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If there has been a shortage in one particular type of Christian genre over the last decade it certainly would not be that which we know and love as the pop princess. Jaci Velasquez, Stacie Orrico and Rachael Lampa have all excelled in this arena and have paved the way for more diverse versions such as Krystal Meyers, Jesse Daniels and Bethany Dillon. So, why should we bother with Britt Nicole? Initially the question is not easy to answer, as her debut album “Say It” follows the usual formula of catchy melodies with big choruses. But there is something else here as Nicole’s impressive vocals are on full display, from the ballads “Set The World On Fire” and “Don’t Worry Now” to the more lively and energetic numbers such as “Sunshine Girl” and “Ready”. And a spiritual dimension is by no means absent or watered down – tough issues are bluntly tackled in both “Good Day” and “When She Cries”. Britt Nicole has released an unashamedly pop album. Love or hate the genre, it’s a solid debut, packed with radio friendly singles and posing a great future.
Paul Nixon

It’s hard to imagine what the Christian Music scene was like before Reliant K. Probably far too serious for my liking. Maybe that’s a controversial statement but after listening to the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of Five Score and Seven Years Ago, I feel like that’s OK. Once again, front-man Matthew Thiessen has written an album-full of songs that insist on embedding themselves in the comfort of your head, refusing to move for at least a week. Out of the 14 tracks on the album, there is not one that makes you want to indulge in the habit of track-skipping. There are, however, a few outstanding numbers worth gushing about. ‘The Best Thing’ and ‘Must Have Done Something Right’ are cheeky, light hearted love songs that make it sound like Thiessen actually has to try hard to get a girlfriend. In actual fact, the album is a testament to the band’s imagination as the first track is completely a cappella with some astounding harmonies and beat boxing. Meanwhile the last track is an eleven-minute-long epic and tells the story of a dying man, featuring the vocals of Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman as the voice of Jesus. Other notable tracks include ‘Come Right Out and Say It’ and ‘Bite my Tongue’ which both express mildly amused annoyance at the complexities of polite communication. Yet again, Reliant K have used their overly-articulated wit to share a little bit of joy and brightness that is sometimes missing from the ‘seriously’ trendy airwaves of the 21st century. Two thumbs up and a cheesy grin!
Antonia Belt

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Here stands Toby McKeehan’s most diverse and accessible album to date. While all of his previous works have included a variety of styles, “Portable Sounds” is the first album seemingly aimed at a wider scope of people. “Momentum” for example (his debut since DC Talk went their separate ways), may at a first listen seem hardcore and aimed at a niche audience. Portable Sounds however is a fresh, exciting entry that’s hard not to like if you enjoy some sort of popular music. His incredible gift for writing catchy songs has not diminished with time. It’s actually grown! There’s not a single dud track on this album and it’s filled with catchy hooks that will be in your head for weeks (in the non-annoying way). To list the influences here would be endless as the album reflects so many different sounds. All I can say is that it’s not often that an album this good comes around. Portable Sounds is immediately accessible to those unfamiliar with Mac’s work, while his dedicated fan base is also likely to love this album. A must buy.
Ben Emery