This Christmas season, gospel artists are dropping Christmas singles left and right.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the must-have Christmas singles that you can download for just $.99. That makes for a happy holiday.

1. “Christmas Worship Medley” by Janice Gaines
This one is particularly dear to my heart, so it goes first. She’s my wife, but she’s also an incredible vocalist. This tune highlights her awesome range and heart for worship. I promise you’ll love it.

2. “Silent Night” by Crystal Aikin
Been missing her? Us too. She doesn’t disappoint on this tastefully acoustic-vibed classic holiday song. It’ll tide us over for now.

3. “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” by Le’Andria Johnson
The raspy, powerhouse voice of this Sunday Best winner is well supported by this jazzy arrangement. She owns it.

4. “Donnie’s Christmas Songs” by Donnie McClurkin
This is a medley of some of his favorite holiday tunes. It’s upbeat and soaring, and makes you feel like you’ve had a good ol’ Christmas in just over 3 minutes. 

5. “God Bless Us, Every One” by Crystal City, Inc.
This Nashville-based production team is comprised of brother duo Dwan Hill and Marcus Hill. They’ve released a FREE Christmas EP to demonstrate their gifts and to wish you a happy holiday. Great musicianship– get it!

6. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Melinda Watts
We’ve been eager to hear more from this dynamic vocalist and she doesn’t disappoint. Sale proceeds will benefit at-risk girls through her nonprofit org, the Dream Girlz Gathering Foundation.

7. “Angels We Have Heard On High” by Committed
The a capella winners of last season’s The Sing-Off on NBC are precisely the type of artist you want Christmas music from. And this tracks proves why.

Which ones do you have?  Which ones are you grabbing?

Melinda Doolittle, the American Idol alum that impressed the nation with impeccable vocals and a humble heart, released a Christmas tune last week, “God Bless Us Everyone.”

It’s a keeper. Feel-good, warm and classic are all hallmarks of the tune, topped with her heartfelt and passionate vocal delivery.

*runs to pour some eggnog*

In a time when GOOD Christmas music is lacking, and no one is really making classic stuff anymore, this is a must-have.

Get it–

Quiet as it’s kept, B Reith has got to be one of GospelPundit.com’s favorite artists because of his style and sound, but also because of his innovation and refusal to be boxed in. We’ve covered him before and, though he’s not as widely known in the gospel industry, he’s someone you ought to know about!

B just finished several dates on the MisFit Tour, which featured Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Ambassador, Mali Music and more. His latest album, How The Story Ends is in stores TODAY.

The 12-track project features B Reith in his sing-song style of hip-hop and soul. He’s both a gifted rapper and vocalist, and he beautifully weaves the two together. B could definitely have let this project be a one-man show, and it would have been great, but he’s got enough smarts to know that two heads (and sometimes three) are better than one, so the project features guest vocals from heavy-hitters like Lecrae, as well as underground faves like Lisa Gungor and PJ Morton.

Standout tracks on this project abound, but some of my faves are “For Once In My Life” with PJ Morton, “New Found Love,” and “Made for More” with Lecrae and Lisa Gungor.  Look out, also, for “2 Steps Forward” and “Not Who I Am” featuring Dave Barnes.

Check out snippets of How The Story Ends and buy it right here, right now–

In stores today is Kierra Sheard’s Free, an urban and pop-themed praise and worship album featuring tons of energy, inimitable vocal acrobatics and Kierra’s BRL Choir. With it, she stands firmly in a space of gospel music that may not have even existed previously, and she sets the bar for others to follow, if they can.

Kierra’s first release on her parents’ label, Karew Records, Free is intricately produced by her brother, J Drew Sheard II, and was recorded live in Chicago earlier this year.

Fans will appreciate her cover of Chris Tomlin’s ”Indescribable,” the playfully melodic “People,” and the whimsical choir cut “Victory,” which features James Fortune (it’s my personal fave on the project).

Other standout tracks include the hard-driving single “You Are,” the pop-flavored “War,” with a chorus that reminds me a bit of something the Black Eyed Peas might do, “Since I Found Christ” with Mali Music, and the title track, “Free.”

Kierra Sheard has said that this album is her best to date, implying that it represents her better than any other. Consumers may be surprised to hear that, as many considered her 2006 sophomore album, This Is Me, to be sonically definitive of her artistry. Or, at least we want it to be.

But it’s clear– on Free, Kierra is probably most “herself.” She is vulnerable and transparent, at times absolutely overcome with emotion and tears as she worships God or challenges the crowd to a lifestyle of holiness.

Undoubtedly, Free is a musical wonderland with plenty to take in. I had to listen repeatedly to even get a sense of all that was happening. Still, I can’t help but wonder if a segment of her earlier audience will feel a bit lost among the complicated melodies and arrangements.

