#9 Album Of 2011 | Posted December-26-2011 I had the privilege to seeDara Macleanperform acoustically to a small audience as her label, Word Records, began introducing her before her summer debut. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, I'm getting a first glimpse at next year's New Artist of the Year." And 10 months later, I'm fully expecting not only a nomination, but a well deserved win for Dara. Watching Dara sing her heart out, in perfect pitch was one of those moments I'll remember for a long time. She is a true artist through and through, humble and patient in His plan, and it was apparent she loves God and gives Him all the credit for her path.
Dara has a great, unique voice that is so needed in today's polished pop landscape. I appreciate albums that sound a little different and voices that stand out from the pack and Dara's music and voice does both extremely well.
Musically, You Got My Attention fuses R&B, Pop, Soul and even elements of Jazz. Listeners will certainly appreciate the tones of Lauren Hill, Adele and even her own label mate, Francesca Battistelli.
I love listening to songs where you can actually see the artist smiling in your mind. Joy is not just lyrics on paper, it's a full emotion and not always brought through the speakers well. But Dara has joy and you hear it in the lyrics and the voice throughout songs like "You Got My Attention," "Free," "Nothin' You Won't Do" and the first single, "Suitcases."
Dara also provides some nice moments of vulnerability on songs like "Yours Forever" and "Had To Be You," which are musically stripped from production yet just as shiny as the other tracks.
As an artist that's not coming onto the scene fresh out of grade school, Dara has a great perspective on life that many new artists in our industry are only starting to discover. I believe that gives Dara an instant depth that is a joy, and instant comfort, to jump in. It's certainly one of the few debuts worthy to be placed on my Top 10 list this year.
#3 Album Of 2011 | Posted December-26-2011 With her sophomore album,Francesca Battistelliproves she's an artist that will be with us for as long as she desires to make music. From her relatable, real-to-everyday-life lyrics, to her unique, approachable and beautiful delivery that transfers easily between pop songs, folk tunes and ballads, Francesca is proving to be Christian Music's reigning female artist, quickly building quick an impressive career and ministry.
It's tough to choose highlights on Hundred More Years. The first half of the album is packed with hit songs, some of which have already dominated at radio. "This Is The Stuff" and "Motion Of Mercy" have already been radio mainstays and "Constant" and "You Never Are" will provide future hits. "Angel By Your Side" is easily one of her best songs to date and has the potential to be a crossover senstation into mainstream..
Francesca pulls from recent life experiences for the rest of the album like getting married and having her first child, which may leave some desiring more overt spiritual content. However, this is certainly an album full of positive hope, pure love and biblical principles. "So Long" talks about saying goodbye to lonely living, and while there's no clear indication of if she's singing to God or her new love, it's a song about companionship and God has certainly wired us to cling to one another and not travel this world alone. "Don't Miss It" is song that encourages us to slow down, breathe and embrace the day to day moments in life that we take from granted. "Worth It" talks about the toughness of constant love we're called to give out and the reality that we will all need pure love some day. The title track should bring any parent to tears. It's a beautiful reminder to cherish the moments we have with our children.
Overall, Francesca answers on her recent Dove Awards for Artist of the Year as well as Best Female Vocalist and has delivered one of the best albums of 2011 that you can't miss.
#2 - Best Of 2011 | Posted December-26-2011 After a return to true form on 2009'sHello Hurricane,Switchfootis back with yet another smashing chapter in their storied history. Could this be their best album yet, eclipsing evenNothing Is Sound? I'm not sure, but I do know it's the closest they've come yet to even having that discussion.
On Vice Verses, the drums and the bass take center stage driving forward a relentless energy backed by Jon Foreman's signature, passionate voice and in-depth lyrics that come alive with repeated listen. And much like their live performances, you get a sense that nothing was left behind in the studio. The band put their all into every song and the audio assault is a pure treasure to listen to.
