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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.

If you like rootsy folk-pop (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Iris Dement), run to Andrew Peterson. His sophomore work knits his style -- slightly inelegant vocals over songwriting comparable to Rich Mullins' -- beneath your skin. "Song and Dance," "Alaska or Bust," and "Venus" are peaks; a cover of "Why Walk When You Can Fly" closes.

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.

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.

Amy Grant's greatest appeal has always been her accessibility. She sings so familiarly, so earnestly, that it's like having a chat with a friend (who just happens to be perhaps the biggest CCM artist ever). That easy, welcoming friendliness is apparent even on her debut, which jumpstarted her three-decades-long (and counting) career way back in 1977. So when she tells you in a voice as wholesome and warm as chocolate chip cookies that she's trying for a "Brand New Start," or confides over an AM radio groove that "He Gave Me a New Song," you sorta want to give her a big hug.

Grammy-winning Lead Me On (1998) is generally considered Grant's best album for A&M Records, exploring the country aspects of her talents more than she had in the past. The usual themes of hope and perseverance are here, along with a successful attempt at widening her musical perspective and expressing her ever-personal views of the world around her.

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.