The One21 Essential 100 is a collection of albums that represent the best in creativity, innovation, and originality in music. This is not a “best of” list, nor is it influenced by album sales, or even popularity. Our attempt with this series is to highlight the gems, those rare albums that push boundaries and encourage new ways of thinking; both musical and philosophically. In our opinion, the music highlighted in this series is the “good stuff”.

Simply what this is going to be is a list of 100 albums from Christian music artists that we think you should own. Like our website, most genres will be represented, and some of the albums will be from as far back as the 60s, to as current as 2009. Each week we will post five albums, in no real order, with descriptions, album artwork, and places to buy the music.

Check out Pt.1
Check out Pt.2
Check out Pt.3
Check out Pt.4
Check out Pt.5
Check out Pt.6
Check out Pt.7
Check out Pt.8

Please Come Home
Dustin Kensrue
2006
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
There was so much to be surprised by on 2006’s Please Come Home. First and foremost, it was the debut solo effort from Thrice frontman, Dustin Kensrue, a band known for their complex, mosh inducing post hardcore anthems. So the fact that he choose to make a folk/country album let you know this was something completely different in itself.

The second surprise is just how GOOD Please Come Home is. Kensrue’s normal growl translates into earnest grit in this stripped down setting, and the whole feel of the album is set off by this fact. Think of something in between Johnny Cash, The Mommas & The Pappas, and old timey gospel, and that’s about where this album lands. The songs are well constructed, catchy, and thoughtful. Everything about them seems very familiar and yet fresh at the same time. Please Come Home is track after track of your favorite song that you’ve never heard.

Perhaps the biggest surprise though, and the one that makes all of this so special, is Kensrue’s willingness to talk about his faith on Please Come Home in a very personal and real way. When he isn’t putting parables into song form (Please Come Home), or declaring his beliefs directly (I Believe), Kensrue is confronting issues of sin and struggle in such a thoughtful manner you hardly know he is preaching. What Dustin Kensrue accomplished in 2006 with Please Come Home was speaking on the human struggle through the eyes of a person touched by Christ, and made us love every moment of it.

Truly a diamond in an already stunning career, and as he continues to prove himself over and with Thrice, Dustin Kensrue continues to prove that he may be our generation’s most talented songwriter.
Highlights: I Knew You Before, Please Come Home, Blood & Wine, Pistol

The Turning
Sam (Leslie) Phillips
1987
Buy this album:Amazon, iTunes
Throughout the 80’s Leslie Phillips was a CCM darling, with three hit records. The Turning, however, marked a shift in the singer’s attitudes: a definite pop sensibility was now apparent in the music, and a disillusion with the narrow-mindedness of the Contemporary Christian Music machine was expressed in the lyrical content. As a result, the album fared less strongly in the religious market, but earned greater critical attention in pop music circles. The Turning was also important to Sam Phillip’s career (and personal life) in that it paired her for the first time with producer T-Bone Burnett, who has produced all of her subsequent albums to date, and whom she married in 1989.

Following the release of The Turning, Sam Phillips made a public separation from both her former label and her previous body of work; with the help of Burnett, she signed to Virgin Records and, adopting a nickname given to her as a child, released her next record, The Indescribable Wow (1988), as Sam Phillips.

The Turning stands out as an artistic turning point in Sam Phillips‘ career as a singer and songwriter as well; on one side, the cheerful, upbeat pop-rock albums that she recorded in the early 1980s, and, on the other, the quirky 60’s music influenced rock and folk albums, with a much darker and more poetic tone lyrically. Most critics would agree that Phillips‘ songwriting abilities grew by leaps and bounds beginning with The Turning. Others might even say that this album was a pinnacle that has yet to be topped by the artist.

The Turning was listed at #8 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.
Highlights: The Turning, Answers Don’t Come Easy, God Is Watching You

Creator
Hands
2009
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
Music can be incredibly powerful when in the hands of the right artist. The best music, in my book, is one that can take a sound or a genre, and twist it to serve a completely new purpose. So it is only fitting that Christ-centered metal’s first real prog-metal band would be named Hands, and Creator proves that not following the rules can be so much better sometimes.

