Anne Wilson: Rebel, Capital CMG, 2024: Anne Wilson returns with her sophomore album and once again offers up her Country/Pop sound that led to a well-deserved Dove Award for Bluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year. Too many highlights to name here but standouts include her mainstream Country single, “Rain in the Rearview,” “Strong,” “God and Country,”, “Praying Woman” featuring Country singer Lainey Wilson and “Songs About Whiskey,” which is not an actual song about whiskey. Instead, it’s a song about wanting to sing about Jesus instead of drinking, like so many Country songs.
Forrest Frank: Child of God, River House Records, 2024: Forrest Frank was first known as one-half of mainstream hip-hop act Surfaces, best known for their smash song “Sunday Best.” But now released his first full length Christian album Child of God that has had songs at the top of the radio charts and honoured this year at the Dove Awards for New Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for his smash “Good Day”. Other stellar tracks found here include “No Longer Bound,” “Up!”, “Miracle Worker” with Tori Kelly and the groovy “Life is Good.”
Danny Gokey: Sound of Heaven, Capital CMG, 2024: American Idol alumni Danny Gokey returns with his sixth studio album Sound of Heaven that once again offers up well written pop songs with his soulful vocals and infectious energy on these 11 new songs. Highlights found here include the gospel infused title track, the danceable “wannabe”, the rousing anthem of “I Got You,” the worshipful “Can’t Help but Worship” with Naomi Raine, and “Haven’t Seen It Yet” with Latin artist Evan Craft.
Mac Powell: I Love Jesus, Sparrow, 2024: Christian music veteran after years with Third Day now releases his fourth solo studio album, I Love Jesus that offers up his undeniable voice on this collection of southern rock/pop songs that makes it one of my favourite albums of the year. Notable tracks found here include the title track, the electric guitar charged “Like It’s Nothing,” the worshipful “The Giver” and the powerful “Who The Cross Is For.”
for KING + COUNTRY: Unsung Hero: The Inspired By Soundtrack, CURB, 2024: The Dove Award winning, Feature Film of the Year Unsung Hero, about the Smallbone family, had a companion album featuring many songs from the movie. It features the previously released title song alongside many 90’s songs that impacted their family such as “Place In This World” with Michael W Smith, their sister Rebecca St. James on Seal’s hit “Crazy”, “Checking In” with Lee Brice, “Lead Me On” feat. Amy Grant and “To Hell With The Devil” feat. Lecrae & Stryper.
Brandon Heath: The Ache, Centricity, 2024: Veteran singer/songwriter Brandon Heath releases his 9th studio album The Ache that finds him writing from the depths of grief after losing his mom, and the recent Christian School shooting in his community. His faith brings hope evidenced thru these powerful 11 songs including highlights like “The Gospel Truth”, “He Does”, “Scars,” and “Highly Favored.”
Jordon Feliz: Everything Good, Centricity, 2024: Dove Award-winning artist and songwriter Jordan Feliz once again offers a collection of soulful pop songs on his fourth album Everything Good. The album features the praise-filled “Joyful Noise,” Feliz’s version of the classic hymn “Amazing Grace,” his hit singles “The King Is Alive” and “Praise God For That”.
Crowder: The EXILE, Sparrow, 2024: Hard to believe that David Crowder has been offering up his unique southern rock infused worship for nearly 30 years now. Once again Crowder incorporates banjos along with electric guitars for the backdrop to these well-written songs as evidenced on gems like his Dove Award winning Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year “Graver Robber”, “Unstoppable”, “Hands Of Jesus,” and “Still.”
Newsboys: Worldwide Revival, Part One, Capital CMG, 2024: Veteran pop/rock band Newsboys released their 23rd studio album Worldwide |Revival, Part One, now fronted by both Michael Tait(dcTalk) and Adam Agee (formerly of pop-punk outfit Stellar Kart, and later Audio Adrenaline). This first volume includes eight new songs that include “Heaven on Earth,” “He Lives,” and “Color”.
CeCe Winans: More Than This, Fair Trade, 2024: Gospel music veteran CeCe Winans took home Gospel Album of the Year for More Than This and was honoured as Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards. It was no surprise thanks to stellar production from her son Alvin Love III on highlights that include classics such as “Sanctuary” and “Oh the Blood of Jesus” alongside modern worship fare such as Chris Tomlin’s “Holy Forever,” Elevation Worship’s “Worthy” and Maverick City Music’s “Refiner,” as well as two songs Winans co-wrote, the title track and “Be Still and Know.”
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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