For those expecting an urban album, this isn’t it. For those expecting a churchy project, it isn’t that, either. Free is the recorded result of a live worship experience featuring Kierra and the BRL Choir singing songs as imaginative as they could dream, reaching out to a God as mighty, but as personal, as He is.

Free is in stores NOW. Listen to snippets and/or buy it right here–

Shirley Murdock’s new album, The Journey, is a 17-track collection of music with an underlying theme of encouragement running through them. It’s solid, though perhaps not astounding, as a demonstration of great vocals and heartfelt ministry.

With Grammy Award winner Cedric Thompson at the helm of production (Donald Lawrence,Karen Clark Sheard, LeJuene Thompson), The Journey is the culmination of the first live recording of Murdock’s career. And it’s packed with powerhouse vocals from favorites in gospel and mainstream music, including Kelly Price, Beverly Crawford and Regina Belle.

Standout tracks on The Journey include the urban soul-tinged groove “It’s In Your Hands,” ”Upward Way” featuring Regina Belle, and “Lord You Reign,” a building and beautiful worship chorus.

Also, look out for “He Is the Rock,” on which Beverly Crawford outright shines with Murdock, the piano-driven “Keep Lovin’ Me,” which features the incomparable Kelly Price on guest vocals, and the project’s inspiring first single, “Dream.”

Given her success as a touring mainstream artist, it seems that a live set like this would’ve come earlier. Murdock is a natural as she interacts with the audience. Her sweet and genuine personality translates beautifully to this album and leaves you just plain old enjoying her.

My only qualms with the project are that some of the songwriting could have been a bit stronger and, at the height of some of the singers’ ranges, there was audio distortion in the mix. Still, Murdock’s vocals do a great job of making a lot of the songs work well and it’s a pretty good offering.

The Journey hits stores on October 18, 2011 (Tyscot Records), but you can listen and pre-order it right now, right here–

Micah Stampley releases his fifth album, One Voice, on October 18, 2011 on Music World Gospel. The 14-track project has been dubbed by Stampley as “a call to every culture, every nation, [and] every race” that would “cater to people from all walks of life.”

Indeed, One Voice provides a bit of something for everyone. In doing so, though, it may fall just short of providing a solid collection of music for a specific audience. By appealing to “many,” it may miss the “one.”

There are awesome songs on here, for sure, like the album’s opener, “Heaven on Earth.” It’s a rousing anthem, written by David Binion, and it builds well as Stampley launches his lead vocal to the top of its signature soaring range. Music ministers, take note– I’ve seen this song powerfully change the course of a church service.

“Overcome” is another great worship cover and it transitions very well into the worshipful “Worthy,” such that the two tracks sound like a unit. ”We Need The Lord” is another solid praise & worship tune that could easily translate well in Sunday morning services. Stampley’s lead on it is both dynamic and passionate.

Outside of these tracks, the lyrics, melodies and themes may not be as “familiar” to the gospel audience. But that’s okay– it seems that Micah Stampley’s call has long been one to the nations, and I think that’s where this album will be most successful.

Though I cringe as I type this (because I wish it weren’t true), songs about a global gospel community do not always resonate with the U.S. gospel community. Take a look at the radio charts and you’ll see that, with few exceptions, we’re rather concerned with how God interacts with us, individually, and vice versa.

One Voice, while admirable, may not yet be the heartbeat of every Believer who would buy this. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not timely and necessary.

In either case, take a listen to some snippets, judge for yourself, and pre-order/buy it right here–

From the Heart, the debut album from Jessica Reedy seems to have been long-awaited since before she was actually working on it. The season two Sunday Best runner-up collaborated with some of gospel music’s finest writers and producers (Warryn Campbell, Big Jim Wright, Daniel Moore and more) to create the 13-track project that Reedy says is truly an outpouring of what God gave her to do.

At first listen, I was a bit taken aback. While I wasn’t expecting a churchy traditional gospel album, I also wasn’t expecting the progressive, soul-laden music that Reedy has delivered. Once I got past my own expectations, though, I could listen to the songs for what they are– testaments of love and gratitude, straight from Jessica Reedy’s heart to God’s ears. And I can’t deny that the impressive vocals, creative songwriting and tight production now have me returning for more.

The album is mellow for sure–a bit cozier than I would want on a road trip– with only a few up-tempo tunes. Among them is the project’s latest single, the bouncy ”Put It On the Altar,” and “Doctor Love,” the clever remake of the 70′s classic dance club tune, featuring Faith Evans.

