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| Chris August - No Far Away
The debut release from singer/songwriter Chris August under the Fervent record label, No Far Away is an honest collection. The majority of songs tell a part of his story from brokenness to restoration with a glossy pop/rock sound and clean R&B influenced vocals. Within his musical endeavors the polished crooner doesn't claim to have all of the answers, but sings his with a simplistic authenticity and content that recounts life experience infused with his desire to serve God. Read More.
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| Chris McClarney - Defender
When you spend your formative years, moving every couple of years to a new place, a new church, watching your Baptist preacher-father burning out of the ministry, seeds are planted in a boy's heart.
For Chris McClarney those seeds—full of the potential for disillusionment and doubt—grew a garden of gracious gifts: the desire to serve others; eyes to see the deeper lessons in our hard-knock lives; a fundamental belief in the goodness and faithfulness of God; and the words to bring those realities together in song.
Now, with the August 10 release of Defender, Chris McClarney delivers one of the most soulful modern worship collections in recent years—a triumphant proclamation that God's got his sleeves rolled up and he's working it all out for our good...even if we can't see it. Read More.
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| Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
Between his time in Commissioned and solo superstardom anchored by the 40-plus-week chart topping single "Never Would Have Made It," Marvin Sapp's more than proved his place atop the contemporary gospel scene. Though the lead single "The Best in Me" sounds like a lesser throwback to that aforementioned smash, there are still plenty of R&B romps, booming ballads and even the funk throw-down "Keep Holding On" to keep fans on their feet. Read More.
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| City of Life - City of Life Worship
The praise team from central Florida's multi-cultural mega-church turns in a communal worship experience that simultaneously conveys the energy of a live Sunday service, while ushering individual listeners into a prayerful mindset. The variety of male and female vocalists ranging from rock to soul adds to audience appeal, though an attempt to cross Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" disco beats with the vertical message of "Favor of Heaven" is a cheesy misstep in the otherwise edifying experience. Read More.
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| Newsboys - Born Again
As devoted fans of Petra, Van Halen, Journey and Alice in Chains already know, it can be a seriously mixed bag when you switch up a well-known band's lead singer.
Case in point: Sometimes a change of lineup works remarkably well, (see Petra's transition from Greg X Volz to John Schlitt) and other times, yeah, not so much (like when Steve Perry officially cut ties with Journey to pursue solo stardom) because the replacements simply couldn't compete with their more famous (and beloved) counterpart.
Now, somewhere smack dab in the middle of the argument (a rarity, really) is the Newsboys' recent transition from Peter Furler to dcTalk alum Michael Tait on Born Again, the group's 19th album (including numerous greatest hits compilations). Read More.
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| Katie Warren - Gentle Whispers
Conjuring up the passionate deliveries of signature vocalists like Christy Nockels and Susan Ashton, Texas-based singer/songwriter Katie Warren expertly weaves through 12 songs that both question and confirm her sincere faith. Part worship, part pop, Warren frequently leads worship at Houston's mega-Second Baptist Church, proving her performance aptitude. And though she can belt with the best, Gentle Whispers is lyrically a bit dry. Even still, Warren's quiet prowess on softer tunes such as "Lullaby" warrants this new artist and her nicely knit debut encore recognition. Read More.
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| Hawkology a Brilliant Choice for Newcomers - Hawk Nelson
Pop/punk hasn't been the same since Hawk Nelson took the scene by storm in 2004 with witty lyrics, surging power chords and a refreshing vision. This triple disc set doesn't include any new material, but it bundles together the group's first three projects—Letters to the President, Smile It's the End of the World and Hawk Nelson ... Is My Friend—at a budget price. While this doesn't benefit fans who already own these albums, it's a brilliant buy for newcomers. Read More.
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| Carlos Whittaker - Ragamuffin Soul
Carlos Whittaker is a multi-faceted man. Experienced as pastor, creative coach, web junkie—a self-proclaimed title that belies his national blog popularity—and one-time LA Ink celebrity, the seeker-minded entrepreneur now adds singer/songwriter to his diverse resume. Lyrically channeling his spiritual thoughtfulness into a modern musical mix, Whittaker's debut package is a worthy competitor for his worship contemporaries. And although it lacks the defining originality of its creator, Whittaker's history in church traditions and recent roles enriching congregations nationwide with his informal spiritual sense makes his musical beginning a valuable exploration. Read More.
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| The Supertones - Re-unite
After a five-year hiatus, Christian ska's favorite sons are back together for some summer spot dates at major festivals. Though this isn't the reunion albums fans were hoping for, it's an ultra fun 13-track recollection of the group's horn-heavy catalogue thus far. While not as comprehensive as 2005's Unite or 2008's double disc Ultimate Collection (and certainly suggesting overkill in the compilations department), there's still plenty to smile about on these spiritually skanktified tunes that are said to mirror the upcoming tour's set list. Read More.
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| Hillsong Live - A Beautiful Exchange
Most church worship bands are a little shy of the musicians it takes to pull off Hillsong's massive sound. With well over 10 performers, an occasional choir, a keyboardist (with five keyboards), and skilled singers like Darlene Zschech and Brooke Fraser, their music certainly fills the eardrums. But it's clear the group recognizes the need for learn-ability with these tunes. The chant in "Forever Reign" and the whole-hearted song "The One Who Saves" are easy to pick up, sure to be on every worship leader's wish list. Not every song shines, but there are some golden moments, and a very sweet rearrangement of the Rich Mullins song "Sometimes by Step." Read More.
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