You don’t have to look too far on the Internet to find some wonderfully embarrassing vintage footage of Wayne Watson (YouTube has a video of a performance with Sandi Patty on The Tonight Show during Carson’s reign). The hair may be mockable now, but trust me, at the time Watson was a hottie. His hit “Watercolor Ponies,” a tender tale about not wanting his little boys to grow up, cemented his image as a (mulletted) hunk with a heart of gold.
This member of Louie Giglio’s popular Passion worship movement doesn’t even want to be called a worship leader, instead preferring the term “lead worshipper” in an attempt to downplay his up-front status. Still, since he first arrived on the scene, Chris Tomlin was a worship superstar. Massive hits like “How Great Is Our God” are among that tracks that first solidified his status.
A former youth pastor from Minnesota with a stutter, Jason Gray flies under the radar, pleasantly surprising everyone who hears his music. This album – his fifth solo effort and first for a major label – proves that he’s an acoustic storyteller to be reckoned with. To-date, Gray continues to be one of Christian music’s best-kept secrets.
An artist’s artist, McRoberts struck critical gold in 2000 when he dealt with his daddy issues and reconciled his earthly father’s failings with his image of a heavenly father who loves unconditionally. He continues to play to comparatively smaller crowds, but those concertgoers regularly leave his shows saying, “Why don’t more people know about this guy?” It’s a question I wish I could answer.
Don't look for Blue Mountain on any map. This scenic setting exists only in Brandon Heath’s mind. It’s a place with back porches perfect for picking out tunes about life, love and faith. And part of this album fits perfectly on that porch. The title track and “The Harvester,” with their “y’alls” and fiddles and “hickories,” couldn’t have been born anywhere else. Other tracks – like “Jesus In Disguise” for instance – have a more polished, studio feel, making us wonder if there’s a recording booth on Blue Mountain, too? Fortunately, both are an equally good fit for Heath’s gravelly vocals.
SCC is a good ol’ boy from Paducah, Kentucky, but one with enough drive to become one of Christian music’s most decorated stars. This early album is a case study for aspiring Christian acoustic-guitar gods. Note how his guitar is pictured on the cover, seemingly an extension of Chapman himself (guitars appear on no fewer than six album covers over the course of his career).
This is a great intro to the personality and elaborate creativity of Chris Rice. His songwriting evokes the appeal of Rich Mullins, featuring lyrics so well woven they could be published in book form. The title track is heralded as poetic brilliance and "Questions for Heaven" is a delightful pony ride. Lighter moments include the ballads "Belong" and "Life Means So Much."
Bebo Norman had been doing the indie thing for a while, honing his craft (and his endearing “aw shucks” shtick), before releasing this nearly perfect debut. Every track is a gem, from album opener “Walk Down This Mountain” and “Healing Song” to the wedding-ready “A Page Is Turned” and the heartbreaker “Rita.” As Norman has settled into marriage and fatherhood in the past decade, he’s lost a bit of his angsty edge, but he can still pick up a simple guitar and own almost any room.
Underneath tracks like “The Chasing Song,” “Faith to Be Strong” and “Nothing Left to Say” is a young man chaffing at the confines of small-town life and yearning for a more interesting, exciting life. Peterson is a born storyteller, spinning amazing yarns in his mind and sharing them with us (as well as in a children’s book series). He’s one of those with a gift for giving voice to what we all feel but don’t know how to put into words. “There is beauty in telling a simple story,” Peterson says, and no one does it like him.
This 1988 disc was overshadowed by his then-wife Amy Grant’s career-defining project Lead Me On, released that same year, but Gary Chapman was at the top of his game here. The country-tinged Christian pop along paired Chapman’s tight acid-washed jeans and tank top in the cover shot (he’s even holding his guitar!) solidify Chapman’s Christian acoustic-guitar god status. “Love Like Blood” and the rest of this disc still hold up surprisingly well years later.
He became a fan favorite on Season 7 of American Idol, and here, Texan Jason Castro follows up his self-titled debut with an album that is more clearly targeted to a Christian fan base. It's important to note that this isn't a completely new studio project. Featuring five previously released tracks and five new songs, Who I Am covers themes of doubt, grace, faith and the search for meaning. Of course, there’s plenty to make young girls swoon, too. The radio single “You Are” is definitely worth a listen as is this entire collection of pleasant pop.
After years as part of Caedmon’s Call, Derek Webb launched a solo career in 2003 with this controversial disc. A scathing commentary on the state of the church and his own heart, Free didn’t whitewash the problems, but Webb also pointed to solutions – all with an amazing acoustic sound behind it. A quick glance at his plain white T, jeans, bald head and diminutive stature might lead you to believe he’s just an everyguy with a guitar, but don’t be fooled. Webb’s a theological powerhouse, making him a guitar god for Christianity’s deep thinkers.
His fourth studio album may be the first Christian fans hear about, but they should definitely start making up for lost time. With the help of longtime producer Ed Cash, this Nashville-based singer-songwriter has crafted a collection that is perfect for a windows-down drive on a warm spring day and deep enough for a contemplative afternoon at the coffeehouse. What We Want, What We Get straddles that fine line between pop and pulpit, asking the question, "What do we do when life doesn't turn out like it should?" The answer? Crank up more of this addictive pop and sing along.
This grounded singer-songwriter delivers guitar-driven pop like a rock star, all while remaining humble and willing to share his talent with others through production work and collaborations. On this post-Normals solo project, his songwriting and singing both shine.
Singer-songwriters make their living mining their own lives for fodder for their next big hit, but what if they decided to tell your story instead? Matthew West did just that, locking himself away in a cabin in the woods outside Nashville where he pored over letters he solicited from listeners. The topics ranged from heavenly to heartbreaking, and the best ones inspired the songs on The Story of Your Life. Don't miss "Family Tree," a track that traces the family dysfunction of a listener before reminding her (and all of us) that our legacy is determined by our role as children of God.