Musically, From the Heart is jam-packed with soulful sounds, at times even featuring Motown-styled production and doo-wop backrounds vocals. Tunes like “Marching On,” which is reminiscent of an Otis Redding groove, and the tight harmonies of “Always,” resonate with my old school heart and take me back a musical era or two.

Jessica also dabbles in urban flair, though, as heard on songs like “So In Love With You (Amazing),” which is first driven by a thunderous bass before it reaches an ethereal chant of “so amazing,” with Jessica ad libbing in worshipful gratitude. Or, just listen to “Something Out of Nothing,” an R&B-styled ballad that showcases greater vocal range than we’ve typically heard from her.

Lyrically, the album’s messages are often couched in more abstract prose than this industry gets on a regular basis. The Mali Music-penned “Blue God,” for example, is a knock against our selfishly skewed relationships with God, demonstrated through wittily placed punctuations of “my” this and “my” that. Listen closely and the sarcasm screams loud and clear– it’s not about us.

Though progressive, the rich heritage of gospel music is foundationally present in gems like “I’m Still Here,” an excellent collaboration between Jessica Reedy and The Soul Seekers, blending Jessica’s rich tone with the group’s quartet-style background vocals, and lead singer Teddy Campbell’s classic crooning. It’s also heard in “God Has Smiled On Me,” the full arrangement of the mellow groove that placed Jessica as a frontrunner on Sunday Best in 2009.

Throughout From the Heart, Jessica’s passion is felt in her pulsing vibrato and colored tone. She intensely delivers each note as if it counts the most. For her, it does.

I won’t deny it– making this album was risky. At first listen, it’s not what the fans are expecting. But, as she shared in a recent interview with me, Jessica knows that and isn’t really phased by it. It’s clear that she is most interested in expressing herself musically than impressing people.

But, with From the Heart, I believe she’ll do both. It’s good music… from-the-heart music. And in an industry increasingly dominated by numbers games and PR gimmicks, it’s a relief to know that an artist decided to simply be herself, express herself, and leave the rest out of the equation.

Listen and buy it on Amazon, iTunes, or right here–

The Journey is the newest project from the legend himself, Andraé Crouch, and it hits stores on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. The 15-track album is produced and co-written by Luther “Mano” Hanes, who also worked on Crouch’s last album, Mighty Wind (2006).

The songwriting, familiar but fresh, is second to none. Listeners will enjoy the fact that, though Crouch explores and experiments with new sounds and instrumentation, he never veers too far from his wheelhouse– captivating melodies and refrains so beautiful that one is compelled to sing along.

This is clearly seen in the album opener, “Somebody Told Me About Jesus,” a classic Crouch-styled upbeat gospel tune, full of movement and led by the powerhouse vocals of none other than Táta Vega. It’s also apparent on “When I Think About You,” which is a personal favorite. Led by Markita Knight (you may have heard of her from West Angeles COGIC or through her work in the COGIC Music Department), this tune has a funk element laced over a very classic sound. But no matter how “current” these songs sound, they are as classic as ever because of the pen that wrote them.

The Journey also shines because of the perfectly paired guest vocalists throughout it. Whether Linda McCrary-Fisher on “Where Jesus Is,” or Kim Burrell and Take 6 on the dramatic and melodically winding “Faith,” Andraé Crouch has selected some of the music industry’s finest and featured them on musical masterpieces.

And he is, indeed, a master of musical styles. With The Journey, Crouch experiments with the ragtime-inspired “He Has A Plan For Me,” and the almost club-danceable “All Around the World,” featuring a soulful and in-her-lane Chaka Khan on lead vocals and Sheila E. dominating the percussion.

Other notable tracks include the smooth and jazzy ”Jesus Came Into My Life,” with Daniel Johnson (perhaps best known as a part of Israel Houghton’s New Breed) on lead vocals, the hymn-like ballad ”I Can,” with Andraé Crouch passionately delivering his lead, and the project’s current single, “Let the Church Say Amen,” featuring Marvin Winans.

I’m also a huge fan of ”There’s Nobody Like Jesus,” a jazzy groove looping a standard refrain, featuring LeAnne Palmore on lead vocals. It’s actually a segment of a larger live moment, but I’m thrilled to get the snippet that we get– it’s absolutely one of my favorite three minutes on the album.

The album ends with two versions of the captivating “The Promise,” an assurance that God will never leave us. Crouch leads one version and, as a special treat for listeners, he repeats the track again, swapping out his lead vocal for that of Marvin Winans.

I cannot quite express how much consumers will enjoy this album. I can admit that, as I sat and listened for the first time, tears welled up in my eyes. I thought to myself, “this is the man who God has used to shape the sound of gospel music as we know it today… and every tune he writes, even to this day, is laced with that same power and anointing.”

