Well, you did your job, now this is where we come in. All the votes
from the 2001 cMusicWeb.com Awards have been totalled, and so now we
get to comment on the winners! Also, we welcome all those new
subscribers who just joined us because of the awards. Don't miss a
single week of cMusicMail, for you'll miss the latest from
cMusicWeb.com, including exclusive interviews, in-depth reviews, and
your chances to win prizes!

THE 2001 cMusicWeb.com AWARDS - The Senior Writer's Comments
by Josh M. Shepherd
Polling is always a chancy thing; the writers are silenced, and
a small slice of readers choose who gets the spotlight. The winners
in the 2001 cMusicWeb.com Awards, some by just one vote, aren't any
cMusicWeb writer's first choice. But that's okay. With
our "different approach to music," the unlikely winners will be taken
as a challenge to cover more of your favorite artists.

BEST ROCK ARTIST: All Star United
BEST ROCK ALBUM: Learning to Breathe by Switchfoot
Fun, rollicking All Star United landed the "Best Rock Artist"
title, without a new album and even while parting ways with Essential
Records. Word from ASU's official site, allstarunited.com, tells of
a new album, with no label mentioned yet. After showing listeners
a "New Way" to see life, Switchfoot returned with Learning to
Breathe, an always-in-motion project built on new experiences. It
easily won as 2000's "Best Rock Album."

BEST ALTERNATIVE ARTIST: dc Talk
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM: Intermission: The Greatest Hits by dc Talk
Everyone has an opinion about this "decent Christian" threesome,
called either the industry's worst imitators, or greatest
innovators. The majority of our readers think the latter, with dcT's
well-conceived 'best-of' album--along with an engaging TV special--
garnering them both alternative music awards. Watch for this year's
upcoming solo debuts from Toby, Michael, and Kevin.

BEST POP ARTIST: Stacie Orrico
BEST POP ALBUM: Genuine by Stacie Orrico
A tragic blow to Christian music's credibility, the arrest of
Raze's Ja'Marc (see story on http://christianmusic.about.com/)
disqualified the group from winning as "Best Pop Artist." Thus,
newcomer Stacie Orrico sweeps away the pop categories, a textured
vocalist singing "redeemed" teen-pop ditties. Behind the 12 year-old
diva by a count of one, the tunes of VeggieTales continue to be a hit
with kids, students, and anyone with a taste for clever humor.

BEST WORSHIP ARTIST: delirious?
BEST WORSHIP ALBUM: Offerings by Third Day
With the highest win margin of any category, delirious? is
unquestionably the year's "Best Worship Artist." Their fourteen-
track explosion Glo refocused d: with a fluid, uncensored approach to
congregational song--even as their next rock album goes to post-
production. Bringing a divine God-excitement to the masses,
worshipers Third Day are also planning a follow-up; their best-
selling album to date, Offerings beat out all other contenders in
the "Best Worship Album" category.

BEST NEW ARTIST: Earthsuit
WORST ARTIST: Carman
Electronica/rock band Earthsuit cut through intense competition
to be chosen as 2000's "Best New Artist," their music a rap-inflected
delivery of the gospel message. Depsite his cheerleading lyrics and
flashy demeanor, Sparrow's "Worst Artist" Carman continues to find an
audience for his brand of homogenized cheese. Readers also gave a
thumbs-down to imitative boy band Plus One.

BEST ALBUM PACKAGING: Learning to Breathe
BEST LIVE SHOW: The Dome Tour: The Newsboys, SONICFLOOd, Beanbag
BEST SPECIAL EVENT/CHRISTMAS ALBUM: City on a Hill
Glossy and blue-dominated, the cover of Switchfoot's new release
proved a favorite for design critics, though Kim Thomas' City On A
Hill artwork was just one vote behind. That Steve Hindalong-produced
gem, voted the Best Special Event project, magnified Christ with
illustrative duets of Sixpence None the Richer, Jars of Clay, and
others. Named Best Like Show, the Newsboys' drum platform and
inflatable dome proved a big draw for fans of their synthetic rock
music.

