** ** ** ** ** 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 [...]

Read Full Post »

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 [...]

Read Full Post »

Whitney Houston “I Look to You”

About to lose my breath / There’s no more fighting left / Sinking to rise no more / Searching for that open door / Every road that I’ve taken / Led to my regret / I don’t know if I’m gonna’ make it / Nothing to do but lift my head / I look to [...]

Read Full Post »

Switchfoot “Hello Hurricane”

Style: The alternative rock of The Killers and indie rock of Death Cab for Cutie
Top tracks: “Mess of Me,” “This Is the Sound,” “Sing It Out”
The evolution of Switchfoot has been interesting. Ever since veteran producer Charlie Peacock signed the San Diego-based band to his re:think label thirteen years ago, the resilient rockers have gone [...]

Read Full Post »

Sara Groves “Fireflies & Songs”

Style: emotive acoustic pop; compare to Shawn Colvin, Cindy Morgan and Patty Griffin
Top tracks: “Fireflies & Songs,” “From this One Place,” “It’s Me”
A songwriter in the truest sense, Sara Groves transfers the strains of everyday life to tape better than any artist in Christian music today. And though she has always translated her keen observations [...]

Read Full Post »

Paul Baloche “Glorious”

Style: Singable modern worship; compare to Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes, Matt Redman
Top tracks: “Glorious,” “You Have Saved Us,” “To the Cross”
Having penned new church standards like “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “Above All,” Paul Baloche is widely recognized as one of worship music’s finest wordsmiths. But with the release of his newest project, [...]

Read Full Post »

Shirley Caesar “A City Called Heaven”

Style: Straight-up black gospel; compare to Juanita Bynum, BeBe Winans
Top tracks: “Celebration,” “Favor,” “Nobody” (w/ J. Moss)
With a ministry that spans over fifty years and has collected eleven Grammy Awards, not to mention shelves of Dove and Stellar awards and a mile-high best-selling discography, Shirley Caesar is still a relevant presence in today’s gospel music [...]

Read Full Post »

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir “Declare Your Name”

Style: Choral-ized gospel/pop/worship; compare to Andrae Crouch, Martha Munizzi, Michael W. Smith
Top tracks: “I’ll Sing of Your Love” (w/ Israel Houghton), “Made to Live for You,” “New Jerusalem”
Since its inception in the 1970s, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has become famous for its weighty arrangements and smoking delivery of modern church anthems, selling millions of records [...]

Read Full Post »

Blind Boys of Alabama “Duets”

Style: Gospel Americana; compare to Solomon Burke, Ben Harper, and The Fairfield Four
Top tracks: “Take My Hand” (w/ Ben Harper), “Up Above My Head” (w/ Randy Travis), “None of Us Are Free” (w/ Solomon Burke)
In a nutshell: Compiling several of their Grammy-winning duets and other notable pairings, The Blind Boys of Alabama’s collection of collaborations [...]

Read Full Post »

BeBe & CeCe Winans

Reunited and It Appeals So Good
Fifteen years ago, siblings BeBe & CeCe Winans made up one of Christian music’s favorite groups. But after scoring numerous number ones in both the Christian and mainstream markets with R&B hits like “Addictive Love” and “I’ll Take You There” and winning every award imaginable, they decided to split up [...]

Read Full Post »