Christmas Release Rundown, 2014

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]very year bears a new fruit of Christmas music and new options for worship leaders to introduce the songs to their congregations. Here’s a rundown of this year’s prominent releases and our suggestion for a new, unique song to add to your Christmas setlists.

Full Albums

Aaron Shust
Unto Us
Centricity
Great original music orchestrated and plied with Shust’s gravelly vocals.
Top song for worship: “God Has Come to Earth”

Kim Walker Smith
When Christmas Comes
Jesus Culture
One of the most recognizable voices in worship covering some of our favorite Christmas hymns and other popular Yuletide tunes.
Top song for worship: “Silent Night”

Michael W. Smith & Friends
The Spirit of Christmas
Sparrow/CMG
Smitty gathers such artists as Carrie Underwood, Bono, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, and of course Amy Grant for an expansive Christmas release.
Top song for worship: “Almost There” feat Amy Grant (special music)

Various
Ring the Bells
Word
The Word stable of artists perform Christmas hymns and familiar tunes. Diverse yet unified in tone and originality.
Top song for worship: “Ring the Bells” feat Meredith Andrews and Big Daddy Weave

Smalltown Poets
Christmas Time Again
A release mixed of fun indie rock and unique ballads in the Smalltown Poet style.
Top song for worship: “Children Go Where I Send Thee” Have some fun with this traditional spiritual.

Rend Collective
Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1
Rend Collective
Exactly what you want and pretty much what you’d expect, Rend Collective dress these holiday tunes up with their quirky Irish folk style, and encourage worship in this season of joy. 
Top song for worship: “For All That You Have Done”

A Worship Initiative Christmas
Shane & Shane
In the vein of their Worship Initiative releases, the Shanes gathered nine hymns for Christmas, one for Advent and put their own spin on them.
Top song for worship: “Love Comes Down”
Song not available, preview all songs here.

Sovereign Grace Music
Prepare Him Room
Sovereign Grace Music
Perhaps best suited to take on Christmas hymns, the Sovereign Grace artists cover some cherished classics and present new songs with musical precision and beauty.*
Top song for Worship: “Who Would Have Dreamed”

*This album accompanies Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Family Devotional, a hardcover book that includes the lyrics for each song. It can also be used with the four-week Sunday school Advent curriculum, Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus in the Classroom, geared to children ages 3-12.

Christmas EPs

Chris August
The Christmas EP
Warner/Curb
Christian pop artist Chris August applies his chops to the songs of the season resulting in a catchy and accessible EP.
Top song for worship: “Come Now Our King” (special music)

The Modern Post (Dustin Kensrue)
Lowborn King – EP
BEC
Dustin Kensrue continues to reinvent the worship genre with this set of Christmas songs that cast the incarnation in new light.
Top song for worship: “Child of Glory”

The Far Country
God Is For Us – EP
Let the American folk rock of this duo seep into your bones with their unique take on classic hymns.
Top song for worship: “Oh Come Let Us Adore Him”

Singles:

Elevation Worship
“Let us Adore” (from their new release Wake Up the Wonder)

Matthew West
“A Christmas to Believe In”

Hillsong Worship
“Peace Has Come”

Hillsong Young & Free
“Noel”

John Mark Mcmillan
“Baby Son”

Jesus Church
“Realms of Glory”