- Leigh Nash 6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Ray Charles 7. Let It Snow - Michael Buble 8. Make Someone Happy - Seal 9. Winter Wonderland - Jason Mraz 10. A Christmas To Remember - Amy Grant 11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Jimmy Sommers feat. Chris Botti 12. Gather Round - Earth, Wind & Fire  (less)

worked on a project outside of the South, Third Day's signature rock sounds gets an infusion of new energy thanks to the band's new collaboration with producer by Howard Benson (Daughtry, Flyleaf, Hoobastank, P.O.D.). With his heart on his sleeve, frontman and principal lyricist Mac Powell gives voice to the emotions all believers feel as they attempt to reconcile everyday struggles with the hope born of salvation. Songs like "Run To You," "Born Again," "This Is Who I Am," and the first single, "Call My Name" are like musical stepping stones on the band's creative journey. The result is a new chapter in Third Day's story; it is truly a musical revelation.  (less)

to rock many of the traditional hymns and popular carols without excess or restraint. No mean feat. Even "Silent Night," here played as it were always a country-rocker (with Amy Grant singing harmony), is rendered with spirited reinvention, while the band's guitar-driven sound always seems to draw yet more from such classics as "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear." Although the entire group could be accused of being U2's poor American cousins (despite Millard not yet having achieved the global sainthood of Bono for his humanitarian work), no one is going to be disappointed if this record gets wrapped up with a cool bow and pretty paper, or stuffed in a long stocking hanging on the mantle. Highly recomme...  (less)

hit "Hanging by a Moment." Calling that song a hit, however, is a bit of an understatement as "Hanging by a Moment" was the most-played song of 2001. Stanley Climbfall, the band's Top 10 follow-up, was released in 2002. 2005 saw the release of their third album simply titled Lifehouse which included the undeniable hit #1 multi-format hit "You And Me" and kept the band out on the road touring for over a year. With Who We Are, Lifehouse takes another evolutionary step making an upbeat album full of potential hits sure to please fans and make new ones.  (less)

time and host of an NBC-TV variety show that ran from 1956 to 1961, had turned heavily to sacred music. By the time of his death in 1991, he'd recorded no fewer than 81 albums of gospel and spiritual music. Some of Ford's most memorable hymns are collected in this ample set, which includes both the familiar ("How Great Thou Art," "Rock of Ages") and the relatively obscure ("When God Dips His Pen of Love in My Heart," "Blessed Assurance"). Across the years, Ford's voice continues to echo with heartfelt earnestness and warm reassurance that soothes the soul and transcends the test of time as he magnificently makes these gospel masterpieces his own. --Bob Allen  (less)

Allen Toussaint and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. After performing together for over six decades, The Blind Boys of Alabama have enjoyed one of the more striking comebacks in recent memory. Their last several albums have earned these hipster septuagenarians the best reviews and record sales of their career, and a completely new, contemporary audience. This album is a fusion of style and nuance that links many disparate aspects, both chronological and geographical, of American musical tradition.  (less)

Tim Palmer (U2, Tears for Fears) helps provide a radio-friendly sheen atop everything, it's actually their least compromised/mainstream sounding record since the group left the indie scene. From the chiming, revved-up, anthemic title song, which pairs compressed vocals with distorted guitars, to the moody and mildly schizophrenic single "Dirty Second Hands," this album is loud and dirty, the lyrics are thoughtful and plaintive. Lead singer/songwriter Jon Foreman clearly questions the meaning of the band's success, and the role they play in the scheme of things: "Like a puppet on a monetary string/Maybe we've been caught singing/Red, white, blue, and green/But that ain't my American dream." If only Switchfoot's conscience could be implanted...  (less)

people will always see her as the little girl with the booming voice. She wants to change all that, and part of that process will start with her latest album "Family." For the first time, LeAnn wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. From the autobiographical first track "Family" to the hit single "Nothin' Better To Do," she pours out her soul for the world to see. While the album is incredibly personal, LeAnn managed to create music that is incredibly universal. Her confident, compelling voice helps to solidify her as one of the premier vocalists in Country music. "Family" showcases her diversity as a vocalist from engaging duets with Marc Broussard on "Nothing Wrong" and Bon Jovi on "Til We're Not Strangers" to the soul searching song "What I Cannot Change." Through LeAnn's journey to...  (less)

Wardrobe serves as inspiration to a collection of original songs penned by high-profile Christian artists. While knowledge of the books is helpful to grasp the emotional direction of this release, fans don't need to be all too familiar as nearly every song is attractive in its own right. Jars of Clay opens in fine style with the airy "Waiting for the World to Fall" followed by Steven Curtis Chapman's catchy "Remembering You" and Bethany Dillon's delightful "Hero." Other highlights include Delirious' "Stronger," which will remind fans of the band's superb Glo release from years back, and Toby Mac's "New World" which resonates with his street-hot brand of rap-rock. David Crowder fans will be pleasantly surprised with the exotic "Turkish Delight," a...  (less)