December. The band brings out several other artists and plays hits from their past Christmas records, The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Hope. This year though, they'll have a new batch of holiday songs to pull from as they release their newest Christmas album, The Best Christmas Ever. Boasting a lengthy 15 song track listing, the album features 5 brand new recordings and 10 classics and fan favorites from previous Christmas projects.
Kicking off the album with all five new tracks in a row, the title cut gives listeners a lively and joyful duet with Love & The Outcome's Jodi King before heading into a Billy Goodwin led cover of the piano-driven "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," eventually crescendoing into a piece of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Next, Matt Butler tackles a fun cover of "This Christmas," and Bethany Cruz lends her soulful voice to the thoughtful "My Heart's With You." Bringing a close to the new material on this album, "The King Is Born" spotlights Butler's remarkable cello skills.
As for the songs you've heard before, the rest of the album includes such classics as "The Little Drummer Boy," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Oh Holy Night" and Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World." As a tribute to the song's 15th anniversary, a special live recording of the band's mega hit "The Christmas Shoes" appears on the album alongside "Sing Noel" and "Christmas Time Is Here/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," other favorites from that 2001 album. "White As Snow," "The Song Of Christmas" and "The Christmas Hope," my personal favorite from the group, round out the extended track list.
The Bottom Line: With The Best Christmas Ever, Newsong once again proves why they're one of the strongest mainstays in CCM, giving us both new and old songs to enjoy on the same record and handling each one with the gracefulness that is required with classic holiday tunes. The combined vocal efforts of the group merge with the elegant instrumentation and make the perfect pairing for these Christmas tunes that have proven they stand the test of time.
Song To Download Now:
"The Best Christmas Ever" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Captivating Vocals Meet Heartfelt Lyrics | Posted November-25-2016
Singer/songwriter Jon Guerra made his first impression on the CCM world with his label debut EP Glass in mid 2014. As listeners were immediately captivated by his soulful, uniquely compelling voice and thought-provoking, heartfelt lyrics, Jon quickly became a new artist to watch. His spot a year later on the Rock & Worship Roadshow Tour introduced him to crowds of people who couldn't help but be attracted to the beautiful harmonies he and his wife Valerie belted out during his set.
While the rest of his discography offers what you may expect from an artist (a Christmas record, a full-length album, contributions to a major church's worship projects with Vertical Church Band), Jon also has something there that stands out: Working Demos I & II. In a day where it's uncommon for an artist to release their unpolished demos, much less several EPs of them, Jon is gladly embracing the vulnerability and moving forward with hopeful belief in these songs.
"A couple months ago, I found myself in a bind. The songs I'd been writing didn't seem to fit easily in the genre in which I'm embedded," Jon explained. "One song didn't have a chorus, another had some quirky chords, and one song featured a prismizer. They were different, but I wasn't ready to let them go... You probably won't hear these songs on Christian radio, but my hope is that they will still reach you where and when you may need encouragement."
Jon's vocals demand your attention at first listen, which is why it makes absolute sense that it's the very first thing you hear when you turn on this album. With hopefulness resonating in his voice, "The Cure" is the standout moment on this EP right out of the gate: "Help me / I'm sick and tired of myself / locked inside of my shell / could You unlock the door / aching for acceptance, bracing for rejecting / I know there's a cure / You say I am Yours," the vulnerable chorus sings out. An example of the introspective songwriting that often comes with a Jon Guerra album, "All The Way Home" is a powerful lyrical reminder of God's faithfulness through all of life.
"All Yours" has an intriguing sound, featuring Valerie's beautiful vocals on the bridge and creating a moment that keeps your attention to the last note. Acoustic "No Strings Attached" is aided in instrumentation by a banjo and violin, giving it a folky feeling that you can't help but be captivated by. Closing out the EP, "Would You Take It From Me" displays how Jon's effortlessly alluring voice can make even the simplest of melodies sound huge, reminiscent of the way Phil Wickham's voice fills a stadium with incredible power even when the song is undemanding.
The Bottom Line:Working Demos II is overflowing with brilliant melodies and deep lyricism, but the project is made whole by Jon's distinctive voice that fills every track with personality and emotion. The songs feel genuine and heartfelt, breathing a refreshing air into a genre that sometimes feels overproduced. While we look forward to Jon's next full-length project, these demos do a great job of holding us while we wait.
