Wow Hits 2003

Description

If you're looking to sample the Top 40 of today's Christian contemporary pop, look no further than Wow Hits 2003. Thirty artists and tracks on this diverse release provide enough musical flavors to whet your appetite. While it's not a true snapshot of the year's best, major labels EMI Christian, Provident, and Word combine to create a collection that certainly captures a good share of the market. Generations of CCM pop are represented here with big name acts Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Steven Curtis Chapman, alongside next-generation stars Third Day, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, and Point of Grace. Sweet-sounding highlights include TobyMac's "Irene," FFH's "Open Up the Sky," and Audio Adrenaline's "Ocean Floor." Nicole C. Mullen ("Talk About It") and Jennifer Knapp ("Say Won't You Say") also contribute worthy tracks and strong proof of the prosperity of singer-songwriters in today's Christian music. Also nice to see the inclusion of Paul Colman Trio's "Turn" as a bonus track, since the release was one of the year's finest moments for the genre. --Michael Lyttle