I have the privilege to listen to at least 150 new albums per year and for 2015 the following seven albums have stood out to me as "gourmet" musically and lyrically in the Christian music market. 

Dictionary.com defines gourmet in this way: "of or characteristic of a gourmet, especially in involving or purporting to involve high-quality or exotic ingredients and skilled preparation." 

I'd love to know your thoughts on any "gourmet" albums I may have missed in 2015, which also have "high-quality ingredients and skilled preparation."


1. Sara Groves
Floodplain
I have the opportunity to listen to literally everything released in Christian music, and Floodplain is a profound listening experience. This album dramatically affects me personally and spiritually, and is my top "gourmet" album of the year. Sara Groves is an incredibly anointed singer-songwriter in the style of Ellie Holcomb, Christa Wells and JJ Heller. It is the ultimate privilege for me to experience her gift of music making with all of my senses "in Spirit and in Truth." The songs are all captivating and if you like Sara's emotional songs, "Miracle," "Obsolete" and "It's Me," then you absolutely must have this album. 

Sara has always had a knack for hitting me where I am spiritually and expressing the prayerful yearnings of my heart. This album is no exception as I get welled up praying along with several of the songs, especially "This Cup," "Expedition," "Floodplain," "Enough," "I've Been Here Before," "I Feel the Love Between" and "Signal." They are all stand-out tracks filled with overwhelming biblical truth and are companions in my personal prayer and worship time. Sara has captivating and catchy songs filled with inspirational lyrics. Sara brings sincerity and relatable themes that get deeper with each listen. Floodplain is one of the top albums of the year. This is truly a great album and a moving and prayerful listening experience which reflects on how we are bound together as believers in faith, love and vulnerability.

Buy Floodplain on iTunes here!

JJ Heller's vocals will soothe your soul, and several songs have vertical lyrics will direct your attention and focus on Jesus. This is a very worshipful album. JJ has blessed listeners by writing and singing such piercing and moving songs. There are several personal songs that melt my heart. 

I have to fight back tears while listening to several of the songs, especially "Let Down Your Guard," "Meant to Be," "Father-Daughter Dance," "Holy Ground," "Daylight" and "Sound of a Living Heart." The new worshipful songs "The Well," "Fully Known," and "Scarlet Thread." are not to be missed. If you liked the recent "gourmet" worshipful albums by Audrey Assad and Ellie Holcomb, then you must pick up Sound of a Living Heart by JJ Heller. 

JJ's remarkable singing voice and her interesting music and lyrics are truly captivating. What's especially cool about this album is how JJ invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart and reflecting on life and faith issues with every single note. This album is JJ Heller's crowning achievement. It is flawless and you'll hang on every word she emotionally sings.

Buy Sound of a Living Heart on iTunes here!

3. Matt Maher
Saints and Sinners
Highly anticipated after the success of his last album, All the People Said Amen, this compelling, 11-track album Saints and Sinners is an excellent follow-up. The album keeps Matt's signature holy energy flowing, and has plenty more songs that you'll soon be singing with fellow believers. The album perfectly captures the penetrating spirit and charisma Matt Maher's worship songs have become known for. 

Maher's theological, holy and reverent style of writing and singing worship songs has consistently attracted me. Several of Maher's new prayerful sentiments should be added to your Sunday morning worship set, especially "A Future Not My Own," "Deliverer," "Glory Bound," "Because He Lives (Amen)," and the gorgeous ballads "Abide with Me" and "Rest." This album provides listeners with eleven tracks of vertical offerings to God that you can sing in any circumstance.

Buy Saints & Sinners on iTunes here!

4. Children 18:3
Come In
Come In is one of the most meaningful albums I've ever heard. Every song is absolutely amazing. I can't get the catchy melodies of many of these songs out of my head. The project is perfectly produced, and the song order brilliantly invites listeners to join in with the band on their journey. 

This album includes a strong mix of punk rock tinged music with inspirational and challenging lyrics. Don't miss the standout songs "Come In," "Bethlehem," "Hold Your Breath," "Don't Stop Moving," "Because of You," "Watch over Me," "Great Big World" and "Long Ride Home." The very relatable and transparent words of these songs remind me of House of Heroes, who also use poetic imagery to depict our daily walks as believers wrapped around catchy songs. 

This album is loaded with incredibly tight guitar riffs. The mix of tempos is pure perfection, and the drum, guitar and bass syncopation is a thing of beauty. With this being their last album, I am going to miss the blend of David and Lee Marie's emotive vocals and harmonies layered over one catchy and meaningful song after another. This album is by far the most energetic and emotionally engaging alternative rock album I've heard this year. With Come In, in my opinion, Children 18:3 saved their best for last.

Buy Come In on iTunes here!

5. Misty Edwards
Little Bird
Every song is a great reminder for followers of Jesus trying to live out their faith and looking for creative expressions of worship. If you are looking for the words to express your feelings to God, these songs are a wonderful companion. These are all very transparent, vulnerable and authentic songs. 

If you like indie-pop style "gourmet" singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor and Audrey Assad, you need to check out Little Bird by Misty Edwards. Don't miss the standout songs, "Invisible One," "Little Bird," "Audience of One," "Killing Me with Mercy," "Summer Girl" and "Mary, Mary." This entire album is loaded with relatable lyrics, incredible singing and prayerful themes about what it means to be a child of God. 

Musically, the album features a great mix of laid-back indie-pop and singer-songwriter folk style music. Give the album a few deep listens and you'll love it. I hang on every single word and the stirring vocals, prayerful lyrics and musical arrangements are breath-taking. This is a great new collection of very heartfelt and introspective songs, in essence Misty's love letters to God.

Buy Little Bird on iTunes here!

6. Ryan Kirkland
Wanderer
This is a great collection of confessional and authentic expressions of faith. The songs are poignant and powerful. There are no filler tracks, and this is easily one of my top "gourmet" albums of the year. If you want to experience an uplifting, soul-stirring, stunning and worshipful album, look no further than Ryan Kirkland. My favorite songs are "Thirst," "Let Me In," "Among Lions," "Somehow He Does," "Never Leave You" and "Abide (Breathe Me In)," which has quickly become one of my favorite worship songs. 

If you like the alternative rock artists The Fray, Lifehouse, The Rocket Summer and Between the Trees, you need to check out Wanderer by Ryan Kirkland. These songs will certainly connect with listeners as they showcase the multi-talented singer/songwriter's trademark balance of vocal tenderness and intensity, his energetic piano playing and, above all, a sense of hope and inspiration. This album is all about finding our true identity in Christ. He is the answer. This is an incredibly deep, worshipful and emotional Christian alternative rock album. Wanderer is one of my top albums of the year.

Buy Wanderer on iTunes here!

7. Owl City
Mobile Orchestra
Something about Owl City's music that I've consistently enjoyed is the ability to escape daily stress and pressures while listening to the songs. Knowing Adam's faith as a Christian allows me as listener to share his optimism that we weren't made for this world. Mobile Orchestra is easily the best alternative music album of the year. I love that this album is chock-full of optimistic messages about love, faith and life wrapped around some incredibly hooky beats and dance floor tempos. If you liked Ocean Eyes and All Things Bright and Beautiful, you'll be thrilled by Mobile Orchestra. Do yourself a favor and get this album immediately.

Buy Mobile Orchestra on iTunes here!