Creator is two things at all times; it is progressive metal, and it is worship. There is no time during the album’s 10 tracks (more than half of which are over 6 minutes long) that it is one or the other. The mere fact that these two seemingly opposing genres can meet and work together is by itself pretty stunning, but it is the fact that they succeed that makes Creator amazing in everyway. Creative isn’t even the word, superior may be better. If you want to know what kind of metal we may listen to in Heaven, this may be it.

The reason it all works is that Hands understand the emotional and spiritual core of their songs. They know the exact moments to pull back and let the atmosphere take over, and then hit you with everything they have to give the words a sense of release. They know that sometimes singing makes sense, that sometimes spoken words are appropriate, and that screaming is the only volume appropriate for some of the lyrics. Nothing ever feels forced, nor overdone; everything just fits in balance.

Hands isn’t a band, it is a force to be reckoned with.
Highlights: Brightest, Robed In Majesty, Returning

Get Well
They Sang As They Slew
2004
Buy this album: Amazon MP3, iTunes
The brainchild of Luxury and Canary member, Jamey Bozeman, They Sang As They Slew released their debut, Get Well, to the amazement of underground Christian hipsters. Weaving between soaring experimental emo and pleading acoustic ballads, Get Well weaves a mesmerizing soundscape that pulls you into the lyrics.

“Her Left hand Rocks the Cradle” sets the tone for the entire CD, with its ethereal back sounds and samples that break into psychedelic lyrics. “I Can See With My Eyes Closed” is a straight ahead driving rocker with layers of fuzzy guitars. “It Goes On”, the psychedelic ballad with distorted vocals and layers of sound closes the CD.
Highlights: Her Left Hand Rocks The Cradle, I Can See With My Eyes Closed, 10,000 Candles

Are We There Yet?
John Reuben
2001
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
I guess it is the whistling at the beginning of Are We There Yet?’s opening track (Divine Inspiration) that really tells you that this is something…a little different. From the beginning of his career, John Reuben, a quirky, unassuming white kid who has proved himself as one of Christian hip-hop’s pivotal artists, has always done things differently. Instead of embracing the more party oriented mainstream hip-hop sound, or a completely abstract underground sound, John Reuben has been able to push a fresh new sound that is something in-between the two. Are We There Yet? Was the introduction to this sound, and remains Reuben’s purest interpretation of THAT sound.

The songs on here are just SO GOOD. Tell me one emcee in the scene today that has a song like “Do Not”, and can pull it off like John Reuben. Then there are song like “No Regrets” and “Identify” that are almost rock songs, with some of the painfully honest lyrics I have heard in hip-hop in a long time. What you get with Are We There Yet? Is a mix of fun and real; of party and grit. It has been almost 10 years since the release Are We There Yet?, and it still feels completely fresh. Today, John Reuben continues to do thing his own way, and we are so glad for it.
Highlights: No Regrets, Do Not, Divine Inspiration, Identify

• Christian music artist Michael Lynche delivered my favorite performance since Jordan Sparks slayed “I(Who have Nothing)” in Season 6. This was a game changing performance of Maxwell’s (and Kate Bush) “This Woman’s Work”.  Michael displayed mad falsetto, crazy power and an intimidating stage presence.  He has set a bar that I am not sure even he can surpass.
• The four remaining Christian music artists Michael Lynch, Tim Urban, Didi Benami and Lacey Brown American Idol Season 9 delivered their best performances of the year and probably secured their place in the Top 12.
• After we projected Katelyn Epperly as the winner of American Idol Season 9 she proceeded to stumble through a cheesey performance of Carol King’s “I Feel The Earth Move”.
• Crystal Bowersox continued to demonstrate her superiority of the American Idol Season 9 girls with a rocking throwdown of Traci Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason”.
• Tonight we expect Paige Miles, Katie Stevens, Aaron Kelly and Toddrick Hall to go home.

Join us now as we live blog through the results and the top12 are revealed.

Ryan is bantering with the judges about comments made on last night’s show involving Randy in a bikini and thank you American Idol, we are now seeing a photo of same.  The 16 contestants will perform Michael Buble’s “Haven’t Met You Yet”.  All seem at ease, but time is drawing nigh.

Ryan announces the breaking news that the first theme of the big stage will be the music  of the Rolling Stones. New this year will be the audiences’ capability to go to Itunes to download the songs/playlist the contestants will listen to as they decide what to sing. 