A Christmas EP To Remember | Posted November-25-2016
To know Alisa Turner is to know a fighter. Through sickness and loss, she has continued to sing into the storm and lift praise to God even on the darkest nights. Her gentle spirit and bold voice are the perfect pairing, drawing listeners in effortlessly with her soulful sound and passionate, carefully-crafted lyricism. An artist who will quickly tell you that music has often been a tool God has used to save her life, Alisa's recent signing with The Rain Collective and Integrity Music only intensified that passion for writing and sharing the songs the Lord placed in her heart.
As a precursor to her full-length album releasing early next year (which you can support on GoFundMe by clicking here), today Alisa releases her Christmas EP, Hot Cocoa In My Cup. The EP boasts the ideal combination of whimsical tunes and worshipful moments, creating an album that truly holds the best of both worlds when it comes to holiday music.
The whimsical side of the EP comes into play with the opening title track, expressing Alisa's extreme love for hot cocoa. With her voice soaring across the lyrics, you'll find it hard not to smile as she sings this sweet song about her favorite winter drink. "Save Some Snow For Me" follows, again displaying her passionate and emotion-filled vocals, much like closing track "That's Christmas Time To Me," which plays on her soulful voice to tell her idea of the perfect Christmas.
"What Kind Of Throne" wonders at the miracle of His humble birth in a lowly manger: "What kind of throne is this, holding such holiness here on this cold and silent night / why would He choose to trade Heaven to make this place His home / what kind of throne is this?" A worshipful track, "Baby Boy (Away In A Manger)" begins with an endearing children's choir singing the well-known Christmas tune before giving way to a beautiful string section. "This fragile hand that holds me tight hung the stars up in the sky and with a smile carved out the oceans deep / oh these eyes that strain to see have looked and seen my destiny / baby boy, yet blessed King of kings," Alisa sings, lyrically painting a powerful picture of the Sovereign that became a baby that Christmas night.
The Bottom Line: When Alisa sings, the emotion in her voice is almost tangible as she invites listeners to feel every word right along with her. There is no question if she believes what she's singing, and that passion gives a raw authenticity to her music that is becoming all too rare among artists. While there is undoubtedly beauty in the classics, the completely original track listing on this EP offers a certain amount of creativity that can't help but be praised. Lyrically, musically and especially vocally, Hot Cocoa In My Cup is a Christmas EP to be played by the fireplace as you smile with the whimsy and worship along with the more serious moments.
Christmas Worship | Posted November-15-2016
There's no doubt that longtime worship leader Jason Bare's strong suit is the way he powerfully connects listeners with Christ through every song he sings. A well-rounded blend of pop and praise, his music holds a genuine and personal feel, overflowing with Biblical truth carried by Bare's raw, sincere vocals. In his first major release since 2014's Love Is Alive, Jason returns this year with a 5 song Christmas EP, Night Of Wonder.
The title track opens the album with the uplifting pop style that is signature for Bare, drawing fans into an energetic moment of praise for the glory of His birth. Though a central topic in the Christmas season, Christ being Emmanuel (God With Us) is a theme that feels timeless and can be sung about all year long. "God With Us" takes on that subject well, worshipping Christ for His presence: "Emmanuel, oh praise the name / our God has come, He's come to save / the heavens shout, the earth proclaims."
Another upbeat pop track, "Heaven's Hallelujah" plays on Jason's raspy voice to sing of the celebration Heaven has in response to our salvation through Christ. The only Christmas classic included here, Jason adds his own personal touch to "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," creating a fun remake that gives the song a revived spirit. Closing out the album is previously released, Billboard-charting "Christmas All The Time." This song is the highlight of the EP because of its compelling and heartfelt message of compassion: "Let the Saver of this broken world live through my life, and let me love like it's Christmas all the time."
The Bottom Line: At the heart of it all, Jason Bare is a worship leader, and even his Christmas albums demonstrate that. While some Christmas collections feel like they were just thrown together to check off a career staple, Night Of Wonder feels genuinely produced with true emotion and a passion to lead people in worship through the wonder of the Christmas story. These five songs are a success for Jason Bare and the perfect addition to your holiday favorites.
Worth The Wait | Posted November-15-2016
For pop/hip-hop artist B. Reith, new music has been a long time coming. His last mixtape, 2012's How The Story Continues, was over four years ago, so it's only natural that when Brian began to talk about releasing new music this year, fans were thrilled to help make it happen. Through a hugely successful PledgeMusic campaign, the funding for B's Heart On My Sleeve EP came to life in just a few days.
"The past few years have been a beautiful struggle. Out of that struggle I have grown a lot, and songs have been born. I believe in these songs so much I've waited patiently to release them because I've wanted to make sure they get heard. If you've been waiting, thank you for your patience," B says of the group of songs that will break his four-year silence.
