Recommended Spiritual music (#1 - #10)
Spiritual
- Alternative CCM
- Chassidic
- Christian Metal
- Christian Rap
- Christian Rock
- Contemporary Christian
- Contemporary Gospel
- Country Gospel
- Gospel Choir
- Hebrew
- Hymns
- Inspirational
- Instrumental Gospel
- Jewish Folk
- Judaica
- LDS
- Mantras
- Praise & Worship
- Qawwali
- Reggae Gospel
- Scriptures
- Southern Gospel
- Spirituals
- Traditional Gospel
NIYA: Someday
Someday isn’t your typical gospel album. Sure, it’s full of good news and the kind of Christian messages one might expect from Yolanda Adams’ niece, but it’s so much more. The title track is a sublime, epic ballad featuring a full orchestra with a choir, led by jazzy piano chord changes and Niya’s strong, clear voice. “All I Need” has a propulsive drum groove reminiscent of Aaliyah, and whose chorus is carried by rich, darkly melodic harmonies. “None Like You” is an uplifting rocker featuring the orchestra and choir again, but the song is full of unusual chord changes which are constantly moving forward, backed by uniquely serpentine string arrangements which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Radiohead album. “Thank U 4 U” has a simple sing-along chorus that churches would be proud to include in their rotation of praise songs. As a whole, the album’s highlights are the truly wonderful and engaging orchestrations and production by Roy Cotton II, Andrae Ames’ snazzy drumming, and of course, Niya’s exquisite voice and songwriting skills. The overall effect is a breathtaking revelation that all gospel songs don’t have to sound the same. Niya has created an exceptional work of art that deserves repeated listening.
CD price: $11.99 / MP3 price: $11.99
JOIA FARMER: Before & Afterlife
The opening riff from "Water & Air," the first track on this strong sophomore album, begins quickly, jumping into a steady and pressing tempo that is flush with intention, clearly building to something. A few bars later, the drums push things forward a bit more, making way for the vocals, which mark the moment when this record really takes off. This is Christian rock, if you have to classify it as such, but get this: it actually rocks. Farmer lets her voice loose but locks in on melody, climbing on top of tumbling bass lines and driving guitar riffs, belting out lyrics that avoid cliche and embrace sincerity. With a backing band that can jump from steady chugging beats to funkier, more feel-oriented numbers (check out "Live For You"), she has a rock solid foundation of sound to springboard from. It all works, and she finds a way to maintain a spiritual message in her music while never losing sight of the power of the music itself.
CD price: $14.00
JULIE ZULUAGA: For The Praise Of Your Glory
Blending Latin pop with contemporary worship music, this collection of spiritual songs succeeds by concentrating not just on the lyrics and the vocals, but also on the music. Utilizing a large band clearly adept at a variety of styles, Zuluaga is able to spread her strong, passionate vocals over a diverse mix of horns, strings, and plenty of percussion. It makes for a positive, celebratory, and multifaceted sound that is sincere but also more than willing to have a bit of fun. "For The Praise of Your Glory" and "I Am" are both ostensibly straight ahead pop worship songs, but the use of driving acoustic guitar and well placed (and full) background vocals gives them both depth and texture. Not afraid to take things in different directions, "Good God" works off a reggae groove, and "Psalms 103" showcases some leanings toward a zydeco sound. Of course, all of this is held together by Zuluaga's vocals and lyrics, which are hopeful and compassionate, a great match for the feel of the music. In addition, she gets back to her roots and sings the final song on the album in Spanish. It all adds up to a very distinct group of songs and a fantastic variety of spiritual music.
CD price: $12.97
ABBI WALKER: Hope of a Little Green
Expressively ambitious in both her musical craftsmanship and her spiritual devotion, this is an artist who has created an album that not only shuns all the common stereotypes associated with Christian music, but does so in a way that is remarkably honest, personal, and refreshingly unpretentious. Thematically, the lyrics unite through a common bond of faith over the course of the 11 songs offered here, but the musical styles are diverse, making this album tough to broadly classify. It's from these varied approaches that these songs derive their greatest strengths. Some tracks are slyly rooted in the blues, while others lean towards the smoothness of soul or the subtle, controlled twang of the poppier side of country. Her voice is up for the challenge of carrying the weight of these stylistic switches, and her lyrics follow suit just as appropriately. These are far from being songs of blind faith. She seems more interested in searching for the answers herself, and some of these tracks reflect both that quest and the revelations that may or may not clearly follow. It's an intelligent approach, and it's one that is sure to appeal to those who are looking to broaden their horizons when it comes to spiritual music.
Recommended if you like Rita Springer, Carrie Underwood.CD price: $15.00 / MP3 price: $15.00
KRISSA SOMERO: A Living Prayer
An affirmation of faith, life, and love, this album is one woman's response to a life-changing experience and the quest for hope and deliverance that it produced. Many of these songs will be familiar to some, but this particular take on them will most likely be original and unique. Backed by a top notch, primarily acoustic band, Somero's vocals float over top of these soft bluegrass-y tracks with ease and confidence. Her knack for making the songs seem effortlessly powerful certainly rubs off on her musicians. Fiddle, Dobro, Mandolin, and keys are all incorporated into the sound, which resonates with a flavor that is appropriately traditional on the surface, but never old fashioned. With hints of pop and country, the tracks are widely accessible and mellow enough to suit any mood or occasion. The album ends with "I Thank God For You" a track penned by the artist that is humble, heartwarming, and sums up the album as a whole with a personal honesty that is refreshing and elegant.