He starts with the ladies.  Didi  Benami is invited to centerstage with Ryan.  He speaks to her about her struggles at the beginning of the show, then announces that  she has made it into the top 12. She is ecstatic.  Siobhan Magnus is next.  She tells everyone that she is very comfortable  on the stage.  She is in.  Paige Miles and Katelyn Epperly come to the stage together.  One is in and one is out.  Who will it be?  Simon feels the one with the most potential is Paige.  Paige has made it.  Uh oh, Katelyn is out.  There goes our prediction.

Next set will be chosen from the guys.  Tim Urban,  Toddrick Hall,  Lee Dewyze and Casey James are invited to centerstage.  Ryan begins with Tim Urban.  Tim is told to hang tight.  Toddrick is hanging tight too.  Lee is talked about for a moment and then on to Casey.  Casey is safe and joins the ladies.  Tim Urban is safe.  He acts shocked.  Lee will continue on the show and Toddrick will go home tonight.

Matt Geraud and Scott McIntyre will perform Billy Joel’s “Tell Her about It”.  Two piano men.  Matt and Scott are sporting leather tonight  as they play their baby grands.  I wonder if they performed this on their tour?  They can really play. Scott has an album out called Heartstring and it is available on Itunes through his website.  All original music.  Matt has a number one single with Anna Wilson called “You Don’t Know Me” on the jazz charts.

Okay here we go.  Eight are left.  Crystal Bowersox is invited to stand.  She looks so nervous.  After the nationwide vote, she is in.  Not smiling much, but she’s  in.  Michael Lynche goes to centerstage.  Kara talks about why she cried when he sang last night.  Ryan asks him if he can fit on a stool.  Michael has made it.  Lacey Brown stands.  C’mon Lacey.  She makes it through. Wow.  Aaron Kelly comes to the stage.  He feels he can bring more confidence if  he makes it through.  And he does.  Two more stools to fill.  Ryan calls Alex Lambert and Andrew Garcia.   Simon feels Andrew may have peaked too soon, but is talented.  Andrew makes it through and Alex is trying not to be too emotional.  It is so difficult to see these young singers go through the disappointment. After his song, all the guys crowd around him.  Katie Stevens and Lilly Scott are the last two.  The final seat in the top 12 belongs to Katie Stevens.  Lilly is going home.  That was a surprise.  I think she was surprised too.

Definitely some surprises tonight.  But congratulations to our 4 Christian artists as they go on to perform with American Idol’s top 12.  Join us next week as we continue to cover the music and performances.

Mark from Cool Hand Luke was able to post a big ol update yesterday concerning new music from the band, a few new shows, and much more. The following was posted yesterday on the band’s blog:

I wanted to let you know about a few things coming up. First of all, I am contributing a new song to a benefit album called
We Were Lost…We Were Free
. Here’s the press release:

Any day now, On Joyful Wings will release the charity album “We Were Lost…We Were Free” via their blog. The album costs $5, of which 100% goes directly to the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation. Twenty-one artists have joined together, each touched in different ways, on a singular mission to fight breast cancer. Please buy the album, join the fight, and enjoy the music.

Here is the blog:
http://onjoyfulwingsmusic.blogspot.com

Mark

Below is the latest music video from hip-hop/R&B duo The Washington Projects with their song “Light Up The Dark”. Man, its crazy to see these guys really coming into their own musically, we have been following this group for a LONG time, back when they were known as Souljahz. ENJOY!!

Christian music artists Michael Lynche (one of our favorites) and Tim Urban (whom we worry about) are joined by Andrew Garcia, Toddrick Hall, Lee Dewyze, Alex Lambert, Aaron Kelly and Casey James tonight as the American Idol Top 8 guys  perform Billboard 100 songs.

Once again we have 8 performances in one hour so it will be fast and furious.  If the guys are no better than the girls, we need no more than an hour.

Let’s get started with Lee Dewyze singing “Fireflies” from Christian music artist Owl City.  This is a horribly bland, but popular song.  It doesn’t really fit with my image of Lee Dewyze.  He sang it well, but it was just okay.  Randy tried to like it and Ellen liked that he made it a little rock.  Kara thinks Lee made it a better song.  Simon was a little ambivalent.

