Upcoming Album Releases
It's the time of year when everyone and their mom releases new music! Hopefully this will help you cut through the junk to find the good stuff out there. Below are my Fall 2012 Music Recommendations:
1. Tenth Avenue North- The Struggle Releases 8/21/12
The Buzz: I simply love Tenth Avenue North! Beyond the fact that they are from South Florida (represent!) and that they used to lead worship at my Grandma's church, these guys consistently release relevant and biblically sound music that is catchy enough to be played on the radio but deep enough to use in daily devotions and Bible Studies. While their last release The Light Meets The Dark was solid lyrically, I felt it was a little lacking in the originality and hook departments musically when compared to their debut Over and Underneath. The first single from The Struggle, "Losing" rectifies that concern as it is both very unique and insanely catchy. At first I was worried that radio would avoid it because it doesn't fit into the typical radio formula but they've seemed to warm up to it just fine (it currently sits at #3 with a bullet on the Billboard Christian Chart). Here's to hoping the rest of the album lives up to the hype set by the first single. Also worth noting- Their album cover is probably the coolest one I've seen all year!
2. Group 1 Crew- Fearless- Releases 9/11/12
The Buzz: Featuring their first #1 single, "He Said" with Chris August, the former trio, now duo positions G1C as the perfect blend of pop, hip hop and dance all with a solid biblical message. Blanca's voice is top notch and Manwell is a pretty good rapper. I'm hoping they keep the dance feel of their last record Outta Space Love but add the lyrical depth and hip hop sensibilities of Ordinary Dreamers as well as a few radio ballads a la "He Said". I'm most looking forward to their collaboration with Flame on the track "Darkest Valley". Check them out if you like TobyMac, Britt Nicole, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, or Rihanna.
3. Lecrae-Gravity- Releases 11/4/12
The Buzz: I'm sure for many of you, this is your #1 most anticipated album of the year. Lecrae's kept himself busy these past few years with the release of his albums Rehab, its sequel Rehab: The Overdose, and his recently released mix tape Church Clothes; as well as with guest appearances on a seemingly endless list of CCM artists including Britt Nicole, TobyMac, Jimmy Needham, and Mikeschair as well with his usual guest stints on his Reach Records artists' albums. While his fans are divided as to which direction he should take on this new records (some enjoyed the mainstream relevance on Rehab and The Overdose while others wish he'd take a less commercial approach similar to his earlier releases), one thing is certain: this album is gonna be HUGE! The song to look out for is Lecrae's first collaboration with mainstream artists. The track "Mayday" features secular rapper Big K.R.I.T. and American Idol alumni Ashton Jones. Lecrae described the track to Billboard Magazine as a "confession" by Big K.R.I.T. and "not a sermon". Lecrae would go on to add "I would hope that every Christian would want to have relationships with people who would want to be open and transparent and that you'd want to help them. It just so happens ours is a song." It's an interesting concept indeed. I for one, am intrigued and cannot wait to hear wait the "rapping theologian" has to bring to the table this time around.
1. Tenth Avenue North- The Struggle Releases 8/21/12
The Buzz: I simply love Tenth Avenue North! Beyond the fact that they are from South Florida (represent!) and that they used to lead worship at my Grandma's church, these guys consistently release relevant and biblically sound music that is catchy enough to be played on the radio but deep enough to use in daily devotions and Bible Studies. While their last release The Light Meets The Dark was solid lyrically, I felt it was a little lacking in the originality and hook departments musically when compared to their debut Over and Underneath. The first single from The Struggle, "Losing" rectifies that concern as it is both very unique and insanely catchy. At first I was worried that radio would avoid it because it doesn't fit into the typical radio formula but they've seemed to warm up to it just fine (it currently sits at #3 with a bullet on the Billboard Christian Chart). Here's to hoping the rest of the album lives up to the hype set by the first single. Also worth noting- Their album cover is probably the coolest one I've seen all year!
2. Group 1 Crew- Fearless- Releases 9/11/12
The Buzz: Featuring their first #1 single, "He Said" with Chris August, the former trio, now duo positions G1C as the perfect blend of pop, hip hop and dance all with a solid biblical message. Blanca's voice is top notch and Manwell is a pretty good rapper. I'm hoping they keep the dance feel of their last record Outta Space Love but add the lyrical depth and hip hop sensibilities of Ordinary Dreamers as well as a few radio ballads a la "He Said". I'm most looking forward to their collaboration with Flame on the track "Darkest Valley". Check them out if you like TobyMac, Britt Nicole, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, or Rihanna.
3. Lecrae-Gravity- Releases 11/4/12
The Buzz: I'm sure for many of you, this is your #1 most anticipated album of the year. Lecrae's kept himself busy these past few years with the release of his albums Rehab, its sequel Rehab: The Overdose, and his recently released mix tape Church Clothes; as well as with guest appearances on a seemingly endless list of CCM artists including Britt Nicole, TobyMac, Jimmy Needham, and Mikeschair as well with his usual guest stints on his Reach Records artists' albums. While his fans are divided as to which direction he should take on this new records (some enjoyed the mainstream relevance on Rehab and The Overdose while others wish he'd take a less commercial approach similar to his earlier releases), one thing is certain: this album is gonna be HUGE! The song to look out for is Lecrae's first collaboration with mainstream artists. The track "Mayday" features secular rapper Big K.R.I.T. and American Idol alumni Ashton Jones. Lecrae described the track to Billboard Magazine as a "confession" by Big K.R.I.T. and "not a sermon". Lecrae would go on to add "I would hope that every Christian would want to have relationships with people who would want to be open and transparent and that you'd want to help them. It just so happens ours is a song." It's an interesting concept indeed. I for one, am intrigued and cannot wait to hear wait the "rapping theologian" has to bring to the table this time around.
