This time of year I begin to scan the Best Of lists. If you hadn’t noticed, Christianity Today Music reviews has, over the last few years, undergone a significant change. Not only have they brought on some more mainstream reviewers like Andy Whitman and Josh Hurst, CT has, while keeping their pulse on the Christian music industry, abandoned the cloistered CCM ghetto and cast a broader net. It’s evidence of the growing admission by believers that God moves in culture; He is not confined to religious or political affiliation nor content strictures often imposed by Christian labels. Spiritual themes emerge, often, in the most unlikely places. CT’s Year’s Best Music list reflects that “maturing” perspective. And I, for one, appreciate it.
Here’s their 12 top albums, in descending order.
- 12.) (tie) mewithoutYou — It’s All Crazy… / Steven Curtis Chapman — Beauty Will Rise
- 11.) U2 — No Line on the Horizon
- 10.) Various Artists — Fire in My Bones
- 9.) Derek Webb — Stockholm Syndrome
- 8.) Ashley Cleveland — God Don’t Never Change
- 7.) The Mountain Goats — the Life of the World to Come
- 6.) Joe Henry — Blood from Stars
- 5.) David Bazan — Curse Your Branches
- 4.) Bitfrost Arts — Come O Spirit
- 3.) Buddy and Julie Miller — Written in Chalk
- 2.) Switchfoot — Hello Hurricane
- 1.) Sara Groves — Fireflies & Songs
Perhaps the biggest surprise, for me, is the inclusion of David Bazan’s Curse Your Branches. I recently posted about the openly backslidden musician in a piece entitled Keeping the Grays in Grace. Despite my equivocations, not only will I probably buy the album, I think its inclusion in this list is a good thing. There was a time when calling U2 a Christian band was controversial. But we’re way past that. Even if Bazan’s conclusion is different than yours, his lyrics (and his cussing!) challenge us to wrestle with spiritual issues on another, less sterilized level. It’s also great to see anomalous bands like mewithoutYou and The Mountain Goats, alongside Christian stalwarts like Switchfoot and Sara Grove. This is where Christian artists need to find themselves — alongside mainstream artists. So I like the list and the direction CT’s Music reviews is taking over, when people also review instruments as this great drum review for children. Any “spiritual” albums you would include in the list?
Eh, I don't know about this. Lots of artists question Christianity/the church. Death metal bands (the non-Christian ones) have been doing it for years), but they aren't hoisted the way David is. And yet he still plays Christian festivals. Should there be a cut off point for any of this?
Jay, drawing that line is THE issue for proponents of Christian art. I have my problems with the current industry, but it is what it is. Even those who tolerate a generic "Christian worldview" must at some point draw a line. If there is no line, then what criteria is there for calling anything "Christian"? Re: Bazan, From what I've read, he characterizes himself more as an agnostic than an opponent, someone still searching for answers, which is what makes his inclusion at Christian festivals a little bit different than, say, Slayer. Hey, thanks for the comment!