My 100 All Time Favorite Albums 2023
I’ve shuffled a few things around since end of year 2022 and added 3 new entries. The disclaimer, as always, is that the list is fluid, subject to change and shifting spots on any given day. But, upon revisiting some old albums, I’ve found some have grown on me, while others have not hit quite like they used to. But overall, 2023 has been a remarkable discover of new artists and music, especially on an international level. All in all, these entries have really blessed me over the years, and even decades now, and I hope you might check into a few of them, so that it might do the same for you.
I’ve made notes on several entries (including the entire top 30) and how they have impacted me and my family’s life. I’ve also color-coded some of the movers, shakers and new entires that have altered last year’s list.
ENJOY!
100. Jeremy Camp – Stay (2002)
99. The Insydez – Fight of My Life (1998)
98. Joel Chernoff - Come Dance With Me (2002)
97. Rebecca St. James – Transform (2000)
96. PFR – Them (1996)
95. Mat Kearney – Nothing Left to Lose (2006)
94. Skillet – Invincible (2000)
93. Michael W Smith – Go West Young Man (1990)
One of my go-to albums during my dating year (1993) with my wife of now-29 years.
92. Tobymac – Momentum (2001)
91. Maire Brennan – Perfect Time – (1998)
90. Honeytree – Evergreen (1975)
89. Michael W Smith – Change Your World (1992)
88. Sarah Masen – Carry Us Through (1998)
87. Needtobreathe – Daylight (2006)
86. Nick Flora – The Reintroduction of Nick Flora (2013)
85. Selah – Hiding Place (2004)
84. JJ Heller – Loved (2013)
From Painted Red (2008) to Loved (2013) were JJ’s best album years, with enduring music that was very much overlooked in the main Christian Music Circles.
83. JJ Heller – When I’m With You (2010)
82. Bryan Duncan – Anonymous Confessions of a Lunatic Friend (1990)
Listening to this album a couple of months ago, I felt like, not only is this Bryan’s signature album, but it is a complete album from start to finish, and should deserve several spaces higher on my all-time list.
81. Daniela Galeano – Proposito (2022)
Daniela had a banner year in 2022, releasing single after single, an EP and a full album of even more original music. From the Reggaeton Cristiano genre.
80. Mat Kearney – City of Black and White (2009)
My go to album during the first weeks of life for my son Asher.
79. **New** Sarah Lancman - Le Pourvoir Des Mots (The Power of Words) (2023)
I discovered this French Jazz artist tucked away in a Latin CCM Playlist in YouTube. This occurred while my wife was in vacationing in Europe with her mom and relatives. An album of original jazz music, here Sarah proves to be a master of her genre, with music that teleports her listeners to a different time and place.
78. Smalltown Poets – NW X SE (2021)
77. Phil Keaggy – Underground (1983)
76. Jars of Clay – Who We Are Instead (2003)
75. Maire Brennan – Whisper to the Wild Water (1999)
74. Christafari – Valley of Decision (1996)
73. World Wide Message Tribe – We Don’t Get What We Deserve (1995)
72. Whiteheart – Freedom (1989)
71. ***New*** Sophiv/ Mariannah Y Diego/ Belu Rodriguez Kuhn - Sesiones (2023)
Mariannah Y Diego are arguably the hardest working Christian musicians of 2023. Along with their multiple collaborations with Uruguay’s Belu Rodriguez Kuhn and Argentina’s Sophiv, this live release takes some of the best singles of the last 1-2 years from these artists and improves upon them in a solid collection.
70. Honeytree – Me and My Old Guitar (1977)
69. Larry Norman – Only Visiting This Planet (1972)
68. Rebecca St. James – Christmas (1997)
This album seems to still get played every Christmas in our home. It doesn’t seem to be getting old or dated, and is still one of my all time favorite holiday albums. Deserves a few spots higher on the all-time list.
67. Jars of Clay - Jars of Clay (1995)
66. Silverwind – A Song in the Night (1982)
65. Plankeye – The Spark (1995)
64. Seven Day Jesus – Seven Day Jesus (1997)
63. Whiteheart – Hotline (1985)
62. Sarah Reeves – Easy Never Needed You (2018)
61. Villanelle – Pinwheels and Orange Peels (1995)
60. ***NEW*** Tabitha - Hallo Met Mij (2020)
This album was an unexpected discovery. While looking for French CCM for my wife’s Europe, I came across two artists names “Tabitha”: one French and one Dutch. The Dutch Tabitha turns out to have a very large following in the Netherlands, and a very solid pop album to boot.
59. Smalltown Poets – Smalltown Poets (1997)
58. The Sum – Everyone (2006)
This group only made this one Indie EP, a 6 song set. But once it hooks you, you will wonder why they didn’t make more music.