There are so many fantastic songs on this album. "The War Inside" is one of the lyrical high points of the album and talks about our "low-fi killers" (pride and "I") that are within each of us, despite our race, age or location. Every line is beautifully crafted and designed. "Thrive" is low-key but you feel the angst when Jon sings "I wanna thrive, not just survive." "Restless," possibly one of the band's best songs they've ever crafted, starts soft and crescendos into a passionate creed. The song feels like an arena event, a play with multiple acts and a huge finale, with Jon rising to new emotion in his voice accompanied by an amazing guitar line. It's a song that I simply can't get enough of. And there's a reason "Dark Horses" is in the Top 5 on mainstream rock charts. It's simple an incredible rock anthem.
Vice Verses is just as good as Hello Hurricane, my top pick a few years back, and it's great to continue to witness the latest surge of this incredible band. Hopefully they keep riding this wave for years to come.
Top 10 Of 2011 - Best Album Of The Year! | Posted December-26-2011 A few years back, Phil Wickham recorded my favorite album of the year,Heaven And Earth. The songs unlocked that connection we all feel with our eternal destiny and created a real sense of longing to leave this world behind and join our heavenly Father.Brandon Heath's latest album,Leaving Eden, returned me to that sense of longing with the opening title track, a beautiful telling of how we continue to move further away from Eden while closing the distance to Heaven. I love that picture because it's not a hopeful song until the end, when we realize that the darkness around us actually has purpose when we look for the light ahead. Brandon doesn't stay on this theme long, unlike Wickham did, returning to the topic only once more at the end of the album with the spectacular song "Now More Than Ever," but the music and lyrics are layered in the same vein. They are catchy enough to sound comfortable and familiar, but different enough of stand apart from the crowd of other Pop/AC artists out there.
Released in the first few weeks of 2011, I can still easily breeze through this release without hitting skip once. From the polished, best driven radio hits "Your Love," "Might Just Save Your Life," and most recently, "The Light In Me," to some of the deeper tracks like "Only Water" and "It's Alright", which pull back and rely more on acoustic guitar, piano and strings, this album is full of hit songs. "It's No Good To Be Alone" even brings in an island/beach vibe complete with horns.
Lesser artists would get lost in this variety, but Brandon's vocals handle all styles beautifully, you get a sense that he and the producers took a few extra steps on each track, and he's never sounded better. Don't miss this fantastic release from one of Christian music's rising artists.
Welcome Back! | Posted December-26-2011
Of all the artists that hit it big around the start of the new decade, I've missed Rachael Lampa the most. Her voice is simply incredible and one of the best in our industry, but as Word Records continued to push her to more and more to an adult, contemporary sound, wanting their next Jaci Velasquez or Nicole C. Mullen, I lost interest. Rachael was a young woman who needed a deeper musical landscape to play in other than ballad, after overpowered balled. And on All We Need, her first new album in seven years, we're getting just that.
For me, I've almost had to be reintroduced to Rachael. After a few albums of not quite getting what I want, I've been taken aback by the fact that this is the album I've been waiting for a long for from Rachael and she delievers wonderfully. The album didn't make my Top 10 but it's defintely in my Top 15 of the year. It's full of emotion, powerful lyrics, amazing vocal runs, and it's just a great pop, youthful album that allows her beautiful voice to simply shine track after track.
Welcome back Rachael! I can't wait to hear what's next.
It's Time To Stretch A Bit | Posted December-26-2011
The boys have delivered another fun and enjoyable set but continue to disappoint lyrically. Not only is there a lack of spiritual, well, anything here, songs about fighting, going broke, making up funny dance moves, and breaking necks looking at girls, make it tough to really enjoy. I found myself loving the arrangements, programming and music and getting completely frustrated at the lyrics. These guys have the faith. They talk about it all the time in interviews and concerts, but after three albums, it's time to put the foam fists down (and that's coming from a huge fan of the fists) and embrace some heavier topics. If not, stop headlining Creation Festival and focus more on Warped Tour and chase that mainstream gig full time. Either way, they have the talent to continue to be great. I'm just wanting them to embrace their faith a bit more.
#10 Album Of 2010 | Posted February-16-2011
I'm starting to think that Toby McKeehan can do no wrong. After four incredible solo albums, following the leadership of one of the most successful groups in Christian music, it's more than apparent that tobyMac is one of the most significant artists performing today. Few artists are consistently releasing hit music, packed with truth and excitement, like tobyMac. Period.
