10: Emery-While Broken Hearts Prevail:
You might find it surprising that I even considered this album, since every song on this album is a cliched love song. However, Emery manages to add a twist to their music that gives it an edge that very few love songs possess. I had long anticipated this album but was expecting to find a droned out and boring album much like I'm Only a Man but was pleasantly surprised when I found my prediction was incorrect.
9: Disciple-Southern Hospitality:
Yet another long anticipated album for 2008 by a band known for their hard-rock sound and loud vocals. The song starts out with a upbeat and fast song titled the same as the album that hooks you right in. Other songs like Romance Me, Liar, and Falling Star are also very rock sounding songs to get you going. I do feel though that Disciple moved in a different direction with this album, away from their heavy stuff into a world of more simple rock, a direction I feel is perfect for a band with their talents.
8: Falling Up-Discover the Trees Again:
There are few things that annoy me more than when bands produce a "Greatest Hits" album after only a couple of CD's. In Falling Up's case however, I feel they chose the perfect songs for this album and even though they are a relatively new band, this album is an excellent collection of their best songs yet (And hopefully there will be many more to come). With hit songs like Hotel Aquarium, Good Morning Planetarium, Moonlight, and Searchlights this is a perfect album for someone that wants Falling Up's best music without buying four albums.
7:The Classic Crime-The Silver Cord:
Although I have previously done a review on this album and consider it to be very well crafted, I feel it still was not good enough to compare to some of the other albums this year, which has what caused this album to get a low spot on the chart. But regardless of the location, this album was still beyond any expectations I had for a band that I barely listened to prior to this release. With matured vocals, lyrics, and sound, The Classic Crime truly outdid themselves with songs like Just a Man, Gravedigging, and Everything. I recommend this album to anyone that enjoys both hard rock, and soft, slower rock with meaningful lyrics.
6:Sanctus Real-We Need Each Other:
I have been a Sanctus Real fan for some time now. However, I was disappointed by their previous album, The Face of Love. So when I heard they were expected to release a new album, I braced myself for yet another let down. After hearing the opening track of Turn On the Lights I knew that this album was a large step above The Face of Love. Although the rest of the album does not have the same upbeat, rock sound as its opening track, songs like We Need Each Other, Black Coal, Sing, and What You're Doing are all thought provoking songs that are messages both to God, and about Him.
5:The Afters-Never Going Back to OK:
When I purchased this album, I did something I never did before. I bought the CD without listening to even one sample of it on iTunes. And when I put the CD in my car's player, and heard the opening track of Secret Parade I had a feeling I had just wasted $14. Thankfully though, the next song, Never Going Back to OK, brought back my faith in my purchase, and so did every song after it. Other songs I found particularly well crafted include Tonight, We Are the Sound, Summer Again, and the amusing single, MySpace Girl. Even though I do not feel that this album beat The Afters previous album, I Wish We All Could Win, I do feel this is a very well made CD and is worth any amount of money you pay for it, well anything reasonable that is.
4:Pillar-For the Love of the Game:
Before this album (Which I bought the same day as The After's) I never really cared for many of Pillar's songs. And with the exception of songs like Bring Me Down, Frontline, and Fireproof I rarely listened to them at all. For the Love of the Game however, brought a new spark of interest in Pillar's music. This album is a bit "softer" from Pillar's other stuff, but that's not to say they didn't pull off their classic hard rock sound. Songs like For the Love of the Game, Reckless Youth, The Runaway, and my personal favorite Throwdown, combine the classic Pillar sound that we've all come to love, with meaningful lyrics about things like depression, falling from Grace, redemption, and other problems that many youth people face today. One of the songs on the album, Turn it Up, I find to be particularly interesting. This song is a large combination of various lines from other Christian artists like Underoath, RED, Kutless, Disciple, and many more. A song that is both interesting, and has a very original idea behind it that helps this album earn the #4 spot on this chart.
3:Remedy Drive-Daylight Is Coming:
In my opinion, there are very few good worship bands in the Christan music scene. Bands like Chris Tomlin or Matthew West are very boring in my opinion and make me want to switch the station over hearing their message. However, Remedy Drive, along with a select few other bands like Jeremy Camp and David Crowder Band remain a favorite of mine when it comes to true worship music. Remedy Drive is still a relatively new band that very few have heard of, but I assure you, if you like bands like Sanctus Real or The Afters, you will not be disappointed by this album. Songs like Stand Up, What Happens (At the End), Something Made to Last, and Heartbeat combine an upbeat, and fun melody, with meaningful lyrics about God and Heaven. Other songs like Daylight and All Along have a slower melody, but still have a deep and powerful message to them that I guarantee will leave you smiling.
2:Search the City-A Fire So Big the Heavens Can See It:
If you have ever heard this band (Which I doubt you have) you might be surprised that I like them. They have a popish sound to them and all of their songs sound very similar. But much like Falling Up, this band has managed to gain my attention through their witty lyrics, and extravagant titles. Some of my favorite songs from the album include Son of a Gun, Ambulance Chaser, Talk is Cheap and I've Got Expensive Taste, The Rescue, The Streetlight Diaries, and Clocks and Timepieces. So if you like breakup songs about girls (or guys) that have hurt you in the past, you'll love this album as much as I do, but if you happen to live a perfect life and have never experienced heartache and don't like repetitive music, stray far from this album.
1:Anberlin-New Surrender:
Well we have come to the number one song at last, and it should come as to no surprise that it just happens to be Anberlin's. Since this was the first CD I ever reviewed, I will be brief on the gloating of how great Anberlin is. Songs like The Resistance, The Feel Good Drag, and Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights) bring out the classic Anberlin hard rock sound with their angry lyrics directed toward society and that "special" person in your life. While songs like Breaking, Retrace, and Haight Street are of a more soft nature, yet still provide you with lyrical content about lost love, and falling back into love. So overall I feel this is the best album of 2008, but I suppose you could say I am a bit bias with my love for Anberlin being taken into credit. But I assure you, if any other band could pull off an album like this the same year it switched record companies, I would by no means pass it up quickly as a candidate.