57. Third Day – Third Day (1996)
56. Skillet – Comatose (2006)
55. For King and Country – Crave (2012)
54. Burlap to Cashmere – Burlap to Cashmere (2011)
- I won this, along with 5 other CDs, back in 2016, as part of a Christian Music Social Media Page contest. I wasn’t a big fan of their debut, but I definitely enjoyed their next album, released 13 years later.
53. Brent Bougeois – Come Join the Living World (1994)
52. Melissa Tawlks – Mystery Revealed (2000)
51. Supertones – Supertones Strike Back (1997)
50. Geoff Moore and the Distance – Threads (1997)
49. Owl City – Ocean Eyes (2009)
48. Kutless – Sea of Faces (2004)
47. Mayfair Laundry – Scrub (1998)
46. The Martins – New Day (2011)
45. Ernie Rettino and Debbie Kerner – Friends (1974)
Underrated Jesus Music album which came out the year I was born. But once it drew me in, it made me wish I could have been old enough to be a part of this fledgling Christian Music genre. This album makes me feel like I was living in the 70’s as an adult.
44. Smalltown Poets – Say Hello (2018) This album was released the day we hopped the train from Washington state and took a 44 hour ride to Chicago. A reunion album of all 5 original band members when their debut album was released back in 1997.
43. LoveCollide – Tired of Basic (2018) A tad on the cheesy side, but an overall solid album with awesome euro beats. This album won the Canadian Juno award (our Grammy equivalent) for Christian albums that year.
42. Fireflight – Innova (2015)
This album was crushed with bad reviews, probably because of its departure from their signature rock formula, but is honesty Fireflight’s best all-around and engaging album, IMO.
41. Hollyn – One Way Conversations (2017)
40. Kutless – Kutless (2002)
39. Needtobreathe – Rivers in the Wasteland (2014)
38. David Meece – Are You Ready (1980)
I was saved at a David Meece concert in 1994, and I own all of his albums from 1976 - 2002. This is my overall favorite one.
37. Mat Kearney – Young Love (2011)
- Love Mat’s early discography, this being my overall favorite album which came out, just after I saw him in concert (with Owl City) in 2011.
36. Winchester Christmas Ensemble – Seasons Greeting From Yellowstone (1998)
- Bought this in a “CD tin” at K Mart once upon a time for a low price. Turns out it’s a great instrumental Christmas album, and also has personal sentimental value for my wife and I, due to its Yellowstone dedication.
35. Daniela Araujo – Doze (2017)
Favorite Portuguese album. This album, and Track 13 “Seja O Centro” is what led me down the rabbit hole of discovering amazing Spanish and Portuguese music and musicians these last 3 years.
34. The Martins – Dream Big (1998)
Favorite Southern Gospel group of all time (their harmonies are incredible), and my family’s “Road Trip” album of 1998.
33. Third Day – Wire (2004)
32. Michael W Smith – The Big Picture (1986)
31. Vineyard – Hungry (1999)
Just a really good P&W album. Before the genre got “big” and where the worship singers and band were unassuming.
30. Capital Kings – II (2015)
- Best Christian Dance album? Discuss.
29. Michelle Tumes – Center of My Universe (2000)
While not the amazement that was “Listen,” Michelle’s first album, this sophomore release pulls you back into this singer’s world and takes you on an encore journey through some incredible music.
28. The Waiting – Blue Belly Sky (1995)
Ooh… “Dead Man” is indescribably good, like being a twenty-something and attending an indie concert and hearing THAT song.
27. Michelle Tumes – Michelle Tumes (2006)
I listened to this album in its entirety a couple of weeks ago and realized that this album is way too good to barely be cracking the top fifty. One amazing, ethereal hit after another, from start to finish.
26. Newsboys – Not Ashamed (1992)
My very first Christian album and still my favorite Newsboys album of all time. My then-girlfriend (now wife) helped me purchase it, before I had become a Christian.
25. Riley Clemmons – Riley Clemmons (2018)
Another underrated album, this came out 3 weeks before Lauren Daigle’s “Look Up Child” and was sorely overlooked as a result. Between amazing vocals and youthful sass, this album holds its own as one of my top 30 favorites.
24. Needtobreathe – The Heat (2007)
My go to album before my first son was born; He had a mortal defect (no urethra) and passed away only an hour after he was born 11/5/2008. “Signature of Divine” has a very special place in my heart during this tragic time in my life. His legacy had helped us form a FB group for his disorder (which is not always mortal) and has saved the lives of hundreds of other babies from abortion and educated other parents on prenatal surgeries that can help this type of disorder, if caught early enough.
23. Daniel Amos – Doppleganger (1983)
Excellent, underrated alternative album, completely in step with its seculars peers at the time.
22. Fernando Ortega – The Breaking of the Dawn (1998)
“Lord of Eternity” is one of the only songs that made me cry the first time I heard it. I have two of Fernando’s albums in the top 30, they are so good.
