On Wednesday, I told you guys that DeWayne Woods’ new album, My Life’s Lyric, would hit stores on June 22nd and that his new single, “I Won’t Be Afraid” would be serviced to radio soon.

Before radio grabs it, though, I figured I’d try to get it for you guys.  And I did.

This song is a beautiful declaration of trusting God.  I’ve heard the tune before– it was on Ashmont Hill’s debut project… loved their version, but I also love DeWayne’s.  He’s got a great voice and he’s put it to a beautiful track, tastefully done and ready for your worship teams!

You don’t have to take my word for it… I’ll let you decide for yourself– I’ve just added the track to the PunditPlayer.

Click here to listen!!!

And make sure you lemme know what you think!

TWO top 5 debuts this week!

CoCo Brother’s Stand album has debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week.  Click here for more info on the project and to listen to the lead single from it– “Moving Forward,” featuring Joann Rosario Condrey and Tye Tribbett.

AAAaaand Ashmont Hill… I TOLD y’all about sleeping on one of my favorite groups!  Seriously, they’re no joke. Click here to open the PunditPlayer and listen to their new single, “Your Masterpiece.”  It’s incredible to me.

The full top 10 breakdown looks a lil’ somethin’ like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | CoCo Brother – CoCo Brother Live: Stand 2010
#4 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still
#5 | Ashmont Hill – Your Masterpiece
#6 | Juanita Bynum – More Passion
#7 | CeCe Winans – Songs of Emotional Healing
#8 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#9 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#10 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable

Okay, who’s got the new projects from CoCo Brother or Ashmont Hill?  Who’s planning to check ‘em out now???

EXCLUSIVE LISTEN – DOUBLE PLAY!

Ashmont Hill is one of my favorite new groups.  Their self-titled debut album was released in 2008.  I don’t think it got NEARLY as much attention as it deserved, but in due season…

They’re back with their sophomore album, Your Masterpiece, which will be released on May 25th and GospelPundit.com is giving you the exclusive first listen to TWO NEW TRACKS– the title track, “Your Masterpiece,” and another called “Around.”

If you recall, my wife and I visited them in-studio back in September and I raved about a song that they were working on– “Your Masterpiece” is it.  That track features beautiful lyrics and great vocal performances from the group.  “Around” is a catchy and rousing declaration of praise– “your love has turned me around.”  It’s great stuff!

I’ve just added BOTH OF ‘EM to the PunditPlayer.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!!!

And make sure you lemme know what you think!

Remember a few months ago, when I was in the studio with Ashmont Hill as they worked on their upcoming album?

Well, during that session, they were working on a particular song that nearly sent me INSANE… beautiful melodies, beautiful lyrics, beautiful concept.  At the time, I didn’t release the title, but I think I can now…

The tune is called “Your Masterpiece” and it’s written by group member Phil Thompson and Zenzo Matoga.  It’s GREAT.

I just found some video footage of guitar overdubs being recorded this week, by producer Sal Oliveri and guitarist Andrew Ramsey, and I figured I’d share it with you guys.  If you listen closely, you can hear the vamp of the song behind the guitar… it’s a BIG worship ballad that I think you guys are going to love.

From what you could hear, what do you think???

My wife and I were fortunate enough to be invited to a great studio session in Nashville last night– gospel/CCM group Ashmont Hill was laying tracks for their upcoming album, which should be out in early 2010.

LEMME TELL YA– great songs, from what we heard.  The lyrics alone are insightful and refreshing (the imagery of one song, alone, was enough to almost take me OUT during the session).  Additionally, the music is relevant and excellently done.  Ashmont Hill is another one of those gap-bridging recording artists… I think we need to really embrace ‘em.

Special shout-out to producer Sal Oliveri for the invite and to the group for letting us crash.  We had a blast.

What do YOU GUYS know about Ashmont Hill?  If you’ve got their debut album, you know what I’m talking about.  If this is your first time hearing about them, it won’t be your last.

Check out their MySpace page and lemme know what you think: http://www.myspace.com/ashmonthill.

The nominees for the 40th Annual Dove Awards are in!  Some major gospel artists have been nominated in the biggest categories: Marvin Sapp is nominated for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, Mary Mary is up for Group of the Year, and Jonathan Nelson is a nominee for New Artist of the Year.

Other notable nominees include Damita Haddon, Grits, J.R. (remember him?  he’s the dude that performed at the Urban Soul Cafe during the Stellar Awards weekend that I came back raaaaving about), Kirk Franklin, Bishop Paul Morton, Regina Belle, Hezekiah Walker, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Take 6, Tye Tribbett, Deitrick Haddon… gee whiz… a little of everybody.

I’m annoyed by the absence of two groups from the list of nominees: Ashmont Hill and 21:03.  Both groups are awesome and gave us some great music in the past year.  So… what’s going on here?!  But, I’m not boycotting… yet.

Click here to see the full list of nominees!  Fan voting, which commences later this week, will determine the winners in the Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories.  More on that later.

Thoughts, anyone???

Oh, by the way: the show airs LIVE on Thursday, April 23rd at 8pm ET on Gospel Music Channel.

Yooooo… a while back, I published a blog post and told you to check out Ashmont Hill.  And, again, I urge you to do so!

Congrats to the group on receiving THREE nominations in the first round of the Dove Awards nominations process:

1.  Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (“Song of Glory”)
2.  Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of theYear (“Restore Us Again”)
3.  Praise & Worship Album of the Year (Ashmont Hill)

If any of y’all are voting members at the GMA’s, please check them out and vote for them… they’re about Kingdom business and they put out a great debut album.

And for those of y’all who aren’t voting members… just make sure you own the album!

I first learned of this dynamic group from Boston, comprised of three siblings and a hubby, about a year ago.  My wife and I spent over an hour on the Ashmont Hill MySpace page, reading their bio, looking at photos and listening to their self-titled debut (which we immediately purchased twice, one for each iPod).

We enjoyed the refreshing fact that they seemed like unaffected industry “outsiders,” by comparison to other emerging artists.  And we loved the fact that, because their writing, production and arrangements are noticeably influenced by both CCM and gospel music, their music appeals to multiple markets, authentically.  I think they represent a style of music ministry that is desperately needed in Christian music, across genres.  A universal appeal…

With co-production from Sal Oliveri and Calvin Nowell, they more than “do justice” to a couple of Matt Redman covers (“Blessed Be Your Name” and “Gifted Response”), and the original compositions are just as great.  My favorites include “I Give You Worship,” a powerful praise and worship song, “Praise His Name,” a worship-inspiring ballad, and “I Live to Worship,” an intimate, jazzy track.

I scoured the dern internet for a clip, but I can’t find one to embed on here, so you’ll simply have to TRUST ME and go to the Ashmont Hill MySpace page to hear full-length clips!!

So… whatd’ya think???