“In Pieces” - Garth Brooks
–-- If you know me at this present time in my life, I bet your mouth just dropped open. You
should know that I hate country music. Well, what country music has become. I grew up on
amazing country music like this album. And when compared to the like of Taylor Swift, I have
to laugh and cry like a baby at the same time. This album is most remembered as listening to
with my brothers in my dad's downstairs studio (yes, studio) in our split level childhood home.
Along with songs from other albums, like “The Dance” and “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and
even the controversial “The Thunder Rolls”... we absolutely adored Garth. You just don't get
much better song writing than that nowadays.
Favorite Track: “Standing Outside The Fire” (on that album) and “The Dance” (just G.B. in
general)
"No Strings Attached" - N*Sync
--- I know, I know. You're laughing. I'm totally serious though. I still look back on my preteen
years and can recall how ridiculously long I wore out this album. I have say, now that I look
back, my favorite was "I Thought She Knew". It was a true blood, amazing talented, first
exposure of mine to contemporary a cappella. (Besides Boyz II Men, which I couldn't list
because of the pure fact that I haven't ever loved a WHOLE album of theirs.) This album got
me through the awkward transition of child to teenager. And Praise The Lord for that. =D
"Jesus Freak" - dc Talk
--- I guess you could say this was my transition from the top 40 hits into my own personal
music taste. Rock. It was shot into my veins, spreading like wildfire. I can't really even begin to
start on this album, it's amazing. I got a hold of it quite by accident, about 5 years after it's
release. Funny thing is, I thought it was psycho the first time I listened. But something drew me
back. The rest is history.
Favorite Track: ALL OF THEM!
"The Fallout" - Default
--- I remember repoing this CD from my brother, Justin, like many of the rock CD's I listened
to back in the day. And I fell in love. This CD is so heartfelt and passionate. Every single track
stands alone as amazing.
Favorite Track: "Faded", the metaphorical story of an old painting that hangs in a museum, the
colors once brilliant are now faded, everyone passes it by. But an elderly blind man sits there,
year after year, exclaiming how beautiful the colors are. He finally gets the narrator of the song
to close his eyes and see the painting with his mind. Then he sees that the colors aren't faded at
all. Such an awesome story.
This album got me through the early teenage years, laying on my bedroom floor alone, my
boombox turned up, sitting next to my head on the floor. I could be angry, sad, contemplative,
infatuated.... This album covered it all.
"Away From The Sun" - 3 Doors Down
--- The hunger for rock music lingered, and my obsession with 3 Doors Down was ignited and
fueled. I loved Brad Arnold (lead singer), I wanted to MARRY him for goodness' sake. =D
When I listen to this album, I hear the cries of a very spiritually confused human being. He
knows what's right, but he's to the point where he's ready to throw it all away for the world.
Tracks like "Going Down in Flames" and "Ticket to Heaven" where major giveaways to that
theory. I have to say that listening to this album made me realize just how good I had it in my
own spirituality, because it was during my time of listening to 3 Doors Down that I took my
own fall, and climb, back to Christ. Okay okay, so I was 14. But I can't say that age really
matters when we all have flesh and a brain that want to do different than our spirit. It was a
very hard time in my life. I can relate to every single song. Once again, any mood, but mostly
anger and confusion was this album.
Favorite Track: "This Time" (Melodic Euphoria)
"Where Do We Go From Here?" - Pillar
--- It was my 15th birthday. Justin took me to Wal*Mart in his newly acquired, fire-engine-red
97 Camaro Z28 to buy me something. I went to the CD section, of course. Ambled through the
Pop/Rock category right into the dwindling Christian music section. I remember picking up a
dark and moody looking CD, with tribal-looking writing on it. Carelessly, I scanned it in the
headphones and the soaring Christian rock tunes came out. I called Justin over. He listened to
the short preview. We both got a copy (no repossessing, he tells me). (Literally had never even
heard of the "Christian rock" genre before.)
