My Favorite Albums of 2013

The beginning of a New Year always causes me to look back, mainly because I am a nostalgia fool. But while I was thinking back to this past year I couldn't help but think about the music that had meant a lot to me in 2013. To that end I decided to write a top ten album list of this past year. This list does include an album (actually a whole set of albums to be honest) not from 2013, but 2013 is when I acquired it so it makes the cut in my mind. Also at the end I will share some of the albums that I am most looking forward to for 2014.

So, let us begin in iTunes alphabetical order.

Audio Adrenaline - Kings & Queens: Obviously if you are a reader of this blog you already know of my love for this album, seeing as it got a blog post all to itself. This album has been a constant in my car/cd player/ipod/iphone since it came out in March. He Moves you Move has helped me on more than one occasion. Kings & Queens has convicted me. And the Answer has been my cry.

Derek Webb - I was wrong, I'm sorry, I love you: If I'm honest Derek's previous album CTRL was my least favorite album of his, but then he released this one and I think its my favorite (or at least tied with Stockholm Syndrome). Its an album about those three statements, and our need to constantly say them. It is an album of accepting ourselves for who we are, yet constantly realizing that the love of God overcomes all of our trash. I have been wrestling with that truth all year so obviously Derek said the right thing at the right time for this guy.

Eminem - the Marshall Mathers LP2: So, we begin with two Christian albums and then jump to Eminem, that's me. Eminem has subsequently released my two favorite albums of his in a row with Recovery and now MMLP2. On this album we find a more introspective and mature Eminem, which I consider a very good thing. There is still the fun of previous albums (minus Relapse) but it is mixed with a nice amount of brilliant thoughts as well.

Garth Brooks - Blame it All on My Roots: In general I do not like country music, but I do love the two artists that pop up on this list. Before this set of albums was announced I was fairly certain that Garth was retired for good, so I was pleasantly surprised with this box set. Blame it... is 4 albums of newly recorded cover albums that showcase the various influences on the artist that is Garth. He does a masterful job on each album, showcasing Country Classics, Blue Eyed Soul, Classic Rock, and Melting Pot with a little bit of everything.

Jars of Clay - Inland: Inland is perhaps Jars most spiritual and secular album at the same time. It is an album that lives among the turmoil of life, yet finds a clear hope there as well. It envisions a time After the Fight. It recognizes the need for a Reckless Forgiver. In essence it finds God in the muck and mire, which is where we all tend to need God.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - the Heist: I have to mention Derek Webb again, because while Mary liked Thrift Shop, I was not enamored with it and didn't much care about buying this album. Derek Webb on the other hand was obsessive about the world's need to buy it, so one day he mentioned on Facebook that it was only $2.99 on Amazon. I figured for that price I couldn't go wrong and I purchased it. It was by far the best $2.99 I have ever spent on music, because if this list was in order this album would be on top. I am still not the biggest fan of Thrift Shop, it is my least favorite song on the Heist, but that speaks to the greatness of the album more than what is lacking in that particular song. Macklemore has a gift to speak truth into a variety of circumstances, and more so to allow those of us who have not walked the same path see into the lives of those who have. I subsequently purchased everything else Macklemore and then Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have done and I love it all. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THEIR NEXT ALBUM, may it come quickly.

Newsboys - Restart: If I was making this list on 2010 it would include Born Again. If I was making it in 2011 it would include God's Not Dead. And so another year and another Newsboys album that I love. I liked Newsboys enough when Peter Furler was the lead vocalist, but they were never a band I needed to buy, but then they hired my favorite member of dcTalk and things changed. Michael Tait is one of my favorite vocalists ever. This album is mainly about starting over (duh) and the need to refocus on the love that Jesus taught us, always something I am attempting to do.

Nick Lachey - A Father's Lullaby: For the majority of this year I would end half my nights rocking Henry to sleep listening to various music (Andrew Peterson, Joshua Kadison, Andrew Osenga, Derek Webb, Counting Crows), and then I purchased Nick Lachey's new album and most nights we ended with A Father's Lullaby. It is a very good mix of old favorites (like You are my Sunshine, and When You Wish Upon a Star) and new songs as well, but for me the highlight is All the Pretty Horses, a song that I remember my mom singing to me and a song that I was already singing to Henry before we bought this album.

Scott Stapp - Proof of Life: I will freely admit that I am a Creed fan, have been since My Own Prison. I enjoy my rock with a message, so Creed fits that bill very well. Scott has always written lyrics that attempt to speak to his audience as well as speak out from his life, and with Proof of Life he does a very good job on both fronts. This album (as well as his previous The Great Divide) is enhanced by his re-committal to his faith in recent years. While I am hopeful that Creed will reunite again in the future I am just fine getting my fix with Scott's solo efforts.

Tim McGraw - Two Lanes of Freedom (Accelerated Deluxe): Tim McGraw is easily my favorite country artist (Garth is far and away number 2), and this album is a great one. Because of issues with his former record label there has been a glut of new Tim music recently with 3 albums in the past two years (and rumors of a new one in the coming year), and while Emotional Traffic was good and Tim McGraw and friends was alright, Two Lanes has a sense of freedom and fun that they both lacked. The Accelerated Deluxe version has four bonus songs and is worth the few extra dollars for Annie I Owe You a Dance alone.

Albums (some announced, some rumored) to come that I cannot wait for:

With Dates:
Switchfoot - Fading West - January 14
Beck - Morning Phase - February (supposed to be a companion album to my fav Beck album Sea Change)
Crowder - Neon Steeple - February 18
The Fray - Helios - February 25

No Exact Date:
Mat Kearney
Michael W Smith
U2
Linkin Park
Tim McGraw

My 2 Favorite Bands (Counting Crows and Collective Soul) are in the studio currently so I'm hoping those albums come out this year.

Peace and Love,
Pastor K