Alex Lambert is singing “Trouble” by Ray Lamontagne.  He really has an interesting voice but he looks so stiff and uncomfortable.  There was not much range in that performance.  Ellen loves her little banana, saying he gets better and better every week.  Kara says Alex is the only one standing in the way of him winning American Idol Season 9.  Simon wants Alex to imagine Randy in a bikini and let himself go.  I think that would be frightening.

Tim Urban is taking on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.  Could be a big mistake.  But maybe not.  This is great. Who knew he could sing this song.  The best so far, and his best by far.  Randy says pretty good.  Ellen runs over to him, hugs him and says “that was fantastic”.  Kara says he is now in the competition.  Simon says very smart and it was terrific.  Tim Urban may have just earned his way onto the American Idol Season 9 tour.

Andrew Garcia is singing his version of Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle”.  It sounds like everything else he has done.  I am losing my love for Andrew Garcia, even Lee Dewyze looks bored. If you can’t tell, I did not like this very much.  It didn’t work for Randy either.  Kara says he peaked early and is disappointed by this performance, as is Simon.  He calls it a desperate performance.

Casey James is performing Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think of Me”.  This is a quiet acoustic performance that features his voice.  Guess what, he has a nice voice.  This is very good.  I don’t know the song, so I don’t know how original it was but it was a nice moment for Casey James.  Randy says that it was too safe, but Ellen thought it was great.  She likes most performances doesn’t she?  Kara calls it honest and heart felt but she is missing a spark.  Simon calls it his second best performance.

Aaron Kelly stays country with Lone Star’s “I’m Already There”.  Aaron has completely missed the pitch from the start.  This is the type of country song that makes me want to turn down the radio.  The performance is bombastic with little personality.  Ellen does hate some performances, but in a nice way.  Kara says it was completely irrelevant to him.  Simon says Kara’s critique was complete rubbish.  I don’t know what the judges saw.

Two more.  Toddrick Hall is doing Queen.  Should be interesting.  I love this song, “Somebody To Love”.  It is my favorite Queen song.  But maybe not this version.  Started fine in falsetto, but he needs to lose the background singers. I am trying to like it, but it is just missing something and I don’t know what.  Randy loved it.  Ellen says he was brave and thought it worked.  Kara says it was good singing but too dramatic.  I agree with Simon, that it was good in parts.

We end the evening with Christian music artist Michael Lynche doing Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work”. Big Mike throwing down some falsetto.  This is deep modern R&B and what a beautiful tone. Mike is working it out. Fantastic.  Michale Lynche has to moved the the front of the pack. It is like boys playing with a man.  Kara cried, Randy says unbelievable, Ellen said great.  Simon says it was so needed and that he delivered the best performance of the season.

Just like last night, Christian music artists made big moves.  Tim Urban put himself in the competition and Michael Lynche threw down a guantlet for the rest of the performers.

So today for our free download I gotta whole lotta metal fo yo head!  Indie Vision Music was nice enough to make this available for everyone, so go thank them for sure…Ultterium Records has been around for the last few years trying to bring back the true essence of metal to the Christian scene. They specialize in Black Metal, Thrash, Power Metal, and Goth. Today, you get a little taste of all of it! 17 tracks, 11 bands, and alot of headbangin’.

Artists include: Sinbreed, Audiovision, Theocracy, Incrave, and many more. If you have know idea who any of those name s are, then its time to find out. Remember, its free, so what excuse do you really have?

Follow the link below to go get the sampler…..

Download The Ulterium Records Sampler

Below is the latest music video from hard rock act Pillar with their song “Whatever It Takes”. I havent listened to these guys in several years, but this song seems like a really new direction for them, I remember when they were a rapcore band. The song is solid here though, and the video keeps you interested until the end, so it is worth all of your precious time. ENJOY!!

One21music covers the Christian music artists competing on American Idol Season 9 and I am concerned that we may lose our last two Christian music girls this week.  It will take a miracle for Lacey Brown to survive becasue she has given two weak performances and she has not established her identity as an artist.  Didi Benami is on shaky ground in this strong group of girls.  Didi Benami needs a defining performance tonight.

Just in case you missed it, I predicted a winner. Check out why I think Katelyn Epperly will win American Idol Season 9.

Let’s see how the Top 8 girls perform songs from the Billboard Top 100 (essentially everything ever recorded).