21. Owl City – All Things Bright and Beautiful (2011)
Adam Young’s sophomore release may be better than the original mainstream release “Ocean Eyes” (with “Fireflies”) as far as the a complete album goes. Attended a concert from the tour of the same name.
20. Brooke Fraser – Albertine (2006)
That sustain toward the end of “CS Lewis Song” will give you chills.
19. Randy Stonehill – Welcome to Paradise (1976)
Incredible Jesus Music Rock album; Randy’s best. So much fun.
18. Matt Redman – The Father’s Song (2000)
Favorite Matt Redman album, favorite Matt Redman song “O Sacred King” and one of my favorite worship albums of all time.
17. Fernando Ortega – This Bright Hour (1997)
- Such a rich, inspirational offering. Especially those going through a crisis of faith, this album will remind you that you are not alone, and will stir you to a deeper desire to stay near your Creator God and strengthen your faith.
16. Shaded Red – Red Revolution (1999)
Generally not a fan of Christian albums with the word “Revolution” in the title or song, but this alt-rock album bucks the trend. Can’t get enough of this one.
15. Needtobreathe – Hard Love (2016)
A real gem from a longstanding group. You just want to listen to this one on repeat.
14. Clear – Clear (1998)
Formerly in my top three, this album highlights folksy storytelling and innocence, never taking its sights off of God and His goodness.
13. Time – Third Day (1999)
I loved early Third Day albums. This awesome southern fried rock album has something for everybody and helped recoup their fan base after their bizarre “Conspiracy Number 5” offering (pun intended).
12. Taeyeon – Purpose, The 2nd Album (2019) The “anti-K-Pop” Korean Pop album. Taeyeon’s vocals on Track 1 of 10 blow the listener out of the water, and then she carries them to one well-crafted, well-produced track after another.
11. Coastalrise – Call of the Sea (2013)
One of the best albums of the 2010s and clearly the most underrated. The band broke up after their Sophomore release, but left the Christian music industry this quirky, amazing listening pleasure.
10. Glassbyrd – Open Wide This Window (2003)
Amazing husband/wife collaboration, amazing praise album. The perfect musical dichotomy between Mark and Christine’s vocals makes me wonder why they didn’t release more music like this. Got this used for $1.99, best $1.99 I ever spent. (I really have thought this should be in my top ten earlier, just keeps sounding great, even 20 years later).
9. Bebo Norman – Myself When I Am Real (2002) Bebo’s best, this was one of the 2002 albums that helped me through that crisis of faith year. Crafty story telling mixed with creative praise to our Creator.
8. Third Day – Offerings (2000)
“You’re Everywhere” is one of my favorite songs of all time, and my favorite Third Day song. I’m not usually a live-track fan, but this album nails it from start to finish.
7. Jars of Clay – The Long Fall Back to Earth (2009)
Favorite Jars album. I was so excited in anticipation of this albums’s release that I bought it the week it came out, while on vacation on Florida’s gulf coast, at a Pinellas Park Family Christian store. 14 tracks that hit all the right notes, ending with “Heart,” one of the best closing tracks of any album ever.
6. Nicol Sponberg – Resurrection (2004)
- Another overlooked album, this (and Selah’s “Hiding Place”) were at Nicol’s vocal peak. One of 2000’s best female vocalist; “All That I Believe In” will have you blasting your car speakers to 10.
5. The Folly – Until the Road Ends (2007)
- How to describe this indie one… I’ve listened to it over a hundred times… went to the CD release party in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood…quiet, folksy guitar music with a distinctive male vocalist that takes you in an hour-long journey that the listener will not want to pull away from.
4. Michelle Tumes – Listen (1998)
Amazing! This long-awaited February 1998 album delights and astounds with its ethereal Celtic vibe (even though she’s from Adelaide Australia originally), highlighted by “Feel,” probably my favorite Christian song of all time.
3. Third Day – Come Together (2001)
Third Day’s best album and a help to my 2002 struggle year. Mac Powell were at the top of their game on this one. Fun, inspirational and pure rock and roll all at the same time.
2. Tommee Profitt Ft. Fleurie – Gloria Regali (2019)
A Masterpiece ; Epic and haunting as its album cover, there are no weak tracks in this album: 36 minutes of glorious awesomeness. Still fresh enough to to move up to my #2 favorite album of all time.
1. The Waiting – The Waiting (1997)
- This has pretty much been my top album almost since it’s release. It has slipped in and out of my top spot from time to time, but it just has that timeless, never-dated rock album feel. The Waiting’s band members found just the perfect formula for this release, to the delight of any listener who acquires it.
So what are your favorite albums? Any new discoveries from 2023 that you would like to share? Let me know in the comments, or X (Twitter) @GideonLapwater. TTYL…