CD price: $12.00 / MP3 price: $9.95
JAMES TEALY: Redeeming the Days - EP
Lush and welcoming, this Christian pop/rock EP is vast in its scope, but deeply effective and accessible as a result of its intelligently personal approach. While these are, at their core, very spiritual songs, they should probably be recognized first and foremost for what they accomplish musically. By crafting tracks that could easily find a home in a modern pop radio format, Tealy has really given himself a great platform for his insightfully driven lyrics. While "Dawn" is a delicate ballad that builds and then gracefully subsides, "Foreign is Familiar" hits a little bit harder, blending guitar and keyboards together with thumping drums to form a beautifully controlled wall of sound. It's easy to write spiritual songs that lean on a refrain and don't do much but repeat cliches. It's much harder to speak from the heart of experience and really expose faults and misgivings. This is where Tealy really sets himself apart, penning lyrics that are wonderfully subdued and human, lending themselves to a personal feel that makes these six songs something you'll want to listen to again and again.
CD price: $7.97 / MP3 price: $5.94
JENNIFER HARRIS: What You Say
Gospel music is a great format for singer/songwriters. The topical possibilities for lyrics and themes are infinite, and allowing songs with an underlying grandeur of scope to adopt a more personal feel is extremely effective in turning a good worship song into a great one. It certainly works here, as this young woman really puts her stamp of originality on these 12 soft pop tracks that are lilting, serene, honest, and incredibly sincere. As with a lot of gospel ballads, the overview of the tunes aren't initially dissimilar to standard contemporary love songs in feel and approach, but she wisely takes them a step further, incorporating spiritual lyrics that never seem out of place or forced. Backed by a band that is very adept at matching the vibe and strengths of her vocals, she is able to really drive home and solidify the harmonies while effectively flowing through songs that transition and build without stumbling in the least. Her voice exudes a confidence that is a must for songs like these, and it really makes these spiritual offerings something very moving to listen to.
Recommended if you like Sara Groves, Rita Springer.CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
VIRGINIA HILL: LOL
No, this is not an album dedicated to the wonderful world of text messaging. It is, however, an uplifting excursion into modern Christian pop, filled with poise and inspiration. Taking a very modern approach to spiritual music, these ten songs are everything that good faith based pop music should be: catchy, upbeat, and easily accessible. Penned by the artist herself, the tracks have a personal feel, adding credible sincerity to the emotional aspects and reminding us what is missing from so much gospel music these days. Very well produced and written, a professional feel flows throughout the album, putting this on a level playing field with anything that is receiving current airplay. Hill has a real presence, clearly impassioned about the songs she has written and the messages behind them. Her vocals are powerful but serene, a perfect match for the subtle but firm tones of the electric guitar and piano that dominate the album's overall sound. Equally effective in her take on slower ballads as well as higher tempo dance-worthy numbers, this is an artist that offers something for everyone to enjoy and believe in.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
D'ATRA HICKS: Finally My Time
Blending upbeat soul with modern gospel, this collection of spiritual songs focuses on encouragement and positivity as a means for changing and refreshing outlooks on life. While this subject matter is fairly common in the tried and true gospel form, these songs wisely tend to stray away from musical cliche, instead vying to bridge the gap between 70's soul worship and modern jazzy pop. It's an interesting mix, with each song incorporating a different approach to a similar message. The originally penned tracks are personal but universal, smooth in their delivery and sensibly forthright in their content. While some gospel artists are content to recycle praise choruses, she proves that it's much more effective and sincere to speak from the heart and maintain a musically intimate vibe. While the cover of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" may initially seem out of place here, it makes perfect sense in the context of the album, coming across as a heartfelt rally cry for change and how we all, personally and spiritually, need to find our own way to embrace it.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
DOROTHY COLON: Jesus Said
This collection of honest and personal gospel songs is laid out as a journey, a heartfelt documentation of one woman's struggles and accomplishments. Simultaneously embracing the past and leaving it behind, these tracks are stories of newfound hope and inspiration, beautifully cathartic in their approach to life and spirituality. Instead of dwelling on previous mistakes, the songs focus on looking to the future, to a life filled with confidence and encouragement. Her smoky vocals echo the thematic content of the songs perfectly, as her voice encompasses a conviction that makes these original songs that much more touching and appropriately sentimental. Musically, these professionally produced tracks are modern and mellow, hinting at soul, light jazz, and straightforward R&B. It works well with her vocal style, which is strong in its presence but laid back in its approach. While many gospel albums focus too intently on a universal appeal and end up sounding run-of-the-mill, Colon has proven that a personal approach is equally effective, if not more so. She sums it up in the second track, "Jesus Said:" "I'm on the right track now/ Love is by my side."
Recommended if you like CeCe Winans, Flak.CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97