UP Lists the 25 Best Christmas Albums... and Gets It Mostly Right

UP has published their list of the 25 best Christmas albums and gets it mostly right.  Here's a better list.

"You Are Everything" was Most Played Song on Christian Radio

Here are the most played songs on Christian radio in 2008 according to Radio & Records.

Top 5 Christian AC songs:
1) You Are Everything, Matthew West
2) Let It Fade, Jeremy Camp
3) Call My Name, Third Day
4) God With us, MercyMe
5) You Reign, Mercy Me

Top 5 Christian CHR songs:
1) Never Going Back To OK, The Afters
2) Give Me Your Eyes, Brandon Heath
3) Those Nights, Skillet
4) No Matter What It Takes, Jeremy Camp
5) Call My Name, Third Day

Top 5 Christian Rock songs:
1) Whispers In The Dark, Skillet
2) Hello Alone, Anberlin
3) Crash, Decyfer Down
4) Devastation And Reform, Relient K
5) The Flame In All Of Us, Thousand Foot Krutch

Top 5 Soft AC/Inspirational songs:
1) Jesus Messiah, Chris Tomlin
2) You Reign, MercyMe
3) You're Not Along, Meredith Andrews
4) What Life Would Be Like, Big Daddy Weave
5) Mighty To Save, Laura Story

To put some of this into perspective, Matthew West's "You Are Everything" had 47,006 plays in 2008. In contrast, Skillet's "Whispers In The Dark" had 4,505 plays.

All of the Radio & Records year end charts are here.

Critics' Picks for Best CDs of 2008

A brief list of some critics' picks for the best of 2008

CCM
Christianity Today
CM Central
Gospel Music Channel
Jesus Freak Hideout

25 Best Christmas CDs of All Time

Amended and expanded list based on new releases and continued consumption:

25 Best Christmas CDs of All Time

25. Harry Connick Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas
24. Relient K - Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer
23. Michael McDonald - In the Spirit
22. Bryan Duncan - A Nehosoul Christmas
21. Jewel - Joy: A Holiday Collection
20. Faith Hill - Joy to the World
19. BarlowGirl - Home for Christmas
18. MercyMe - The Christmas Sessions
17. Jars of Clay - Christmas Songs
16. Amy Grant - A Christmas Album
15. Various - Christmas (1988 Sparrow compilation)
14. Michael W. Smith - Christmas
13. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
12. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
11. Elvis Presley - It's Christmas Time
10. Ginny Owens - Bring Us Peace
9. Russ Taff - A Christmas Song
8. Avalon - Joy
7. Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
6. Steven Curtis Chapman - The Music of Christmas
5. Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas
4. Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
3. Jaci Valesquez - Christmas
2. Michael W. Smith - Christmastime
1. Bryan Duncan - Christmas is Jesus

Top 10 Rock CDs

The 10 Best Rock CDs from the last two years

10. Pillar "For the Love of the Game"
9. Sanctus Real "The Face of Love"
8. BarlowGirl "How Can We Be Silent"
7. DecembeRadio "DecembeRadio"
6. Kutless "To Know That You're Alive"
5. Sanctus Real "We Need Each Other"
4. Fireflight "Unbreakable"
3. Third Day "Revelation"
2. DecembeRadio "Satisfied"
1. Red "End of Silence"

Not in consideration is Pop-Rock (more traditional rock) such as Jeremy Camp, Downhere, Needtobreathe, Jars of Clay, The Afters, The Elms, Future of Forestry, Turn Off the Stars, Starfield etc

I also didn't include older titles, otherwise, Switchfoot, Anberlin, DC Talk, TobyMac, Audio A, Day of Fire, Stryper, Tait, P.O.D., and others would be listed.

Best Christmas CDs of All Time

10. Elvis Presley - It's Christmas Time
9. Russ Taff - A Christmas Song
8. Michael W. Smith - Christmas
7. Various - Christmas (1988 Sparrow compilation)
6. Steven Curtis Chapman - The Music of Christmas
5. Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas
4. Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
3. Jaci Valesquez - Christmas
2. Michael W. Smith - Christmastime
1. Bryan Duncan - Christmas is Jesus

Other fantastic CDs include Rivertribe's Christmas, Bryan Duncan's NehoSoul Christmas, Amy Grant's A Christmas Album, MercyMe's The Christmas Sessions, Point of Grace, Avalon's Joy, Phil Keaggy's Majesty & Wonder and the WOW Christmas compilations

Some that you think would be fantastic and do have flashes of brilliance, but were a bit disappointing include (too high expectations?): Natalie Grant's Believe, Kathy Troccoli's A Sentimental Christmas, Jars of Clay's Christmas Songs, Third Day's Christmas Offerings

Most unappreciated CCM cds

What do you think are the most unappreciated CCM cds of all time? My list is in the next post, but here are two interesting perspectives from Beliefnet and Infuze. Infuze parts 2, 3 and 4 are here (their navigation leaves something to be desired.)

10 Best Female CCM Vocalists of all time

Criteria include song quality, vocal prowess, impact on industry, ability to play an instrument and/or craft a song, whim...

10. Nichole Nordeman
9. Crystal Lewis
8. Natalie Grant
7. Jennifer Knapp
6. Lisa Bevill
5. Rebecca St. James
4. Ginny Owens
3. Jaci Velasquez
2. Margaret Becker
1. Amy Grant

Updated list here.

10 Best CCM Male Artists Ever

Criteria include song quality, longevity, impact on industry, vocal ability, song craftsmanship, ability to play instrument, whim...

10. Chris Tomlin - Definitive work: Arriving
Phil Keaggy - Definitive works: Find Me In These Fields/Crimson & Blue
9. TobyMac - Definitive work: All 3 CDs
8. Mark Schultz - Definitive work: Mark Schultz
7. Russ Taff - Definitive works: Russ Taff/The Way Home
6. John Elefante - Definitive work: Corridors
5. Charlie Peacock - Definitive work: Love Life
4. Jeremy Camp - Definitive works: All but Carried Me
3. Bryan Duncan - Definitive work: Mercy/Slow Revival
2. Michael W. Smith - Definitive works: Go West Young Man/I'll Lead You Home
1. Steven Curtis Chapman - Definitive work: For the Sake of the Call/Speechless