Tonight is not Toby's best album. I still feel 2004's Welcome To Diverse City holds that title. But it certainly comes close. Tonight finds Toby embracing more vocals and less rap, but don't expect that to reduce the overall drive of the album. Each song, even the slower tracks, are packed tight with beats and layers of instrumentation in almost every corner. Toby always hits almost every genre with "Showstopper" and the title track leaning heavy on rock, "Get Back Up" and "City On Our Knees" satisfying pop fans, "Changed Forever" (one of my favorite tracks from Toby in years) and "Funky Jesus Music" diving in disco/dance and "Hey Devil," "Start Somewhere" and "Captured" smashing everything together.
It's nice to hear Toby move into some new directions allowing him to explore even more styles than before. Like his band, his music continues to be diverse, and incredibly entertaining.
#9 Album Of 2010 | Posted December-21-2010
I gravitate easily to dynamic music. Music that breathes, that seems to have three dimensions while building to a giant crescendo. The Afters certainly have this style down. Each song seems to be moving forward to a greater revelation right around the corner, which I love. It keeps me interested, invested and wanting more.
Light Up The Sky, the group's third studio release, is an excellent collection of music that never dulls or bores throughout its ten tracks. Each song has its' own unique character and that's what I love most about this album. The first four tracks are driven by guitars, piano, drums and strings, all at different times.
Lyrically, the songs on Light Up The Sky reflect the faithfulness of God amidst the hard times the band faced before recording including losing their longtime friend and manager to a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer, two band members deciding to part ways, a nearly life-threatening car wreck and a new member losing a close friend one week after joining the band. “Life Is Sweeter” is an ode to a beautiful, abundant life on “the other side.” Songs like “Lift Me Up,” “I Am Yours” and “We Won’t Give Up” reaffirm the band members’ faith and the source of their strength; while cuts like the title track, “Start Over” and “For the First Time” reiterate the theme of rebirth.
#8 Album Of 2010 | Posted December-21-2010
One of the most talented guitarists in Christian music is taking his skills once again and using it to amp up his songwriting that has, for the most part, been for the church. Real Life is a dynamic worship release with "Shout For Joy," "Best Days," "Reaching For You" and "So Good" leading the energetic charge. "Reaching For You," "More Than Amazing" and "Whom Shall I Fear" (featuring Kari Jobe) are some of the best worship choruses I've heard all year. But the song that grips me and gets me excited about the album is the title track.
"Real Life" is a great singer/song-writer style song, not meant for Sunday morning at all. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this didn't eventually find its way to an audience on country music. The song is a riveting reminder of time gone by and solidifies Lincoln as more than just a worship leader (not that there's any wrong with that at all).
Overall, Real Life is one of Lincoln Brewster's best albums to date. His guitar shines almost as bright as his vocals, and is truly unmatched in Christian music, let alone the worship sub-genre. You don't want to miss this great album by this fantastic artist.
#7 Album Of 2010 | Posted December-21-2010
2008's Something To Say established Matthew West as a great singer/songwriter in my book. He emerged as a fantastic story teller, wrapping his personal experiences in accessible hooks and pop music. For his fifth studio album, Matthew solicited stories from his fans, receiving an overwhelming amount of letters (over 10,000) from which he crafted the 11 songs of The Story Of Your Life. The songs that emerged deal with the burdens that so many were carrying on their backs. Abuse, being forgotten, bad self-image, divorce and hate.
With so many heavy topics, it's amazing to me how this album didn't turn out to be one of the most depressing albums I've ever heard, but through the entire album, West weaves poignant hope around these dark moments, shining light into the corners of these lives. It's right on par with the promise that God brings. He is with us in the valleys as well as the mountaintops. And despite circumstances around us that may be clouding our view, there is a God who loves us and wants to grab our hand, and lead us out of the darkness. This is far from a heavy listening experience and knowing the source material came from true stories makes it an incredibly personal challenge to listen to the stories around us and usher hope wherever needed.
Highlights on the album include "Broken Girl," "Strong Enough" and "My Own Little World."
KevinMcNeese_NRT's Music and Book Reviews 
