Music Minute: 2008 Recap

Jen here, with a look back over the best of Christian music released in 2008. Here are my Best of 2008 Awards:

1. Best album: Capital Lights, This Is An Outrage. I started listening in July, and I haven't stopped. This power-pop record full of hooky anthems and soaring vocals will make you fall in love with music all over again.

2. Best band name: Definitely The Classic Crime, though we still don't know what the crime was or who committed it. These Seattle boys know the secrets of making good music...

3. Best hair: Chris Sligh, duh. And he's no slouch in the vocal department either! If you haven't already, give his album Running Back To You a spin.

4. Best band photo: Showbread. Love the red pants.



5. Speaking of photos, we had the opportunity to work with some great Christian artists this year. But Shane and Shane take the cake for being Best band performance at a photo shoot:



This happened shortly after we asked them to do some kung-fu poses. Apparently it kind of hurt. :o)

6. Best girl rocker: There are a bunch of standouts this year, but I've got to go with Francesca Battistelli. Her power-pop songs are Feist-y, contagious, beautifully produced, and make me happy. Give 'em a spin!

7. Crossing over into magazine territory, I'm awarding Best article to make you stand up and cheer to the November 08, ec article on Britt Nicole. This girl has her heart in the right place. Go back and read it again! We also liked the December 08 article about The Afters' Josh Havens. His honest talk about his brother's addiction and recovery made us even more sure of God's grace and goodness.

8. Best album cover: Joel Augé, On the Blue. Check out the link for a picture.

9. Best mainstream Christian band: From their outspoken commitment to abstinence to their catchy riffs in Camp Rock, The Jonas Brothers and their skinny ties take this award home. These boys give 110% every single time. PS, is it true that Joe's hair has its own fan club?

10. And finally, Best in show - the award to the best live Christian performance we saw in 2008. Out of a ton of great performances, we give our vote to Group 1 Crew. Check them out live for a solid, great show complete with cool hair and lots of danceable tunes. And don't miss Family Force 5 - we hear they are really awesome in concert!