The music of Christmas 2006 is rich, diverse and festive! With new music from artists such as Todd Agnew, Newsong, Moya Brennan, INO Records, Third Day and Brad Paisley, there really is something for everyone.
1. Hillsong - 'Celebrating Christmas'
Courtesy of: Provident Distro.
Darlene Zschech and the Hillsong team truly outdid themselves this year with their holiday offering, Celebrating Christmas. Traditional carols mixed with new songs, all backed up by oustanding music and stunning voices make this release an album that truly does have something for everyone.
2. Israel & New Breed - 'A Timeless Christmas'
Big urban gospel sound meets a hint of funk ... (OK - maybe a little more than just a hint) on Israel & New Breed's Christmas album. I can sum this release up in three words ... Oh My Goodness!3. 'The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs' - Soundtrack
I was excited about an album that featured artists like Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, Jaci Velasquez, Plumb & Selah, Amy Grant, Jo Dee Messina and Kenny Rogers with Wynonna Judd, among others. As I listened to it, I was pretty impressed, until I got to track 5, "Labor of Love" by Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips and that's when I fell in love!4. Newsong - 'The Christmas Hope'
Newsong's "The Christmas Shoes" plus guest appearances by Rachael Lampa and The Anointed make The Christmas Hope a can't lose album.5. Various Artists from INO Records - 'Joy To The World'
Courtesy of: INO Records
MercyMe starts Joy To The World out with the most intense version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" that I've ever heard ... and songs from artists like Todd Agnew, SONICFLOOd and Darlene Zschech just add to the flavor. This isn't a WOW release ... but it is a WOW musical moment!
6. Todd Agnew - 'Do You See What I See?'
Do You See What I See? is by Todd Agnew and Friends and boy oh boy ... the man has some seriously talented friends! Todd by himself would have been good enough, but he took this album a step beyond that by bringing in some of his friends to sing. Michael O'Brien, Joy Whitlock, Vince Lichlyter of Jonah33, Christy Nockles and Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave are just some of the voices you'll hear on this stellar release that asks, "What did the first Christmas look like to the people involved?"7. Moya Brennan - 'An Irish Christmas'
Courtesy of: Sparrow
Put on a little something different this year with Moya Brennan's An Irish Christmas. Moya has the voice of an angel and the music is so traditionally Irish that you'll feel yourself almost being transported to Ireland, sitting in front of a roaring fire, surrounded by friends and loved ones.
8. Third Day - 'Christmas Offerings'
Nobody in the world sounds like Mac Powell and Third Day, so when I say that Christmas Offerings is pure Third Day, you know exactly what I mean. Four original tunes, mixed in with nine traditional Christmas songs and strings smooth enough to make you cry make this release a real holiday blessing.9. 'Christmas Treasures - A McPherson Guitars Instrumental Collection'
At first I was a little leary of including this release in the Top 10 because it's all instrumental and I like to sing along with my music, but I kept coming back to it over and over again. That's what happens when you bring together eight of the best guitarists on the planet ... you find yourself coming back for more. Some of the most beautiful music of the season is on Christmas Treasures, and you may find yourself like I did - too immersed in it to worry about singing along.10. Brad Paisley - 'A Brad Paisley Christmas'
Before you think that I'm confused, I'm not ... yes, I'm aware that Brad Paisley isn't a "Christian artist," but I also know that he is a Christian artist and A Brad Paisley Christmas was just too good to let a little thing like marketing get in the way of including it in the Top 10. Brad mixes the traditional and the sacred with some tunes that are just plain fun. Trust me - this one is a keeper.