Read more at http://www.billboard.com/#jX3mbk63et1myzju.99
4. Matthew West- Into the Light- Releases 9/25/12
The Buzz: "Forgiveness", the carrier single from Matthew West's 5th project (and follow up to his classic album The Story of Your Life) currently sits at #5 on the Billboard Christian Chart after only 10 weeks of release so there is a lot of interest in this record for sure. I just wish I liked the song "Forgiveness" more so I could be more excited about the album release. Something about it is lacking. I love the story behind the song of a mother forgiving the drunk driver that killed her daughter and think it is a beautiful example of how Christ wants us to forgive but I think Tenth Avenue North's single "Losing" better expresses the thought. Maybe the arrangement of the song needed to have more of the chorus and less repetition of the word forgiveness... That being said, I love Matthew West and have been a fan of his since his first CD Happy came out in 2003 so I'll be getting this album for sure. I just hope the other songs on Into the Light are more creative and catchy than the first single.
5. Mark Schultz- All Things Possible- Releases 9/4/12
The Buzz: Anyone who knows me well knows that I've been a huge Mark Schultz fan for years! However, while I love the guy, I feel that he hasn't been able to top or even match his 2003 album Stories & Songs. And while I've enjoyed his subsequent album releases, I always felt slightly let down when they didn't reach the heights of that classic CD. Word on the street is that this album may come close! Schultz has changed record labels from the formulaic Word Records to FairTrade Services, the home of Mercy Me, Derek Webb, The Afters, Sara Groves, Skillet and Phil Wickham. In my opinion, FTS gets CCM better than anyone else and they know how to bring the best out of an artist so, once again, my hopes are high for this release. The first single is solid (albeit a bit typical) and the album cover is more creative than his usual output so we will see if Mark Schultz can recapture the magic of his first three releases with All Things Possible.
6. Brandon Heath- Blue Mountain- Releases 10/9/12
The Buzz: "Jesus in Disguise" is causing all kinds of debate in CCM circles on the biblical accuracy of the lyrics but it was most added on CCM radio this week and musically is right in line with Heath's usual solid radio fair. The press release promises a bit more folk and country influences, something I felt was missing from his last album Leaving Eden. The idea behind the title is also very intriguing so here's to hoping the lyrical hiccups on the first single are a fluke and Blue Mountain is the career album and artistic statement we've been waiting for.
7. TobyMac- Eye On It- Releases 8/28/12
The Buzz: "Me Without You", the carrier single for the album is SO DANG CATCHY! It is eternally ingrained in my skull and the funny thing is, I'm OK with it! Despite the hideous album art (who approved that cover photo anyway? Toby's 5 year old kid?) And the somewhat generic nature of his last few releases, I'm sure Mr. Mac will give us plenty of fun and catchy radio fodder to fill our workout playlists and radio airwaves for the next two years.
8. Bebo Norman- Lights of Distant Cities- Tentatively scheduled to release 10/23/12
The Buzz: Details are sketchy at best on this one. All we have so far is a setlist and a picture of a photo shoot so there actually is no real BUZZ to speak of but I love everything Bebo does so I know this will be an album to get for sure. In the meantime check out Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, which is, in my opinion, one of the best albums ever made.
9. Plumb- Faster Than a Bullet- Tentatively Scheduled to Release 9/4/12
The Buzz: With two successful singles already out (including the above just released track "Need You Now"), everyone is ready for the promised full-length album from CCM's veteran female rocker Plumb. I'm not holding my breath though. With no album cover or major promotional thrust from her record label Curb, I have a feeling this one is going to be pushed back to 2013. But judging from the singles we've heard so far, this album is going to be worth the wait. With the vocal prowess akin to Evanescence's Amy Lee, the pop and style sensibilities of Pink, and the independent qualities of Jars of Clay, Plumb is one of CCM's best kept secrets and, should she choose to regularly release music again, could find her big break with Faster Than a Bullet.
10. Chris August- The Upside of Down- Releases 8/12/12
The Buzz: Chris August took the Dove Awards by storm in 2011 when he swept the New Artist, Male Vocalist, and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year categories following his #1 hit "Starry Night". He has kept up his popularity with 3 more top 10 hits ("7x70", "Battle" and his duet with Group 1 Crew, "He Said") and his current single "Center of It" just broke into the top 10 this week! I think the hype is more than deserved since August's debut album No Far Away was only a modest seller but it may pay off for this guy. I like "Center of It" well enough and this album is worth looking into if you're into big CCM artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, or Mark Schultz.
Other up coming releases to look for: Owl City- The Midsummer Station, Andrew Peterson- Light For the Lost Boy, Hyland- Finding Our Way, Jonathan Thulin- The White Room (check out his singles "Babylon" and "The Dead Come to Life")
And this is why you should have your own radio show.
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