Christian Music

• Faith-Based Music: Critics' Picks 2009 From Leeland's Love Is on the Move to Switchfoot's Hello Hurricane to Jars of Clay'sThe Long Fall Back to Earth and more, these are our choices for the best faith-based albums of 2009. Read on and see if some of your favorites are listed, too. Staff Jan 21, 2010 comments
• Concert Experience Captured on Jeremy Camp's Live Live certainly serves as a good faux-greatest hits and a nice filler between studio recordings. But it is an album mainly for Jeremy Camp fans—of which there are plenty and who should be happy with this more "in-person" experience. Andrew Greer Jan 19, 2010 comments
• The Experimental Side of Hands The album Creator brought an experimental edge to Hands’ hardcore label and that's not just musically. Instead, it seems the North Dakota band didn't exactly plan on the sonic side they ended up with, but everyone seems happy all the same. Matt Conner Jan 14, 2010 comments
• Heaven & Earth Delivered Beautifully by Wickham Phil Wickham's musings of the "now and not yet" on Heaven & Earth should spark a special chord in today's Christian music scene. It's not that what he has to say has never been said before; it has just rarely been delivered as beautifully. Andrew Greer Jan 12, 2010 comments
• Shane & Shane: Scriptures Unplugged Using the pop-producing sensibilities of Pete Kipley and Jason Hoard to get the heart of their songs on tape, Shane Barnard shares with CCM what makes Shane & Shane's newest recording, Everything Is Different, so, well … different. Andrew Greer Jan 07, 2010 comments
• Take It Back! Still Leans Pop-Punk on Rumors A first look at the track listing for Take It Back!'s Rumors of Revolt EP might lead one to believe that this Arkansas quintet has made a sudden 180, opting to head toward the indie singer-songwriter genre. But fans have no need to despair. Andrew Greenhalgh Jan 05, 2010 comments
• Hawk Nelson Reflects Back and Looks Forward Daniel Biro says that 2010 is sizing up to be the year of honesty for his band, Hawk Nelson. The pop punk sounds are still alive and well after four studio albums. But now, the quartet is ready to tell the truth about anything and everything. Matt Conner Dec 31, 2009 comments
• Hands Digs Deeper with Creator Creator, the latest effort from Fargo-based Hands, packs far more than could be expected from the average hardcore record, blending elements of melodic rock, prog rock, and of course, good ole fashioned screamo. Andrew Greenhalgh Dec 29, 2009 comments
• Reflecting Back with Emery Emery must be quite comfortable in their own skin. As drummer Dave Powell explains in this interview, Emery loves making music, feels just fine with where they’re at success-wise and enjoys the ebb and flow of it all. Matt Conner Dec 24, 2009 comments
• The Crucified Gets the Band Back Together for Humanity Twenty-five years ago, four teenagers came together to form The Crucified. Now, the band is back together and to kick off this grand reappearing is the remastered release of their classic album, The Pillars of Humanity. Andrew Greenhalgh Dec 22, 2009 comments
• Take It Back! Learn to Step It Up This Arkansas-based five-some shows considerable promise on Atrocities, their second disc on Facedown Records. Yet they also reveal a calm rarely seen in bands so young. Or maybe that’s just procrastination. Matt Conner Dec 17, 2009 comments
• No Slump on The Almost's Sophomore Outing It's the dreaded sophomore slump. Too much is made about it in the first place. But one listen to Monster Monster, the absolutely stunning follow-up to The Almost’s excellent debut, proves there’s nothing to worry about. Matt Conner Dec 15, 2009 comments