We are live and we need to move.  Eight performances in one hour and Ryan is talking very fast.  Let’s jump right in.

First up singing Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” is Katie Stevens and she is struggling.  What has happened to her?  She sounds pretty flat.  She seems to be engulfed by the song.  I don’t know, she may be in trouble.  Randy is right that her performance paled in comparison.  Ellen is right that we did not feel the performance.  Kara says Katie doesn’t know who she is. Simon says she has not worked out what type of artist she wants to be. Katie will be one of the contestants on the bubble Thursday.

Siobhan Magnus will sing “House of The Rising Sun” by The Animals. This should be perfect for her voice.  Starting off acapela is a little different, takes some of the punch from the tune.  Her tone is great, but she oversings in places.  Solid performance from Siobhan but nothing spectacular.  Randy loved it, Ellen was moved, Kara think sit was brilliant but Simon thought it was weird.  He doesn’t think she was very creative with the song.

Brandi Carlisle’s “The Story” from Lacey Brown.  If she can pull it off she will put herself back in the competition.  I don’t know how to interpret her voice.  It sounds off key to me but I think it is her tone.  This is the third straight somber performance.  I think this was the best of the night so far.  The performance was quiet but mesmerizing.  Ellen and Randy thought it was her best of the year.  Kara says this was the type of performance that got her to the Top 16.  Simon loved the singing, called it a great radio performance.

Katelyn Epperly is up next singing Carol King’s “I Feel The Earth Move” and I think this is a mistake.  Performing stand-up behind the piano and it takes away from her performance.  I don’t think this is great.  It is a little too poppy for her.  This is Katelyn’s first stumble. That was empty. Randy pegged it, no connection to the song. Ellen is right, it wasn’t enough.  Kara says Katelyn was going through the motions.  Simon calls it request night at a restaurant.  Great, I predict she will win and she takes the night off.

Halfway through the night and no one has set the bar.  America must be confused.

And we fly through the last half of the show.  Didi Benami with guitar singing Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon.”  I think Didi may be finding herself with this contestant killing song.  She has an off beat take on the song, with a twisted pace and some beautiful singing.  Great performance.  Didi is back.  Of course, Randy was not crazy about it.  Ellen says yesindidi, Didi.  Kara says it was one of her favorite moments of the season, saying she made an impossible song choice her own.  Simon agress with Kara saying it was head and shoulders above anything else tonight.  Didi sings to fight another week!

Paige Miles takes a leap in song choice with Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”.  She should stick with the rock.  Her tone does not fit this song, she wavers with the pitch and she tries to do too much with the song.  I think she missed any connection with the song.  Randy says it did not work at all and Ellen called it sad and heavy.  Kara and Simon agree with the others.  The judges seem upset about the performance.  Paige may have slipped out of the competition tonight.

So far, Christian music artists Lacey Brown and Didi Benami have given the best performances.  They may have saved their season tonight.

Crystal Bowersox is sporting the electric guitar performing “Give Me One Reason” by Traci Chapman.  Wifey says it is a good song for her but does it tell us anything new about Crystal Bowersox? Of course she slays the song with that huge voice. Boy, Crystal Bowersox can really sing.  It is not even fair.  This song tells us Crystal can really, really sing. Randy loved it as did Ellen.  Kara says she knows who she is.  Simon says she is the most improved artist and calls her the one to beat.

What are we gonna do!  The DVR can’t manage American Idol, Lost, Glee, Parenthood and The Good Wife.  Who do we sacrifice?

Lilly Scott closes the evening with “I Fall To Pieces” by Patsy Cline.  This whole off note, atonal style is getting tired.  This is not the song to sing this way.  It is almost like she is afraid of the song.  This just does not work.  Did I hear a different performance?  The judges loved it.  Sorry guys I cannot agree.

Crystal, Didi and Lacey took the night.  Katie, Katelyn, Lilly and Paige stumbled.  I think Paige and Katie are in big trouble.

See you tomorrow night.

Below is the latest music video from Facedown Record hardcore ministry band, For Today, for their track “Saul Of Tarsus (The Messenger)”. Minus the curtains, I think this is one of the best interpretations of what For Today’s live show would ACTUALLY be like. I have seen them twice now, and it has been bananas the whole time. ENJOY!!