Lauren Daigle: Lauren Daigle
Atlantic Records, 2023
Five long years after her Look Up Child album Lauren Daigle finally released her Atlantic Records self-titled debut that featured 20 new songs. The album showcases her emotion-laden voice and her songwriting on the hit single “Thank God I Do” along with my favourites “Thank God I Do,” “Valuable,” “Ego,” “These Are The Days,” “New” and “Be Okay.”
Phil Wickham: I Believe
Fair Trade, 2023
It’s hard to believe that worship leader Phil Wickham is now a veteran artist with the release of his ninth album I Believe.
With songs like “This Is Amazing Grace”, “Living Hope” and “Battle Belongs” being sung in local churches around the globe the anticipation for this release was high. Once again this singer/songwriter does not disappoint with songs like “Sunday Is Coming,” “This Is Our God,” “I Believe” and collaborations with Tiffany Hudson of Elevation Worship on “Psalm 23” and Naomi Raine of Maverick City Music on “Holy Moment”.
Cochren & Co.: Running Home
Gotee Records, 2023
Gotee Records’ Cochren & Co. released their debut album, Don’t Lose Hope, two years ago with the hits “Church (Take Me Back)” and “One Day”. Their sophomore album Running Home released this past year and once again offers infectious melodies and hope-filled lyrics that leans on pop/rock and soul/blues influences on these 10 new songs.
Highlights include the title track, “Thank God for Sunday Morning”, “Be There For You” and “Good Memories”.
CAIN: Jesus Music
Provident, 2023
The sibling trio CAIN became a familiar face in Christian music after the huge success of their debut single Rise Up (Lazarus) 2 and a half years ago. Now they have released their third album Jesus, music that continues to feature their high energy pop sound and tight harmonies on standouts like “Wings”, “Any More”, “Now That I Know You” and “Made For Heaven”.
Katy Nichole: Jesus Changed My Life
Centricity Music, 2023
Katy Nichole is a rising artist to watch following the release of her phenomenal debut single “In Jesus Name (God of Possible)”. This song is featured on this 23-year-old’s debut album “Jesus Changed My Life” that is stacked with powerful grace-filled messages as heard on the title track, “God Is In This Story,” “Please,” and “Hold On.”
Blessing Offer: My Tribe
Capital CMG, 2023
The blind singer / multi-instrumentalist Blessing Offor has released his full length debut My Tribe that features his debut hit single “Brighter Days”. That is one of many highlights found on this 16-track offering that showcases his soul and R&B groove on songs like the title track, “Your Love”, “Feel Good”, “Believe”, “Rollin’” and “Looking For God”.
Kirk Franklin: Father’s Day
RCA Records, 2023
Gospel music visionary producer/musician, Kirk Franklin is back with his tenth studio album Father’s Day and it’s one of his most personal to date as evidenced by his songwriting here. Standout tracks include the ballad “Listen”, “Try Love”, “You Still Love Us” and “Again” that features an all-star lineup of singers: Chandler Moore, Tori Kelly, Jonathan McReynolds, and Jekayln Carr.
Casting Crowns: Lifesongs, A Celebration of the first 20 Years
Provident, 2023
To commemorate 20 years of music Casting Crowns has released Lifesong: A Celebration of the First 20 Years, that features 21 of their songs reimagined with the help of 20 guest artists.
Included here are chart-topping favourites like “Broken Together”(Zach Williams), “Praise You In The Storm”(Phil Wickham), “Who Am I”(Mercy Me), “Stars In Heaven”(Amy Grant), “Voice of Truth” (Steven Curtis Chapman), “Nobody”(CAIN) along with the new song “On This Desert Road.”
Kevin was one of the founding members of the Christian acapella group Rhythm & News that he toured North American with from 1988-1995. With the release of their first album, “Get With the Rhythm,” Rhythm and News was introduced to the rest of Canada with their original “funkappella” style. The height of their success came in 1992, when they released their second studio album, “Word 2 Y'all,” which became one of the top selling albums in Canada by a Canadian gospel artist. In 1994, the group temporarily moved to Detroit, MI for a few months to record their 3rd and last album, "Dream Love + Pray" with gospel great Fred Hammond. In 2008 the group was recognized by the Gospel Music Association of Canada with a Lifetime Achievement Award. After his departure from the group in 1995 Kevin continued pursuing his passion for Christian Music by becoming a Music Critic writing for various publications including: BC Christian News, The Light Magazine and Faith Today.
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