R&B artist Christon Gray features on the first track, "Winning Feeling." Paired with B. Reith's rhythmic vocal skills, Christon's addition to the song makes it a pop/hip-hop collaboration to be played on repeat. Showing off the musical chops that make B.Reith such a dynamic artist, "Start Over" is a fun moment that holds flawless harmony, a catchy guitar melody and autobiographical lyrics carried by his distinctive, soulful vocals. Another memorable moment on the album, hooky "Can't Stop Loving You" will easily get stuck in your head with its guitar riffs and captivating chorus.
The standout track on Heart On My Sleeve, "Roll With The Punches" is an honest lyrical take on his struggles as an artist: "We should know by now that the road to greatness is paved with suffering / easy way out only leads to nothing / all these dead ends are teaching us how to roll with the punches." Continuing the theme of vulnerable lyricism, "On My Own" brings down the tempo in a plea for community and freedom: "If I never wrote another song, would you still love me? If I never went on tour again, would you still wanna know me for who I am? If I told you how often I think about quitting, would you think less of me?" Musically intriguing "Deep End" closes out the album with Brian's signature falsetto vocals and soulful singing.
The Bottom Line: When you think about everything that B. Reith's music has to offer--catchy hooks, honest lyrics, guitar skills, quality production, a unique and expressive voice--it seems obvious to say that he's one of the most underrated artists in music today. Brian can tackle pop, hip-hop and soul all in the same song, handling each genre with extreme gracefulness and talent. Heart On My Sleeve gives fans a piece of all those elements and proves to be well worth the wait from an artist who hopefully is nowhere near done making music.
EP Of The Year? | Posted November-11-2016
If all of a sudden you found yourself singing along to Micah Tyler's breakout single "Never Been A Moment" on the radio without even noticing you had become a fan, you're not the only one. Though you may recognize Micah from his YouTube video on Millennials that quickly went viral earlier this year, the newest Fair Trade Services signee is now making a splash in the CCM world with his debut EP Different.
As a 30-something husband and dad of three, it wasn't an easy choice when Micah decided to leave his life as a Texas delivery guy and pursue music full-time. "I don't know how to be a professional musician, but You've taught me to be faithful," Micah prayed as he felt the Lord calling him to begin traveling and sharing his music. Judging by his debut single burning up radio waves and his touring schedule rubbing shoulders with the likes of Phil Wickham and Stars Go Dim plus a slot on MercyMe's spring tour, I'd say Micah's leap of faith turned out to be a success.
The autobiographical lead single "Never Been A Moment" introduced us to Micah's music and, out of nowhere, made him one of my favorite debuts this year. In addition to being incredibly catchy, the single is a well-produced pop tune that displays Micah's gritty, heartfelt vocals and reminds listeners of Christ's faithfulness in every season of life: "There's never been a moment I was not held inside Your arms / there's never been a day when You were not Who You say You are / Yours forever / it don't matter what I'm walking through 'cause no matter where I'm going there's never been a moment that I was not loved by You."
Title track "Different" slows down the tempo with somewhat of a worship moment as Micah's husky vocals shine yet again in an intimate and bold prayer: "I don't wanna trade Your plan for something familiar / I can't waste a day, I can't stay the same / I wanna be different, I wanna be changed." Another track that begins soft but eventually crescendos into a foot-tapping melody, "Even Then" continues the theme of God's constant faithfulness even in our battles and low points.
"Directions," an upbeat plea for the guidance of God, will quickly get stuck in your head, as will closing track "Story I Tell," a southern-styled song that tells the fascinating stories of people in the Bible that we never got to know the name of before ending with a creative and powerful lyrical twist. One of many times in this 6-song EP that I was captivated by the flawless combination of rasp and emotion in Micah's voice, "Last" is a beautifully written ballad that focuses on the fragility of our earthly lives and the importance of living meaningfully in the time we're given: "Wherever He leads, I will follow and love like there's no tomorrow / I'm gonna start living like today could be my last."
The Bottom Line: From start to finish, Micah Tyler implemented creative wording and made sure to offer an enjoyable number of both peppy radio gems and slower, thoughtful pieces. Micah's voice alone is a good reason to listen to this EP, but beyond that, the instrumentation and lyricism are high quality for a debut artist, leaving listeners excited to see what's next.