We leave, and on the ride home from Destin, we pop it in. By the time we reach home it's on
track 5. We're absolutely amazed that "Christian" music could be so awesome... I'm sure I've
listened to this album all the way through AT LEAST a 1,000 times. I wore it out for years.
Literally. I still own it to this day.
Favorite Track: GAH. I can't pick one.
“The Beautiful Letdown” - Switchfoot
--- My friend at school asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I told her this album. I'm quite
certain she stole it. Haha. It's been the most rewarding of sins, let me tell ya. I still listen to this
album and get new revelation, even after I've listened to it so many times, I know almost
everything there is to know about it. Jon Foreman is a song writing genius.
Favorite Track: “On Fire”
"Ocean Avenue" - Yellowcard
--- My 3 Doors Down obsession slowly flickered out when they didn't release another album
for a long time. My rock obsession lingered, however, sprouting into heavier stuff,, stuff that
wasn't bad, but defintely not good either. I was on my way to heavy metal, but instead I took a
guilty-pleasured trip into punk rock. Or rather, California surf rock. This album is amazing. I
get so nostalgic when I listen to it. The pure bliss in having a violin as a regular instrument in
the band is enough to call it a favorite. I can't seem to pick a favorite on this one either. They're
all SO good.
"Collide" - Skillet
--- At this time in my spiritual life, I was growing more rooted, but still had a spark of
rebellion, as my secular rock collection grew along with my Christian rock collection. I know
you probably don't see me as a rocker now, but I still have my moments where I have to have
my old rock band buddies beside me, telling stories from the road. Anywho, Enter my Skillet
obsession. I went back through their many years of music, acquiring a taste for their unique
"industrial rock" sound. Collide was a transitive album into more progressive rock. They also
sparked a new love for orchestration combined with metal and rock riffs. This album still gives
me spiritual revelation. I will say that this was the last album I really appreciated of theirs and I
am not a "new Skillet" fan... Their new stuff is pretty much crap.
During this time I joined panheads.org, a forum for Skillet fans, deemed: "panheads". I made
friends that were like me. Christian AND headbangers. The people I met during that time I will
never forget. They helped me through some pretty rough stuff.
Favorite Track: "Collide"
"The Triptych" - Demon Hunter
--- My first grasp at Christian Metal. They are still one of my favorite bands to this day, and my
favorite concert I've been to to date. Somewhere between Skillet and the next bunch of
Christian rock/metal CD's, I stopped listening to secular music. The secular rock was driving a
deep seed of rebellion I couldn't coincide with my deeper relationship with Christ. I took my
CD case, rode with my friend down a dark country road, opened all the windows and moon
roof, and flung each secular CD out one by one. It was one of the most liberating things I've
ever done. This CD became my rebellion against the world, in an ironic turn, and gave me the
strength I needed for the final push away from the world. For Good. I come back to this music
when I'm angry, or I just want to release some endorphins my moshing by myself in my
bedroom. =D
Favorite Track: “Deteriorate” (Extreme Melodic Euphoria)
"Testify" – P.O.D.
--- Ahhh. P.O.D. - The epitome of Original Rap Rock. P.O.D. never ceases to amaze me with a
new take on every album, but still remaining true to their sound as a band. This genre takes me
on yet another branch of music-people-are-surprised-to-learn-I-listen-to.
Favorite Track: “Strength of My Life”
"End of Silence" – RED
---Yet another album that was accidentally stumbled upon... and yet another album that
changed my life. Again, orchestration with soaring metal riffs and screams and growls... This
album had such a fresh perspective on the genre of “Christian Rock” upon it's release. I haven't
heard another quite like their moody, passionate, hope-filled-anguish sound.
