WOW Hits 2005 marks the tenth installment in the best-selling series of annual compilations, offering an economical way to acquire the radio hits. However, there's also been a struggle between historical accuracy and music marketing. The WOW titles suggest these are next year's hits, but they're largely comprised of this year's hits, and some are taken from CDs released in 2003.
Getting past the semantics, the 2005 edition of WOW Hits does feature most of the biggest Christian radio hits over the last twelve months, including MercyMe, Stacie Orrico, Jeremy Camp, Chris Rice, Jars of Clay, Mark Schultz, and Selah. "Future hits" are also kept to a minimum, including only a few inevitably popular songs from tobyMac, Caedmon's Call, and the new #1 hit from Steven Curtis Chapman.
This collection also focuses on new artists more than before, appropriately including Building 429, Matthew West, Bethany Dillon, and BarlowGirl. But a song from Nate Sallie's generally overlooked June 2003 debut? How'd that happen? It's also odd that 2004's breakthrough singles from Casting Crowns and Todd Agnew-"If We Are the Body" and "This Fragile Breath"-were overlooked for their newer singles.
Note the absence of mainstays like Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Rebecca St. James-three artists who could've been included for their popularity, yet wisely left off because they didn't offer the strongest material this past year. The most notable exclusion is Switchfoot, though something in their agreement with Columbia Records likely prevents it. Still, why not include Delirious, Pillar, Skillet, and Shane & Shane instead of Darlene Zschech, Jaci Velasquez, and Audio Adrenaline?
Questions of accuracy and comprehensiveness aside, this is a strong WOW collection, offering a reasonable snapshot of the last year and a current introduction of what Christian music has to offer.
Click here to add a video. Click to add lyrics if not listed.
01.
Right Here - Jeremy Camp
02.
I Believe - Third Day
03.
(There's Gotta Be) More To Life - Stacie Orrico
04.
Gone - tobyMac
05.
Sea Of Faces - Kutless
06.
Blessed Be Your Name - Tree 63
07.
Never Alone - BarlowGirl
08.
All I Need - Bethany Dillon
09.
Glory Defined - Building 429
10.
Show You Love - Jars of Clay
11.
Open Skies - David Crowder Band
12.
Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew
13.
Beautiful Name - ZOEgirl
14.
Leaving 99 - Audio Adrenaline
15.
Whatever It Takes - Nate Sallie
Entry last edited by on 07.08.08
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| Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 5:
I Can't Listen To Any of These Songs Again| Posted September 18, 2007
Here's the thing. "Wow" is great if you're totally new to CCM, and you want a good primer on what's popular (But not necessarily good). This is totally the case with this CD. That's why my sister got it, and why I borrowed it from her, and listened to it, endlessly... To this day I can't listen to a single song on here because I'm burnt out on them.
The CD selects some good songs, however, their selection seems geared to anybody over the age of 40. The thing here is safe, and radio friendly. No Releint K, no rock, just average radio material. Nothing more, something less. So, if you're new to CCM, and are over the age of 40, and want to hear the "hot" artists, look no further. For the rest, burn.
More awesomeness| Posted July 13, 2009
"I Believe" is a nice song. "More To Life" "All I Need" and "Never Alone" were great too. But I would've liked more rock too. "Show You Love" I liked also. I can't speak to who should've been on here and who should've been left off because i didn't listen to a lot of Christian music back then.
where it all started| Posted June 13, 2009
This cd contains great materiel,in my opinion it ranks with the best wow hits cd's.This cd will always be special to me,because this is where my love of Christian music began.Most notably "More to life" by stacie orrica is a great song as well as "Gone" by tobymac,the song that got me to fall in love with t-mac's music
AWESOME!| Posted October 07, 2008
WOW has done it again! they always deliver the best music! i love it ! i love the song "beautiful name" by ZOEgirl. But the description is right. it does need some skillet!!!!
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