A Classic Christmas | Posted November-07-2016
Few voices in CCM are as soft and pure yet still bold and authoritative as JJ Heller's. Still enjoying the release of last year's Sound Of A Living Heart, JJ has been on tour most of this year with friends Jason Gray and Josh Wilson. She is preparing now to release her debut Christmas album, Unto Us.Unto Us came to life through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign that saw JJ raise over $80,000 to fund this project. Produced by Ben Shive and Brown Bannister, JJ mixed together all the emotion and love of Christmas time with songs new and old alike into an album that will soon become a holiday favorite in the hearts of fans.
Opening with the characteristic sweetness and tender vocals we've come to adore from Heller, "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" introduce JJ's personal touch to beloved Christmas classics. A highlight on this album, JJ's rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" shines alongside her uplifting cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Joyful "Let It Snow" provides an upbeat tune before heading into the slower ballads "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and "Silent Night," which all showcase beautiful instrumentation as a backdrop to JJ's effortlessly smooth voice.
As for the original tracks featured on this album, the title cut comes straight from scripture and lays out the Christmas story simply yet gracefully: "Unto us a Child is born / unto us a Son is given / unto us a Child is born and He shall be called Emmanuel." "Christmas Is Here" feels wintery with its bells and choir accompanying JJ's elegant, soaring vocals. Tinted by a hint of southern style, peppy "Oh, To See Christmas" speaks of the infectious wonder of children around this time of year.
The Bottom Line: With so many Christmas albums being released, it's a challenge to make each one special. JJ's unique voice alone sets Unto Us apart from the rest, but beyond that, the instrumental arrangements and well-written originals also make this an album to be enjoyed this Christmas season. As they opted out of totally reimagining the classics and stuck to more of the classic Christmas music sound, they did so in such a way that still made the songs feel fresh. Another successful crowd-funded project, the Hellers should indeed be proud of their work here.
A New Orleans Christmas | Posted October-21-2016
Two years ago, Lauren Daigle may have needed an introduction. Now, you'd be hard pressed to find a CCM fan who isn't totally familiar with her music and ministry. Hit singles "How Can It Be," "Trust In You" and "Come Alive (Dry Bones)" have been dominating radio waves, making a huge name for Lauren with her powerhouse vocals and lyrics of redemptive praise. Now heading out on her first headlining tour after taking home the Dove Awards for Songwriter of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and Artist of the Year, it seems Lauren just can't be stopped and continues to explode with success after beautiful success.
With an ever-growing list of things Lauren has accomplished in this industry in just a short few years, there was at least one thing she hadn't done: a Christmas record. She's checking that off her list with Behold, an album of Christmas classics and carols that pay homage to her New Orleans roots with the sounds and style of the city. "As a little girl, New Orleans graphed its culture deep within my veins, and I fell in love with the cultural vibrancy and the resonating sound of New Orleans Jazz. It has been a dream of mine to make a record of this caliber, touching respectfully on the roots of my upbringing and honoring those who paved the way. I hope as you listen to this record you are taken away by the awe and wonder of Christ in this season and peace fills your home, your spirit and you find rest in the midst of rush," Lauren says of the album.
The jazz vibe Lauren injected into these classics is immediately obvious in album opener "Jingle Bells." The horns and skillful instrumentation alongside Lauren's soulful voice makes for an enjoyable listen and even adds to an already beloved Christmas tune. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" gives off a ballroom ballad feel with the piano and bass working together. A very New Orleans-styled "What Child Is This" and "White Christmas" shine with Lauren's gifted voice flawlessly carrying the age-old lyrics with effortless grace, much like "The Little Drummer Boy," a highlight on the album because of its musicianship and simple yet engaging vocals.
Written by producers Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram, "Light Of The World (Behold Version)" is the only original composition found on this album. "Glory! The Light of the world is here," the elegant ballad sings out. Classics "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night" feature glimpses of the New Orleans jazz while still keeping true to the original aesthetic of the tunes.
I'm always intrigued to hear different artist's take on "O Holy Night," my personal favorite Christmas classic of all time. It's not an easy song to handle vocally, but just as I expected, Lauren absolutely nails it, making this song the standout moment on the record. She sways with the vocal highs and lows exceptionally well, especially in the triumphant last 60 seconds of the track where she tackles that famous note with remarkable ease.
The Bottom Line: Lauren Daigle has the perfect blend of soul and jazz in her powerhouse vocals to tackle these Christmas classics with calm and simplicity. The New Orleans style gives a fresh feel to songs that have been around for years, breathing new life into tracks that we sometimes get numb to the beauty of because we hear them so much this time of year. Her southern roots are well represented in every piece, creating such an enjoyable Christmas album that I'd be tempted to listen to it year-round.
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