WORSHIP ADULT CONTEMPORARY RELEASES 05.01.2012 POINT OF GRACE A THOUSAND LITTLE THINGS WORD RECORDS/WORD 05.22.2012 MERCYME THE HURT AND THE HEALER FAIR TRADE SERVICES/ PROVIDENT STEVE GREEN PEOPLE NEED THE LORD: NUMBER ONES SPARROW RECORDS/EMICMG All release dates and album titles are subject to change. For the most up-to-date release schedule, visit www. ccmmagazine.com/category/ adult-contemporary/ ADULT CONTEMPORARY STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN #1’s Vol. 1 (Sparrow) FOR FANS OF: Michael W. Smith, MercyMe, Casting Crowns QQQQQ Narrowing down 46 chart-toppers into a single collection is essentially impossible, but as the title behind Steven Curtis Chapman’s #1’s Vol. 1 implies, future installments could be coming around the corner. Nonetheless, the first edition is indeed a career-spanning highlight reel, from the charging, country-infused guitars of “The Great Adventure” to the beautiful ballad “I Will Be Here” and the power pop anthem “Dive,” which is one of the many that has yet to appear on a previous Chapman retrospective. title track, as well as her vocal on “Seeing For The First Time,” where she demonstrates artistic growth and maturity. The album also flows well and includes dance anthems alongside beautiful ballads. Some of the vocal stylings are a bit overdone, like those on “Who You Say You Are” and “Amazing Life,” but she shines through nonetheless. –Grace S. Aspinwall WE LIKE: “All This Time” JON MCLAUGHLIN Promising Promises (Razor & Tie) FOR FANS OF: Billy Joel, Matt Wertz QQQQ Jon McLaughlin is a hidden gem among pop artists, crafting memorable melodies –Andy Argyrakis that yield heartfelt lyrics in a package that feels deeply personal. Promises Promises holds more of the same from the beautiful duet “Summer is Over” that features Sara Bareilles to the fantastic piano work on the title track. Longtime fans might be disappointed that so much of Forever If Ever is included here, but with McLaughlin’s jump from indie to label waters, these are the breaks. –Matt Conner WE LIKE: “Summer is Over” WE LIKE: “Dive” BRITT NICOLE Gold (Sparrow Records) FOR FANS OF: Jaci Velasquez, Selena Gomez QQQQ Following the smash success of her album, The Lost Get Found, Britt Nicole returns with her latest, Gold. There are some shimmering moments on this project, particularly the CCMMAGAZINE.COM