By Andy Argyrakis

WOW INDEED!

Though there have been countless WOW compilations over the years, the brand-new WOW Essentials: All-Time Favorite Christian Songs attempts to streamline the scene’s essential songs for both seekers and believers looking for the best of the relatively current bunch. While some could argue for a longer track listing, the dozen tracks within are all winners, starting with Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable” through Selah’s rendition of “You Raise Me Up.” In between, there’s plenty of genre variety, from the vertically leaning ballad “Who Am I” (Casting Crowns) to the jarring surf rock of “Dare You To Move” (Switchfoot) and the contemporary pop of “Dive” (Steven Curtis Chapman).

JUMPING FOR JOY OVER JONAS BROTHERS

Considering the phenomenal levels of the Jonas Brothers’ mainstream impact, it’s often easy to forget the trio’s roots in the Christian market. And just because the boys are big time superstars doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned their personal faith or values-based songwriting, as evidenced on the brand-new A Little Bit Longer (Hollywood). “The lyrical content has gotten more in-depth,” says Nick Jonas of the current collection. “It’s about who we are as people and our personal lives, things we’ve gone through in the past 12 months.”

COOPER’S STILL A CHRISTIAN

As one of the more theatrical shock rockers of all time, Alice Cooper can be heard on secular rock radio each and every day, while regularly selling out concert halls across the globe. But underneath the somewhat alarming make-up and tough guy persona, the singer/songwriter’s a born again believer who’s considerably toned down the gore of his stage show to almost border on tongue-in-cheek self-parody. Though the brand-new Along Came a Spider (SPV) doesn’t comprise the specific faith backbone, it provides an unusual though still effective example of this superstar being a positive light to the counterculture.  

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