2011 is just about over. Don’t enter 2012 without checking out our Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Year. And get ‘em!
In no particular order…
1. Andraé Crouch – The Journey
He’s not a legend just because of his pleasing personality. He has consistently made phenomenal music for the entire Body of Christ, across the globe. This project is just the latest in his sprawling catalog of must-have music. You must… have it.
2. Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
It’s no secret that we love D. Lawrence at GospelPundit.com. He just does gospel music RIGHT. And with this album, he continues in excellence. Great music, great messages.
3. Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
This trendsetter and tastemaker of gospel music didn’t push the envelope as far as he has in the past, but he still gives us plenty to chew on and enjoy.
4. Mary Mary – Something Big
It’s almost like this sister duo knew how monumental their year would be, with award after award and a reality show in the works. The title is almost prophetic… it’s their soundtrack, and ours, too.
5. Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
The looooong-awaited solo debut of this “man of standard” debuted at #1 and has experienced great sales for months. It’s not just cuz he’s hilarious– it’s cuz his album rocks.
6. Kim Burrell – The Love Album
To the chagrin of many, one of gospel’s most recognized and celebrated voices delivered her much-buzzed about “secular” album. It’s still gospel… and she sang the daylights out of every single track.
7. Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
With this project, we got Dorinda doing what she does best– a well-produced and current sound laced with traditional influence and familiarity.
8. Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
He may be Christian music’s most well-known hip-hop artist at this point, and rightfully so. His music cuts, inspires, educates and equips. Get on board.
9. Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
This long-awaited debut album offered a more soul/R&B vibe than many might have predicted, but her vocal performance and passion on each track is undeniable.
10. Claude Deuce – Wanna Be Winans mixtape
This was both creative and incredibly well-done. And, perhaps best of all, free for downloading!
Really great list!!! I think that we need a top 20 because I have to have Richard Smallwood somewhere LOL
I only HAVE to disagree for one reason: Ricky Dillard & New G's Keep Living has to make my personal list. That CD has such a diverse breadth of gospel, and overall I probably played it longer than any other purchase this year. I love your list too, so rather than bump anyone off, can we just have 11 for 2011? lol
Nice!
I would have Trin-i-tee 5:7 as #1 on my list because they had a great album this year! Very diverse had so many different elements!
My list would include, Ricky Dillard and New G, "Keep Living", Dawkins & Dawkinsm, "From Now On", Earnest Pugh's, "Earnestly Yours". It would not include, Mary Mary or Kim Burrell~It's not gospel, it's inspirational. Gospel speaks of the birth, life, death, resurrection and continued life of Christ. Christian lyrics speaks about living like Christ. The Mary's nor Kim's complete recording speaks of the aforementioned holistically. As a matter of fact, the Mary's recording was categorized as R & B in the purchasing categories on Itunes.
What Scripture do you have to support your decisive claims as to what "gospel music" must be?