CCM’s Newlywed Game

Two is Better Than One
Love is in the air this month as four of Christian Music’s favorite couples take the CCM “Newlywed Game” challenge.

Anthony Evans “Undisguised”

Style: Urban-tinged pop/worship; compare to Anointed, Israel Houghton, Mandisa

Top tracks: “Wait,” “Healer,” “All That Matters”

A recent season of personal confrontation and confession prompted singer Anthony Evans to rethink his professional course, ultimately trading his powerhouse persona for the more humble posture of leading worship. Utilizing the tutelage he received from his father, famed pastor/author Tony Evans, his own corporate experience, and co-writes with the likes of Jason Ingram, Undisguised is designed for personal and collective worship times.

Vlada “All About You”

Style: Groove-based retro pop; compare to Salvador, Israel Houghton

Top tracks: “Never Changing,” “Everything,” “Forever More”

With years of performing experience overseas, Swiss import Vlada dreams big with his stateside solo debut, corralling a musical A-team of studio greats like Abraham Laboriel and Kirk Whalum to lay down some serious grooves.

Passion 2010

History In The Making
In honor of 2010 taking place this January in Atlanta, Ga., Passion founder/pastor Louie Giglio and crew reflect on the heart and history of the college-geared conference.

Kierra Sheard

Bold As Love
Kierra Sheard is just your average college student . . . except for the fact that she’s also a Grammy-nominated recording star. And those are only two of the hats the young 20-something wears.

John Reuben

Not-So-Trivial Pursuits
John Reuben is a bit of a conundrum. Listening down through the artist’s six-piece discography, both heavy programmed loops and organic live instrumentation pervade his colorful musicianship. Where one track might lyrically expose Reuben’s notorious wit and self-deprecating style, the next cut will track down the rapper/songwriter’s demons, countering his deep faith with strains of doubt. Even his occasional post in Los Angeles strikes a stark contrast to the homegrown proclivities of his Midwest upbringing and current residence in Ohio.

But what seems divisive on the surface is all intertwined down at the roots. Offering insight behind the songs off his latest album, Sex, Drugs and Self-Control, Reuben delves further into the day-to-day of his developing faith and explains how his new home studio recording articulates his spiritual findings.

John Reuben “Sex, Drugs & Self-Control”

Keepin’ On Keeping It Real
Ever since John Reuben released his 2003 watershed record, Professional Rapper, the pop/rock wordplayer has garnered rave reviews for his distinctive combo of urban/hip-hop loops and live instrumentation and his lyrical seesaw between self-deprecating sarcasm and somber realism. And his latest record keeps up the trend.

** ** ** ** ** SPECIAL HOLIDAY REVIEWS 2009 ** ** ** **

The Tunes They Are a-Changin’
When news broke that Bob Dylan would release his first-ever Christmas album, music lovers – and critics – went into a tizzy, concerned that it wouldn’t be a good fit. And rightfully so, for it seems that the legendary singer-songwriter spiked his eggnog en route to recording Christmas in the Heart (Sony).

Christmas Music Wrap-Up 2009
No matter your musical style, there’s certainly a new Christmas album just for you in 2009. This year’s new holiday choices include everything from vintage soul to modern worship, from light rock to indie pop, from bluegrass to contemplative folk—it’s all here. CT music writer Andrew Greer sorted through piles of records to review this season’s great, the not-so-great, and the, well, let’s just say some might deserve a humbug.

Starting with the cream of the crop …

Christmas Cheer From Downhere!
Known for his quick wit and dry humor, Downhere’s main man, Marc Martel, banters about the holidays, granting fans an inside scoop on the popular band’s first yuletide recording, How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas (Centricity). Dishing behind-the-scenes details on the album’s brightest tracks, the brassy Canadian takes time to school CCM on rock ‘n’ roll and Christmastime in the Great White North.