Out of so many albums purchased in 2007, these are my seven favorite albums:

7. Call Me Irresponsible, Michael Buble. Buble steps even further out of his comfort zone with his third major-label release. Foregoing the easy crooner route, he ventures into previously uncharted musical territory and gets most of it right. The gem on this collection, of course, is Everything, an AC-friendly sing-along tune that is one of my favorite songs of the year.

6. Say It, Britt Nicole. Comparisons to Avril Lavigne notwithstanding, Britt Nicole was a breath of fresh air in a year of otherwise droll Contemporary Christian music. Powered by  smash Christian single You - the highest-ranked single by a solo female artist this year on the year-end Hot Christian Songs chart - and a moving follow-up single, Set The World on Fire, Say It is a fiery collection of musical genres that testify to the immense talent of this young superstar.

5. Dreamgirls Soundtrack. Technically a December 2006 release, Dreamgirls launched Jennifer Hudson to superstardom with her starmaking turn as Effie White. Late release nothwithstanding, impassioned performances from everyone on the cast, including Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Jaime Foxx, and Eddie Murphy, bring this soundtrack to life and much more. It’s Not Over is a masterpiece of recorded music.

4. Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood. The American Idol Season Four winner followed up her stellar Some Hearts opus - the #4 bestselling album on the 2007 year-end charts - with a sophomore album that showcases Underwood’s growth as a singer, songwriter, and performer. Pushing aside sappy first single So Small, Carnival Ride is still a great journey, with More Boys I Meet, You Won’t Find This, and Crazy Dreams among the standout tracks.

3. As I Am, Alicia Keys. Alicia Keys has never disappointed me, and her latest release is an even more stunning release than its predecessor studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. A thrilling collection that folds stories of love and passion in old-school jams and contemporary hiphop beats, Keys’ skill as a singer and songwriter cannot be denied with this latest release. Simply irresistible.

2. Elliott Yamin, Elliott Yamin. Grammy snubs aside, American Idol Season Five also-ran Elliott Yamin has done us proud. The man who AI judge Simon Cowell proclaimed to have the finest male voice in the history of the popular competition released an album that showcased his voice in its finest form. Testament to his skill is the success of carrier single Wait For You, a certified gold single and one of the monster airplay hits of 2007.

1. True Beauty, Mandisa. Yamin’s fellow American Idol Season Five non-winner, Mandisa released a Contemporary Christian album so exquisite in style, quality, substance, and production, that it was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Carrier single Only the World was a smash hit; current single God Speaking is rising up the charts, and there are many other great tracks on this stellar release. An excellent addition to the pantheon of noteworthy CCM albums.

What are your favorite albums of 2007?

 RSS Feed