A pic of my newly completed gansta look…
Yes, I am horrible. Year-end charts are like one of my fave things about the holiday season. Just think, we get to see what albums sold the most and what songs got played the most! What could be more exciting right? Yes well for anyone who may find these facts interesting you have come to the right place. I comment on the top ten songs and albums of 2007 for both the secular and Christian charts.
CD Review As I Lay Dying: An Ocean Between Us A+
Genre: Post-hardcore/Deathcore
Songs: 12
CCM gave it 5 stars, and the big wigs gave it a Grammy nomination. I give it an A+, and for a good reason. This is hard music that shows a tremendous amount of skill and thought. The guitars and drums are at the utmost heights of intensity and mood setting, polished over with excellent production.
The words are mostly growled or screamed, yet yelling comes up to accent. Drums are used for most of the build-ups, as opposed to guitars like many bands (e.g. Underoath) use. Also melody sneaks in and makes the songs sick in your mind more than would be expected in this genre.
The words that can be heard are few, but for those that take the time to read the lyrics you will see they were written with much care and you will find that the mind behind them seems a profound pastor.
Not for everyone…but truly the most powerful music out there. Be forewarned.
For Fans Of: Norma Jean, Demon Hunter, Underoath
The most played songs, overall, in 2007:
1. IRREPLACEABLE, Beyonce
2. BUY U A DRANK, T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc
3. BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, Fergie
4. SAY IT RIGHT, Nelly Furtado
5. UMBRELLA, Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
6. THE SWEET ESCAPE, Gwen Stefani Featuring Akon
7. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, The Fray
8. IT'S NOT OVER Daughtry
9. HEY THERE DELILAH, Plain White T's
10. HOME, Daughtry
Wow, seems all the songs I love to hate made it. Three of the top ten are by professed Christian artists, and 9/10 are family friendly (depending on how strict you are). Good to see the Plain White T’s song on there, as it was my fave song of 2007. Let’s see what the genre break down tells us about secular compared to Christian: Urban/Rap (6) Rock (2) AC (2). It also is worth noting that half the songs are by female artists.
1. THE LAST NIGHT, Skillet
2. MADE TO LOVE, tobyMac
3. I'M FOR YOU tobyMac
4. FORGIVEN, Relient K
5. SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, Newsboys
6. DON'T GIVE UP, Sanctus Real
7. LET IT FADE, Jeremy Camp
8. AFTER THE WORLD, Disciple
9. AWAKENING, Switchfoot
10. FIND ME TONIGHT, Everyday Sunday
First lets all dance for joy at Switchfoot being on this chart. Done? Ok good, now dance for joy that Casting Crowns is not on here lol Toby totally took over radio this year. Having the #2 and #3 spot is just crazy. Four songs on here are from my top 5 albums of 2007 and the #1 song is from one of my fave 2006 albums. What is sad to see is that every song is Rock (10) and that all ten songs are by white males. Christians have come a long way…and have a long way to go.
Top albums by sales overall of 2007:
1. DAUGHTRY, Daughtry
2. KONVICTED, Akon
3. THE DUTCHESS, Fergie
4. HANNAH MONTANA, Soundtrack
5. SOME HEARTS, Carrie Underwood
6. ALL THE RIGHT REASONS, Nickelback
7. FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS, Justin Timberlake
8. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2, Soundtrack
9. NOW 23, Various Artists
10. MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, Linkin Park
First off see that many of these albums did not come out this year yet still sold enough units to make the chart this year. Also, only three of these albums had a top ten year end single. Tiz good to see a Christian on top. Also interesting to see two soundtracks aimed at tweens…yeah. And 1 of my top albums of 2007 made the list (woot). Well here it is by genre: Urban/Rap (3) Rock (3) Country (1) Compilations (3). Five males to three females.
1. WOW HITS 2007, Various Artists
2. PRECIOUS MEMORIES, Alan Jackson
3. FLYLEAF, Flyleaf
4. THE ALTAR AND THE DOOR, Casting Crowns
5. (PORTABLE SOUNDS),tobyMac
6. SEE THE MORNING, Chris Tomlin
7. FIVE SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO, Relient K
8. THREE WOODEN CROSSES, Various Artists
9. NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, Mat Kearney
10. BEYOND MEASURE, Jeremy Camp
Switchfoot’s “Oh! Gravity” came in at #13 for anyone who cared…ah yes but I hate to break it to everyone, but we live in a world where Chris Tomlin sells more than RK. Never would have happened in prior years—RK and Switchoot’s sales flop was a sad thing this year. But yay, two of my top albums of 2007 making this list. Genre break down: Rock (3) AC (4) Country (1) Compilation (1). Seven males artists to one female.
Yes well if you wanna know how your fave albums or songs did on any year-end chart just ask—I’m more than happy to tell you.
This week’s charts:
Christian Rock:
1. Part One, Wavorly-
2. Angels, MxPx+
3. Illuminate, Project 86+
Christian AC:
1. God With Us, MercyMe-
2. East to West, Casting Crowns-
3. Christmas Makes Me Cry, Mandia feat. Mathew West+
Christian Hit:
1. Older I Get, Skillet-
2. We Need Each Other, Sanctus Real-
3. Let Go, Grey Holiday-
4. What I’ve Done, Until June+
5. Head Over Heels, Switchfoot+
Top Christian Albums on The Billboard 200:
(64) The Alter and The Door, Casting Crowns
(65) WOW Hits 2008, Various
(81) It’s a Wonderful Christmas, Michael W. Smith
(83) All That Is Within Me, MercyMe
( ) Let It Snow baby…, Relient K