Favorite Track: “Pieces”
"Live" - Alison Krauss and Union Station
--- A particularly random jog back to my roots as a born hillbilly... but with a modern twist. I'll
tell you right now, I love bluegrass. For the record, Bluegrass and country are two completely
different things. ;) This entire 2-disc album is worth listening to. It'll make you fall in love with
the true artistry that is bluegrass music.
"Disciple" & "Scars Remain" – Disciple
--- Back to metal. One of the best Christian Metal bands out there. Not some much in the
albums to follow Scars Remain, but these two albums are insanely amazing. Disciple has
always earned my respect as they provide verses in the bible for every song they've ever
written. Truly God-Led Men. And Tennesseans to boot.
Favorite Track: “Game On”
"Victory! Live" - Tye Tribbett & G.A.
--- My first taste of what CCM could be. When in my rock and metal phase, I despised
anything that was considered “praise and worship” - except for what we sang in church...
otherwise, I didn't listen to it recreationally. Ever.
But this album almost has a rock feel to it. It's very alternative in all of it's choir-dom. Truly a
refreshing take on the Kirk Franklin band wagon.
Favorite Track: “Who Else But God”
"Deeper: A Live Worship Album" - Israel & New Breed
--- Israel Houghton is one of the leading worship artists today. Yet his music doesn't show it.
His music is still projecting a ravishing hunger for God when all other mainstream CCM's have
gone to the dogs, producing songs that are completely unoriginal and lacking of any real
passion. Anyone can write a love song but it takes someone like Israel to write a God song.
Between vocals and instruments.... He takes the cake.
Favorite Track: “So Come (intro)” and “So Come”
"Masterpeace" - Joseph Akins
--- This man works at a local Nashville college as a music professor. This entire album is solo
piano. But you wouldn't know it when you listen. When it hits your ears, you automatically feel
the emotion, your spirit rising to write it's own unknown lyrics in your heart. He's a new-age
Christian, but the mere hint of spirituality hits like a rock in his instrumentation. I know the
notes of each song as if I had written them. Who says you need lyrics to get a message across?
God created all music. And he speaks through it more than any lyrics to any song.
"19" – Adele</em>
--- After about 4 or 5 years of not buying secular music, I felt God lift that conviction from me.
I can only explain it as a maturity issue. Before, the spirit of rebellion was more than I could
handle in my baby Christian relationship. But since then I've grown leaps and bounds
spiritually and can once again allow myself to enjoy love songs and songs that don't necessarily
refer to God.
Only this time, it wasn't rock I wanted to listen to. My music taste took an insane direction back
into the likes of pop. This time it's a more talented pop. This album is a pop/jazz/Ella Fitzgerald
throwback. Adele Adkins has one of the most unique voice I've ever heard. I find myself
growing hungry for her voice when I haven't listened to it in a while. Once again, I know this
record in and out. Every song is entirely relatable to my life. She might as well be me in all of
my failed attempts at finding love. I can't wait for her next album.
Favorite Track: Can't choose!
"Thriving Ivory" - Thriving Ivory
--- This is one of those sounds you either love or hate. The lead singer has one of the weirdest
voices I've ever come across... In fact, when you first listen you might swear it's a girl singing.
I've had this album for less than a year and already know the ends and outs of it. It is wildly
addictive music. My best genre description of them is alternative pop. You're just going to have
to listen to it before we can discuss it further.
Favorite Track: “For Heaven's Sake”
"The Pursuit" - Jamie Cullum
--- I've bought this album the day it came out. I'd heard of Jamie Cullum before, listened to a
few of his songs and really liked what I's heard... so when I happened to see it in the store that
day, I went out on a whim and bought it. I haven't regretted it yet. The contemporary jazz sound
that Jamie brings forward with his dizzying pianist abilities and british-accented vocals in this
CD is mesmerizing. His voice is by far my favorite male singing voice. I was hesitant to put
this one up because it has only been about 2 months since I've had it, but I can tell that I will
continue to cherish this amazing body of work for a lifetime.
Favorite Track: (currently) “I Think, I Love”