My Top Christian Music Songs and Albums of 2017

  This year was somewhat unusual in that the usual bands didn't put out music so this list will be made up of people/bands that you may not have heard of. I will try to include Youtube links so you can listen to them. As usual, there may be some better songs but I only include those that are distinctly "Christian" by my definition (since it's my blog - ha) Also, I try not to include the ones that were played on the radio mainly because they have been so overplayed that we are all sick of them. If I were to include them I would probably include "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong, "The Cure" by Unspoken, and "Who Says" by Joshua Micah. So here goes my top 37.

37. "Not Be Moved" B.J. Putnam  I could see this as a devotion song to do with the grandkids. Has potential for shaking, pushing, falling, catching and all kinds of kinetic energy
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6FbZR_JBOM

36. "Tu Gracia"  Ricardo Sanchez. After 15 mission trips to Central America, this music has gotten into my blood. Too bad the Spanish language hasn't.
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NzJWo1d5v8

35. "Save Yourself"  12 Stones   Good year for rock.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mietil5hCOk

34. "You Are Here"  Planetshakers   Slow moving till you get to the chorus/bridge. Wow!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Ov8PWA-Ns

33. "Feedback"  Landry Cantrell  Makes me miss Eric Champion  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAlC33qG58w

32. "Gather Round Now" Third Day   The First of 4 from my favorite album of the year.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMwNVqpfiKE

31. "Testimony"   The Belonging Co.  Worship band out of Nashville musicians. No link

30. "Acrobat"  Plumb   Plumb put out an EP this year that was very good. She never lets me down - well, unless she decides to do a lullaby album.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLc5zQI_QjY

29. "On Fire"  Ashes Remain  "I'm on fire and You're the One holding the match..." OK, a little lame but still a good song. Unfortunately, the only good one on the album  IMO. Sophomore slump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK2EazxMFyU

28.  "Outrageous"  Abigail Duhon   OK, a little High School Musical-ish but hay, I love Sharpay. I would think young Christian girls should embrace Abigail   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwwNo3qAoMo

27. "Belong to You"  Iron Bell Worship  1st of 4 from my new artist of the year and Worship Album of the Year  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ANCjqieojc

26. "Crazy About You"  Plumb   Sounds like it could have been in the Mama Mia soundtrack  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nZvpMJ6etk

25. "Shape of Your Heart"  Hillsong  Line of the year , "How I love you Jesus"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DmPXDfCloM

24.  "Walking on Water"  Needtobreathe   Some "B-sides" releases by NTB that are still better than most music out there. Very clear lyrics! WTG!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjsmt3T5DDA

23. "Ceiling"  Manic Drive   Thriller part 2  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfzg8RPolxc

22. "Holy Ground"  Passion   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh-y5r6xRQ0

21. "Faithful and True"  Third Day  Love the Allman brothers sound  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh-y5r6xRQ0

20. "Won't Give Up"  Manafest   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjY1z6ddL9E

19. "Free in You"  Iron Bell Worship  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJk5zfUyjsA

18. "Beautiful Story"  The Belonging Co.   No link

17. "Who We Are"  Abigail Duhon  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyQOUXCKZB0

16. "Into The Wild"  Manic Drive  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it59NYCDrTE

15. "Gone"  Red  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atUwZlW6gEM

14. "We Are One"  12 Stones    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKCrxxflMkM

13. "Coming Back"  Manafest    Ashes Remain, Red, 12 Stones, Manafest ... I'll take Manafest for rock album of the year  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjKLfXIfJyc

12. "Champion"  The Royal Royal   Remember the band Toto?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbzg-oFnjiQ

11. "Satisfy"  Citylovemusic  Love the prayer in the middle that turns into a rap  "Your life is just a vapor, aint nothin' but a puff"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jJqI1v3nhE

10. "You're Gonna' Rise"  Manafest  Set your alarm clock to this song  "Get up!"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k5zWrcLMX4

9. "Run The Race"  Holly Starr (Matthew Parker remix)  I think Matthew Parker is the best thing in Christian music now  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsqMG3UOfc4

8. "Into the Light"  Jonny Lang  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUb1Gnn4LVo

7. "Make A Little Trouble" Stu Garrard   No link!!!  Best rap song of the year

6. "My Confidence"  Iron Bell Music  Turn it up and sing along as loud as you can  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rvCcPeChv4

5. "Love Has A Name"  Jesus Culture  Kim Walker vocal performance of the year.  Turn it up - but don't sing along, just listen   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO-3dj33k-I

4. "God That Saves"  Iron Bell Music  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSZUjBU1DoA

3.  "Leave This World Behind"  Third Day  Play this song at my funeral  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMCI3-YQI1k

2. "Best Day Ever"  KJ52   My dog's theme song. Seriously though, I don't get how Christians can be so gloomy when our future is so amazing and our present consists in a relationship with the One who made us   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4nD_hsbGQ0

1. "The Return"  Third Day  A Bonus Track??? This is how CCM began. Clear, haunting, bold lyrics, challenging believers and unbelievers alike. And a little brass, guitar solo thrown in. Third Day lyrics on this album may be simple but that's OK with me  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szk-VGkbbT8


As far as albums, full length albums/CDs/LPs are becoming more scarce as people just release songs and Eps digitally. Here go my favorites of the year.

1. Third Day - "Revival"     No surprise if you saw the above list of songs. Wish they would go in concert again

2. Iron Bell Music - "God that saves"    Hope they can continue writing great songs

3. Manafest - "Stones"      Just when I thought he was done, he comes out with a great album.

4. Passion  2017

5. We Are Leo - "The Rush and the Roar"

6. Plumb - God Help Me EP