POSTED 14 JUNE 2001
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Oxygen"
Avalon
...available here.
Glistening with four-part harmonies and power-pop appeal, Avalon
are back with "Oxygen," their fifth release of joyful, uplifting
music. The group's smooth textures and glossy productions have
proven irresistible to fans of CCM since their self-titled debut was
released in 1996, and "Oxygen"'s sparkling pop melodies should only
further boost their popularity. If you're looking for inspiration,
let these experts provide it.
Read more
...available here.
"Big Blue Sky"
Bebo Norman
...available here.
Bebo Norman has gained a measure of experience while further honing
his songwriting skills since his 1999 debut record, "Ten Thousand
Days," first brought him his strong contemporary Christian music
following. "Big Blue Sky" shows off just how much he's grown,
presenting a solid set that continues his folk-pop explorations of
faith, love, and Christianity.
Read more
...available here.
"Vol. 1-Festival Con Dios"
Newsboys
...available here.
Festival con Dios is the CCM version of Lollapalooza, featuring a
lineup of massively popular acts like Audio Adrenaline and Newsboys
as well as a variety of activities like wall climbing, trampoline
bungee jumping, interactive games, and more. It's an ambitious
summer showcase for CCM music, as this scintillating sampler CD
makes clear. Give it a listen and get jazzed for the big, big show.
Read more
...available here.
2001 DOVE AWARDS
Winners and Nominees
Recognizing the accomplishments of heartland rock, the Christian
music industry handed Atlanta's Third Day five wins, including Best
Group and Best Artist, at the 2001 Dove Awards ceremony on April 26.
Altogether the band and its individual members hauled in a total of
15 awards. The presentation, which showcased acts who express their
spirituality through song, reflected a diverse group of styles and
genres. There's an easy way to see how the night played out--check
out our list of the award winners and nominees from the 2001 Dove
Awards.
* Read the article
...available here.
SPOTLIGHT RELEASE
"Mark Schultz"
Mark Schultz
...available here.
In seeking inspirational sources for his music, Mark Schultz
wandered down a number of dead-end streets before becoming a youth
pastor. Suddenly, in helping others, he found himself, and his work
has now suddenly taken on an overtly inspirational and spirtual
tone. His self-titled debut is filled with anthemic power rock,
balanced by heartfelt ballads and touches of R&B that set off
his very personal tales of grace and belief. It's the unmistakable
sound of faith as well as that of a star being born.
Read more
...available here.
RECOMMENDED
"Blue Pony"
Julie Miller
...available here.
A customer from New York recommends "Blue Pony" from Julie Miller:
"Miller's voice reaches in, grabs hold of your heart, and for the
entire album, doesn't let go. With both bold and sentimental lyrics,
Julie Miller sings her heart out, and sing she can! Her voice is a
combination of rock 'n' roll with a bit of a country twang, and her
harmonies chill to the bone."
Read more
...available here.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
Delivering the Word
Catholic priest Stan Fortuna uses the music of rap and hip-hop to
deliver a spiritual message of brotherly love and praise. And he
does it with street credibility! Download "Kumbya," his dope
antidrug anthem and proclamation against teen suicide, from his CD
"Sacro Song."
...available here.
Go to download
...available here.
FEED YOUR MUSICAL APPETITE
The newest titles, the hottest bands, our favorite discoveries--let
our expert editors e-mail you the best of the music world with
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recommendations.
...available here.
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Also, check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles
by release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...available here.
MORE ON THE DOVE AWARDS COVERAGE
Winners and Nominees
Recognizing the accomplishments of heartland rock, the Christian
music industry handed Atlanta's Third Day five wins, including Best
Group and Best Artist, at the 2001 Dove Awards ceremony on April 26.
Altogether the band and its individual members hauled in a total of
15 awards. The presentation, which showcased acts who express their
spirituality through song, reflected a diverse group of styles and
genres. There's an easy way to see how the night played out--check
out our list of the award winners and nominees from the 2001 Dove
Awards.
... here.
NEW AND NOTABLE
"Solo"
Dc Talk
Our price: $9.97
...buy it here.
A special sneak preview EP containing songs from the trio's three
forthcoming solo records, "Solo" shows off the range that this
Christian megaband has developed after working together for more
than a decade. Mixing together a variety of pop, rock, and hip-hop
songs, it features two solo efforts from each member's
soon-to-be-released album as well as a new track from the band
itself. The deluge of new material should placate fans who have had
to make do with only the greatest-hits collection "Intermission"
since 1998's "Supernatural."
"Free To Fly"
Point of Grace
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $3.98
...buy it here.
