A Few Days Late, But Here is the BEST of 2008:

In order here are my picks and the reasons why, for the top 10 albums released in 2008.

Out of the hundreds of records that came out from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st 2008, I can say I did not get to review them all, but I feel like a made a pretty good dent and therefore offer my opinion on which one's where extra special and came to be some of the best of the year. It was hard to narrow down to just 10, I wanted to do 20, but I feel like the list is more exclusive and its easier to hear something from just 10 different cd's then 20. I finally want to say that since '02 when I started listening to Christian music, the game has completely changed. I don't listen to Christian music exclusively but its getting easier and easier to do that, being there are more really good, and really quality Christian musicians making music of all styles. I support Christian music with all my heart, infact I have dedicated my life to helping people understand and learn more about these artists. Why? Because I can testify to the fact that this music changes peoples lives, and that is because God speaks through the music.

Here are the top 10 cd's that changed my 2008 for the better:
10. LeCrae - Rebel
> I'm a hip/hop turntablist. I dj live events, concerts, parties, clubs, & even opened for rock bands (*like capital lights, & after edmund) So, I know about dj'ing and what its like to stand up face to face with a crowd and drop a track and have them really feel it. This new cd from LeCrae takes hardcore street hip/hop, and blends it with bold in your face lyrics about the Kingdom. Everytime I play it, people come up and ask,"dang, that is hot! who is that???"

9. The Classic Crime - The Silver Cord
> Dude, I listen to this cd in comparrison to the last full length album they released, and I wondered,"what have they been doing up there in Seattle?!!" They have taken like styles of rock, emo, grunge, and pop and blended them together on this Tooth & Nail release. I really like the more rockin tracks, like: 'abracadavers' & 'gravediggin'. This cd jams!!

8. The Justin Cofield Band - The Days of Love & King of Glory E.P.
> This actually -2- releases from the same Spin 180 artist. The first is the full length album, 'The Days of Love'. I can't tell you how quality and special this entire cd is start to finish. Its full of tasty licks, good lyrics, and even some instrumentals. The second is a short worship E.P. the band released after the new album(*in the same year). This E.P. is all covers and will make you love God more through music & wonder how a band like this is not signed.

7. Demon Hunter - 45 Days
> Interesting that I actually was not excited about this cd, I loved the studio album 'The Tryptich' so very very much. I bought copies for some of my metal friends who don't even listen to Christian music and they liked it! But, I was slow to rock this record, I guess I didn't think it could hold up, wow, was I mistaken. This live DVD captures the craziness that this band has sparked in its fans, and just how hard these guys work at what they do. My favorite Demon Hunter moment this year was when I was interviewing Brian 'Head' Welch on PowerFM and he said,"Demon Hunter, those guys scared me!" The music cd is a display of the otherside of this band, its a melodic mellow almost symphonic cd of original music.

6. Hillsong United - The I Heart Revolution
> I go to Fellowship Church and we sing Hillsong music all-the-time! Actually, I thought I would find myself rollin my eyes, but this is a live double cd, its like a greatest hits of some of the most powerful modern worship. I really recomend this cd, the general media have such a warped view about church music, I love the fact that this cd rocks, and captures thousands of people from shows all over the globe lifting their hands high to worship God in song and praise.

5. Braille - The IV
> The IV was released and it saw national press coverage in genral market magazines like; The Source. I listened to this album over and over, and everytime heard something new in his rhymes, and new elements in the tight tight production. When Braille was here on tour in support of this record, he played at the IGNITE youth center where I dj at on a weekly basis. I was climbing down from behind my turntables when he was about to go on, and Braille looked at me and said,"Where you going dj? You gonna rock this show with me or what?" So, it was pretty awesome to kill it with Braille, I am by no means anywhere near Rob Swift(*the dj on the record), but that expirence I will keep forever. Props to my man Luke Huch for hookin it up @ IGNITE every week!

4. Brian "Head" Welch - Save Me From Myself
> Read the book before you listen to the album. I have seen Korn somewhere between 8 or 9 times. When Brian made the announcement he had accepted Christ it was a real special moment for me in my walk, since Korn had been such a big part of my darker days. The album same title as the book sounds more like old school real Korn, then Korn has sounded like Korn on their last 3 records. The message in the music is so very very powerful and I believe that this man will touch many lives with his powerful story and music. Also, in 2008, I got to sit down and interview Brian live on my show, he is a really cool dude, and it was a dream come true to get to meet him and talk with him live on PowerFM.

3. The Listening - Transmissions I
> Many moons ago they were called, The Rock N' Roll Worship Circus, but now they have come into a new name, new sound, and new direction. This short little E.P. can only be aquired from the band, or at their live shows. They are on the same label as MuteMath and have a full length cd coming in '09 called, "LMNOP". The music is above and beyond anything I could have imagined that this band would drop. The new material from these guys really doesn't sound like anything else in the universe of Christian music. They are true originators, and will leave a lasting mark on our genre for being so creative and different.

2. Thrice - The Alchemy Index Volumes 3 & 4
> The second set of E.P.'s from Thrice that shook me down to my core. The single "Come All You Weary" is extremely powerful lyrically, and I love how this record is a hybrid of gospel, hardcore, and americana. If you are looking for typical 4/4 rock songs with sing-a-long chorus' this is not the record for you. But, I promise if you sitdown with a hot cup of tea and let these songs breathe life into you and take you to a new place for what I think 'might' be classified as punk rock music. I have moved this band into my top 10 favorite artists of all time because of what they have done over the last 5-6 years. Lead singer Dustin Kensrue is very creative and interesting fellow. This cd is totally awesome and everytime I look at it or think about it, makes me want to put it on and get lost in it.

1. Manafest - Citizen Activ
> Ok, ok, ok, almost everyone knows I am a member of Manafest's band. So, yes, I am a little biased, but come on, you know this cd is so awesome!!! Funny story, I really fell in love with a couple of the tracks when we were playing them like over and over on one of the tours we did in '08. My good friend Manafest(*Chris Greenwood), has shown me some powerful things about my faith and myself through the music and performing together. This album is about "doing" not just talking, or thinking about it. Me even getting to play with him is God making one of my dreams come true. Tracks like; 'Good Day', 'Free', & 'Live On', go right alone with something Chris talked about in his set, asking the audience, "If you could do anything for God, and you knew you were not going to fail, what would you do?"

Drue