I’m happy to have The Journey in my collection because it takes me back to being the young kid who simply fell in love with great music, even before I could understand the beauty of its Gospel message. But I’m happier– perhaps even ecstatic– that Andraé Crouch can deliver for me, as an adult, music that will truly encourage and bless me on this journey with Christ. It’s really “the soundtrack of life” type of music. It is Andraé Crouch at his best.

Click here to listen to snippets and pre-order it now.

The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson is, by her own admission, just the beginning of all that she has to share with us. To that, I would say that I enjoy what she’s shared so far, but I’m also eager to hear more.

The project opens with “Sunday Best Medley 1,” which includes her on-air rendition of “God Is Trying To Tell You Something” and Commissioned’s “Running Back To You,” before transitioning into “Cast the First Stone,” an incredibly solid urban soul cut with tight background vocals and Le’Andria’s unmistakeable lead. On this tune, her vocals are playful and bouncy, but focused and tasteful.

What follows is probably my favorite track on the album– ”Make Him Like You.” It’s a prayer that God will make the man He’s prepared for Le’Andria like her Heavenly Father. It’s led by a driving bass and soulful chords and reminds me of a great throwback to some good 80′s or 90′s soul R&B– maybe Miki Howard-ish.

“New Reasons” is also a very well-done tune, styled like something the Staples Singers may have done– just flat-foot folky singing with soulful accents from the background singers. Up next is Le’Andria’s current single, “Jesus,” an in-the-pocket outcry for God’s help, with vocals that make you run it back a few times just to re-live it all.

The project closes out with “Struggle Not,” which is probably the weaker of the tunes on the album for me, and “Sunday Best Medley 2.” I almost wish they had included her live performance of “He Was There,” from The Mo’Nique Show some months ago– it was perfection!

My chief issue with the project was immediate and apparent from the moment I got it in the mail– it’s only 7 tracks in length, two of which are “medleys” of LeAndria’s performances on Sunday Best. The album is really more of an EP than an LP and, though albums from Sunday Best finalists are notorious for taking a while to hit stores, I wouldn’t have minded waiting another two months to get 3 to 5 more tracks. However, I also understand taking advantage of this season’s Sunday Best momentum (had there not been a voting glitch, Le’Andria would’ve been featured singing on the finale this past Sunday, with her album hitting the market today– timing couldn’t have been better).

In the end, this project highlights why she won Sunday Best, then goes a step further by showing us the type of music Le’Andria really wants to do– and it’s some REALLY good music. I’d recommend it.

Check out snippets of the tracks and buy it– either from Amazon.com (just $5.99 digitally) or via the iTunes widget below:

And if you missed our interview with her, check it out right here!

This coming Tuesday, August 30th, the incomparable Dorinda Clark Cole returns to the marketplace with her fourth solo album, I Survived (Light Records).  Dorinda’s powerhouse vocals meet expert production (Asaph Ward and Warryn Campbell) and skillful songwriting, to make I Survived a winner.

The album opens with the high-energy praise & worship “Holy One.” The band hits are absolutely infectious, punctuated by Dorinda scatting and soaring like only she can.  The momentum continues with excellent production and performance on “God Will Take Care of You,” which showcases Dorinda’s unique ability to drive a song.

The next cut, “He Brought Me” is (in my opinion) THE standout of this album. It’s the type of song that Dorinda does, and does well. It’s where she shines brightest, and her performance on it is evidence of that. It also appears to be poised as her next single– good choice!

Other great tunes on the project include ”We Believe” and “For My Good,” as well as ”Welcome,” which serves as a nice departure from the high energy and excitement of much of the other tracks on the album.  It’s a sweet and simple congregation-ready invitation for God to be among His people.

No solo album from one of gospel’s famed Clark Sisters would be complete without at least one track featuring one or more of her siblings.  And I Survived comes through on “Thank You,” written by (and featuring) Twinkie Clark. It sounds a bit more “Twinkie” than “Dorinda,” but I don’t think most Clark Sisters fans will mind.

If I had any contention about the project, it would be that its last two tracks– “This Is Why” and “Don’t Give Up”– don’t seem to be the strongest songs. They’re a bit less high-energy than the other tunes (they’re studio tracks amidst a bunch of live/”live”-styled ones), so I Survived doesn’t have the strongest finish.  I might have placed the hand-clappin’, foot-stompin’ “For My Good” here instead. Regardless, Dorinda’s vocal performance on each is undeniable, so they’re worth a listen for that reason alone.

All in all, I’m more than pleased with this project. Again, it’s one of my faves to date because of how well it showcases Dorinda Clark Cole at her best, in her element. It’s worth adding to your collection, and I’ll probably bump it up to high “Dorinda rotation,” just under her debut album.