A soaring collection of Point of Grace's angelic four-part
harmonies, "Free to Fly" delivers the blissfully melodic
praise-and-worship material that fans have come to expect. Their
first studio record in three years, "Fly" finds the Arkansas quartet
in fine voice on a diverse selection of accessible power-pop songs
that artfully communicate a rich musicality, inspirational power,
and deep spiritual conviction.
"26 Letters"
Ben Glover
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.98
...buy it here.
It's hard to believe "26 Letters" is Ben Glover's debut record.
Packed with intelligent pop, contemplative ballads, and an
insightful maturity for someone so young, the album displays a
confident touch that reminds the listener of established acts like
Steven Curtis Chapman and this year's other breakthrough artist,
Chris Rice. Crafty guitars and emotive vocals seem to come naturally
to Glover, and this record would seem to herald the presence of a
new voice in contemporary Christian pop.
SPOTLIGHT RELEASE
"Spirit of the Century"
Blind Boys of Alabama
Our price: $12.99 | You save: $3.98
...buy it here.
With soulful song readings and a compelling mix of the contemporary
and the traditional, "Spirit of the Century" provides both the
spiritual songs that have made the Blind Boys a gospel institution
as well as intriguing tweaks that revitalize the formula. Augmenting
their sound with the instrumental work of John Hammond and Charlie
Musselwhite, the band performs songs by relative youngsters like Tom
Waits and Ben Harper to produce a record that plays to their
strengths while exploring the bluesy underbelly of gospel music.
"The Promise"
Plus One
Our price: $12.99 | You save: $3.98
...buy it here.
A customer from California recommends "The Promise" from Plus One,
this year's Dove Award winner for New Artist of the Year:
"From the sweet ballad of 'Last Flight Out' to the upbeat tunes of
'Written on My Heart,' every song is a winner! I love every single
song on this CD and it has never left my CD player. Get Plus One's CD
and you won't be disappointed, I promise."
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
Delivering the Word
Catholic priest Stan Fortuna uses the music of rap and hip-hop to
deliver a spiritual message of brotherly love and praise. And he
does it with street credibility! Download "Kumbya," his dope
antidrug anthem and proclamation against teen suicide, from his CD
"Sacro Song."
Go to download
...buy it here.
IN BOOKS
"Take Me to the River"
Al Green
Our price: $20.00 | You save: $5.00
...buy it here.
Filled with fascinating parables of sin and redemption, anguish and
rejuvenation, Al Green's "Take Me to the River" chronicles the
famous singer's journey from his work as a sharecropper on the
family farm in Arkansas to the heights of fame as a musician to the
peace he has attained as a preacher. For music lovers--or anyone
else--it's an inspiring read.
Also check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles
by release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...buy it here.
"Sonicpraise"
SonicFlood
...buy it here.
SonicFlood deliver some of the strongest music in contemporary
Christian rock on "SonicPraise," which continues in the same sunny,
alt-pop vein that made their self-titled debut (and the contemporary
Christian chart-topping single "I Want to Know You") such a treat. As
devout as they are catchy, SonicFlood keep broadening the definition
of praise-and-worship music.
"Demons And Angels [BOX SET]"
Reverend Gary Davis
...buy it here.
A legendary ragtime-blues guitar man as well as an ordained minister,
the Reverend Gary Davis plays raspy-voiced sermon songs that have
become part of the lexicon for roots-music practitioners. Davis, who
started off as a straight-up bluesman then later developed a strong
gospel tinge as more and more of his shows became sermons, produces
music that is warm and real, full of faith, and universal in its
folksy appeal. "Demons and Angels," which brings together much of the
work from his productive later years, features a mix of
live-performance and studio classics. It's essential listening for
anyone who wants to fortify the soul.
"Hit Parade"
Audio Adrenaline
...buy it here.
Audio Adrenaline, who have long been putting the "rock" in "Christian
rock," showcase their greatest hits as well as new material on "Hit
Parade." With this release, which features two new songs alongside pop
gems like "Get Down" and "Walk on Water," Audio Adrenaline continue to
push the boundary of what Christian rock is supposed to sound like,
dragging mainstream audiences into the fold with catchy songs and
topnotch musicianship.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"For This Cause"
Hillsong Music Australia
...buy it here.
A customer from Roseville, California, recommends "For This Cause," a
Hillsongs Music Australia release of live recordings from artists such
as Darlene Zschech: "Hillsongs Music has once again blown the lid off
worship music. Each CD they release gets better and better. God has
certainly blessed this church with a gifted, talented team. Darlene
Zschech has one of the best voices in Christian music... and the
multitalented Reuben Morgan also proves himself an anointed songwriter
with many different styles to keep the songs fresh."
ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Michael W. Smith, who wrote songs and played keyboards for Amy Grant
in the early 1980s, broke out on his own in the middle of that decade
and soon established himself as one of Christian music's
superstars. Smith's evangelical message comes with an unapologetically
modern and keyboards-driven sound, a combination that has propelled
him into the limelight. Amazon.com's Music editors have compiled a
list of his essential recordings for your listening pleasure.
Go to Christian essentials
...buy it here.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
Delivering the Word
Catholic priest Stan Fortuna uses the music of rap and hip-hop to
deliver a spiritual message of brotherly love and praise. And he does
it with street credibility! Download "Kumbya," his dope antidrug
anthem and proclamation against teen suicide, from his CD "Sacro
Song."
...buy it here.
IN BOOKS
"Take Me to the River"
Al Green
...buy it here.
Filled with fascinating parables of sin and redemption, anguish and
rejuvenation, Al Green's "Take Me to the River" chronicles the famous
singer's journey from his work as a sharecropper on the family farm in
Arkansas to the heights of fame as a musician to the peace he has
attained as a preacher. For music lovers--or anyone else--it's an
inspiring read.
FEED YOUR MUSICAL APPETITE
The newest titles, the hottest bands, our favorite discoveries--let
our expert editors e-mail you the best of the music world with
Delivers. Choose your favorite genres to begin receiving more e-mail
recommendations.
...buy it here.
Also, check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles by
release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...buy it here.
USED AND COLLECTIBLE MUSIC
Amazon.com Music now features used and collectible CDs on detail pages
for new items. You'll find a box on the detail
page for any CD offered by a Marketplace seller. With each listing, we
offer the name and a rating for each seller to help you make informed
purchasing decisions, and all these items are Amazon.com Payments
enabled, so you can safely and securely purchase them with a credit
card. Our used inventory has grown dramatically, so visit Amazon.com
Music and explore.
...buy it here.
"The Experience"
Yolanda Adams
...buy it here.
The R&B-tinged gospel of Yolanda Adams is back on "The Experience,"
the follow-up to her Grammy-winning "Mountain High...Valley Low"
(notwithstanding her holiday release, "Christmas with Yolanda Adams"). Working with a freer hand than most other gospel singers, Adams includes "secular" touches like intensely soulful melodies and
electronic effects. She continues to liven up the gospel world,
bringing new fans to a genre that could use them.
"WOW Gospel 2001"
Wow Gospel
...buy it here.
A double-disc compilation featuring some of contemporary gospel's
best-known artists, "WOW Gospel 2001" is the latest in the wildly
popular WOW series. With tracks from gospel heavyweights like CeCe
Winans, New Direction, and Yolanda Adams, it's a convenient place to
start exploring the latest voices of music's most joyous expression.
"Songs 4 Worship: Shout To The Lord"
Songs 4 Worship
...buy it here.
An immensely satisfying collection of the highlights from the praise
and worship movement, "Songs 4 Worship: Shout to the Lord" is a
thrilling and harmonically brilliant assembly of songs. A wide variety of artists from the talent pool of contemporary Christian music--from Paul Baloche and Ron Kenoly to Delirous and Amy Grant--make this an ideal way to get all this great music in one place.
OUR CUSTOMERS RECOMMEND
"A Songwriter's Project, Vol. 1"
Overstreet,Paul
...buy it here.
A customer from Denver, Colorado, recommends "A Songwriter's Project, Vol. 1," from Paul Overstreet: "Paul has taken his classics like Randy Travis's 'Diggin' Up Bones' and turned it into a rockin' bluesy tune you'll want to play again and again. Buy it. It's well
produced. It's a classic. It will become your new favorite. It is
mine."
ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Choir director Carol Cymbala and her husband, pastor Jim Cymbala,
helped jump-start the withering congregation of the now-famous
Brooklyn Tabernacle. She began with a tiny choir that over the past
two decades has become the 240-voice Grammy and Dove award-winning
group. Amazon.com's music editors have compiled a list of the choir's essential recordings for your listening pleasure.
...buy it here.
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
Delivering the Word
Catholic priest Stan Fortuna uses the music of rap and hip-hop to
deliver a spiritual message of brotherly love and praise. And he does it with street credibility! Download "Kumbya," his dope antidrug anthem and proclamation against teen suicide, from his CD "Sacro Song."
...buy it here.
DVD STORE
"Left Behind - The Movie"
Victor Sarin
...buy it here.
Part sci-fi head trip, part religious-themed allegory, "Left Behind:
The Movie" brings to the screen the first book in the immensely
popular series of apocalyptic novels by authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry
Jenkins. Starring Kirk Cameron and Brad Johnson, it's a well-paced
thriller with a tale that's as much a warning as it is a message.
NEW & FUTURE DELIVERS
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Also, check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles by
release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the
coolest new reissues, and more.
...browse here.