Two listens.  That’s what it took for me to fall in love with this album.  For those of us who were ecstatic after Ghosts Upon the Earth that one of the most innovative musical groups on the planet was making worship music, there was bound to be a twinge of disappointment upon first listen.  I wasn’t expecting there to be another “Beautiful Things” on this album, but there’s no “Brother Moon” here either.  

For many church praise teams, Christmas can be a challenge.  Where do I find good contemporary arrangements of Christmas music?  What songs from our regular repertoire work for this season?  Here’s your all-in-one Advent/Christmas guide.  I realize this will already be too late for some of you to use this year.  If so, keep it bookmarked for next year, and I'll be sure to update it early.  

During the years leading up to the turn of the century, a revival of worship music that began largely overseas – particularly in England and Australia – made its way to American shores.  Worship music was infused with a new level of passion.  But the best had yet to come.  In the decade-plus that followed, the music became more innovative and the gradually the lyrics were written with a higher degree of theological reflection.  Here are some of the best albums – especially featuring songs for corporate worship – that have come out since 2000.