Top 13 Albums of 2013

I know I haven't kept up with this blog much in the last year or so... I've been kind of busy getting married ;) But as 2014 comes to a close I realized I never released a list of my favorite albums of 2013!!! As I've had a year to enjoy these records and let them marinate. Some have risen to classic status (1-5) and some started out as favorites but have not held up as well as I originally thought they would (7&13). So here's my list of the top 13 albums you should have listened to in 2013. Which are your favorites? 

1. Meredith Andrews- Worth It All


This is still my go-to album on Sunday mornings or any other time I want top prepare my heart for worship. I've always liked Meredith Andrews but on this album she really lets loose vocally and the passion is tangible. There is such a great balance her of corporate and personal worship songs. Radio friendly but not pandering, this album just never gets old/ A must buy.

 iPod Picks: Strong God, Not For a Moment (After All), Burn Away, The Gospel Changes Everything, Open Up The Heavens


2. Mandisa- Overcomer


Mandisa really hits her stride here. Every song could be a radio hit. Look for Mandisa's star to keep rising with each record.

 iPod Picks: Overcomer, Dear John, Joy Unspeakable, What Scars Are For, Press On


3. Newsboys- Restart (Deluxe Edition)


I don't think anyone saw this one coming. Newsboys has released one of the best pop albums in recent CCM history. This is one of those few records where I like the songs included on the Deluxe version better than half of the standard release so be sure to pay extra for the Deluxe set.

 iPod Picks: That's How You Change the World, We Believe, Live With Abandon, Man on Fire, God is Movin'


4. Steven Curtis Chapman- Glorious Unfolding


A perfect follow-up to Beauty Will Rise and a musical return to form for SCC. This man's songwriting pen never runs dry. 

 iPod Picks: The Glorious Unfolding, Love Take Me Over, At the Feet of Jesus, Finish What He's Begun, Something Beautiful


5. Plumb- Need You Now


At long last Plumb has returned and she's finally found her sound. Easily the best album of her career.

 iPod Picks: Need You Now, Say Your Name, Don't Deserve You (both versions), One Drop, I Want You Here


6. Phil Wickham- The Ascension


There are some really great tracks on this record that could join "Beautiful" and "True Love" as worship standards.

 iPod Picks: Glory, The Ascension, This is Amazing Grace, When My Heart is Torn Asunder, Tears of Joy


7. Natalie Grant- Hurricane


Certainly Nat's most radio-friendly project to date. I wish she took more risks or went a bit more epic in production like she has in the past but for a pop project, this is a solid set.

 iPod Picks: In The End, Closer to Your Heart, Born to Be, I Love the Lord, Hurricane


8. Audrey Assad- Fortunate Fall


A truly beautiful and unique record that unfortunately has some doctrinal positions that I do not agree with. There is no denying the beauty in Audrey's voice and delivery or the delicate precision of her melodies and production.

 iPod Picks: Good to Me, You Speak, I Shall Not Want, Help My Unbelief, Lead Kindly Light


9. Kerrie Roberts- Time For The Show


I wish Reunion would have given Kerrie a chance with this record. There are some real potential hits within this release that deserved a real radio push. In my opinion Kerrie is a victim of really bad A&R direction.

 iPod Picks: What Are You Afraid Of, Middle of It All, Wake Up, Sing, Finally Home


10. Josh Wilson- Carry Me


A sleek and catchy record from start to finish with surprisingly deep insights hidden beneath breezy hooks and shiny production. I wish Sparrow would just let Josh's instrumentation shine and stop burying it beneath the glossy production.

 iPod Picks: Pushing Back the Dark, Carry Me, What a Mystery, Faith is Not a Feeling, What I See Now


11. Steven Curtis Chapman- Deep Roots


Rootsy and authentic down home soulfood music. I love hymns. I love Steven Curtis Chapman. This is a winner.

 iPod Picks: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, My Redeemer is Faithful and True, Be Still & Know, Blessed Assurance, Life is Like a Mountain Railroad (Life's Railway to Heaven)

12. Colton Dixon- A Messenger


This is the album I assumed Colton Dixon would make once he finished American Idol. 

 iPod Picks: Never Gone, You Are, Rise, Let Them See You, Love Has Come For Me, This is Who I Am


13. Building 429- We Won't Be Shaken


After B429's epic album Listen to the Sound, I had high expectations for We Won't Be Shaken. This album is good but the songs just aren't quite as strong as their last record. Still good stuff though.

 iPod Picks: We Won't Be Shaken, Press On (Wrecking Ball), Best & Worst, All I'm Holding, Get Up


**Bonus** 

Best EP of 2013: Unspoken- The World is Waking EP


Every song is a winner... so looking forward to their full-length record!

 iPod Picks: Bury the Workman, Lift My Life Up, In Your Hands

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christian Artists I Miss

Image
1. DC Talk When it was announced that Kevin Max was joining the newly reformed Audio Adrenaline, small glimmers of hope sprang into the hearts of 90's CCM fans everywhere as they imagined the mother of all tour possibilities: Toby Mac & Diverse City with Michael Tait & Newsboys and Kevin Max & Audio Adrenaline... and since they're all together why not throw in a DC Talk reunion!!! Seriously someone needs to make this happen! NOW! While its more likely for Steven Curtis Chapman and Lecrae to do a duets album at this point than for DC Talk to make a reunion album with the heavy touring and recording schedules TobyMac, Tait & K-Max now have with their new bands, a live reunion to sing old DC Talk hits backed by Newsboys & Audio A (or even Diverse City) would be EPIC BEYOND ALL REASON and, honestly, they need to make this happen, even if its only for one night.  2. Twila Paris It's not so much that Twila Paris has completely
Read more

Indie Artist Rundown

Image
Over the years, many of our favorite artists have left their major labels and chosen to release their music independently. Some were dropped by their labels due to low sales, artistic disagreements, or age. Still others leave their major labels for artistic freedom, financial independence or ministry purposes. Some fade away and cease to release new music but others thrive in the indie scene. Now more than ever before, many former heavy hitters of major labels are taking the indie route and finding great success and wider ministry opportunities. Below I have listed 20 of my favorite artists that used to be signed to a major label who have chosen the independent route and are the better for it. 1. Audrey Assad There was never a chance that Audrey Assad was going to stay at Sparrow Records. Despite her massive critical acclaim and solid, steady record sales, Sparrow could not figure out how to get Audrey's songs on the radio; therefore, limiting her appeal and exposure. I
Read more

The Corners- Born At Last Review

Image
I am usually very cautious when reviewing independent artists since, for many of them, there is a reason why they are independent. Usually there is a sound quality issue, vocalist problem or lyrical awkwardness that makes it clear why the the artist has not been signed. However, in The Corners' case, the quality is all there- it appears they are either too good for a major label or they just haven't been discovered yet- let's hope this problem is rectified upon the release of Born at Last . After one listen to their forthcoming debut full-length set, Born at Last , it is clear that these Hannibal, MO natives are more concerned with artistic integrity than commercialism. The first five tracks are an excellent showcase of the band's diverse lyrical, vocal and instrumental talents, the most elaborate of which being the dramatic five-minute epic "Ballad of a Young Man". Lyrically, every song is grounded in scripture but does not spoon feed the listener. Many
Read more