Check out our earlier picks from all the editors:
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/awards2001


AVAILABLE LAST WEEK, FEBRUARY 27th (on cMusicWeb.com or at your local
store)

GIRLS AND BOYS - FLIGHT 180
Self-proclaimed "chick rock" band Flight 180 is back with what they
call their "true" sophmore album, as their last one was just cashing
in on the Swing craze. So, if you liked their debut, check this one
out.

HYMNS IN THE VINEYARD - VINEYARD MUSIC
Those folks at the Vineyard bring together some classic hymns and
worship to them in true Vineyard style. Fans of the old hymns and
Vineyard's modern worship will like this release.

THE LAST STREET PREACHA - T-BONE
Old skool Christian rap artist T-Bone is back on Audio A's
FlickerRecords label, sporting some flows about being a Christian and
preaching to those who have not heard the gospel.

POUR OVER ME - WORSHIP TOGETHER
Recorded live at a Worship Together conference in San Jose, this
album features worship led by David Ruis, Matt Redman, SONICFLOOd,
Chris Tomlin, Stuart Townsend and Tom Lane. This one is the PICK OF
THE WEEK.

UNSPOKEN TRUTH - VINEYARD MUSIC
From the never-ending Touching the Father's Heart Series comes twelve
new worship songs led by worship leaders Brent Helming, Jan L-Ecuyer,
and Dan Whiteman.


AVAILABLE YESTERDAY (on cMusicWeb.com or at your local store)

THE DREAMLIFE OF ANGELS - SARAH MASEN
After a couple years, getting married and having a baby, Sarah Masen
is back with a new CD. Featuring the same style of poetic musings
that were on her earlier CDs, this one is still different, as the
past years have shaped Sarah Masen's worldview in a whole new way.

FOUR-EYED BLONDE - CHRONDA PIERCE
No, this is a video. The female version of Mark Lowry delivers more
silliness about everything you'd imagine, from coffee to
the "Hairbrush Song".

JOYRIDE - BRYAN DUNCAN
Bryan Duncan is back with more of his pop melodies about his
spiritual experiences. Only time will tell if this album is going to
be as good as some of his past releases.


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on cMusicWeb.com)

ROCK: http://cMusicWeb.com/rock
Hit Parade - Audio Adrenaline [03/13]
Strange Exchange - Plankeye [03/13]
wlladjusted - Beanbag [3/27]

ALTERNATIVE: http://cMusicWeb.com/alternative
No Place So Far - Erin O'Donnell [03/20]

POP: http://cMusicWeb.com/pop
Conversations - Sara Groves [3/20]
Bedtime Prayers - Twila Paris [3/27]

WORSHIP: http://cMusicWeb.com/worship
wOw Worship Green - Varsiou [3/20]
SONICPRAISe - SONICFLOOd [4/10]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


THIS WEEK'S CHRISTIAN HIT RADIO CHARTS
> PlusOne and the Jars burst into the charts as Forty Days
> jumps up to #6 as the Newsboys hold on to number one.
1. Joy - Newsboys
2. Lay it Down - Jennifer Knapp
3. These Thousand Hills - Third Day
4. Every Time I Fall - Jaci Velasquez
5. Genuine - Stacie Orrico
6. Long Way Home - Forty Days
7. Wake Up - LaRue
8. Worth It All - Michael W. Smith
9. My Life - PlusOne
10. Can't Erase It - Jars of Clay

SOURCE: CCM Update (http://www.ccmupdate.com/)


cMUSICWEB UPDATES
• New film review - Finding Forrester:
http://cMusicWeb.com/filmtv/findingforrester
• New review - Freedom - Michael W. Smith:
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/michaelwsmith/reviews.shtml
• Updated page - The Editors:
http://cMusicWeb.com/editors


I'm sorry that I did not get cMusicMail out last week, but I was busy
with a choir tour. But, hopefully, this edition made that up.
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a different approach to music
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