They’ve come a long way since their self-titled debut. In the last ten years, Skillet has went from a grunge rock act to electronica to, most recently, a Grammy-nominated rock band signed to a mainstream major label. Frontman John Cooper and company now find themselves poised for even broader exposure for their music and message on their latest, Comatose.

In this interview, John sits down with Matt Conner to discuss their place in the music world, how they would do things differently than Switchfoot and the ups and downs of the industry. […read more]

There is, perhaps, no greater work of Christmas vision this year than that of Todd Agnew’s Do You See What I See?, a collection of perspectives from everyone present at the birth of Jesus and also a collection of musical talents to be the music behind the lyrics. It’s an impressive effort and one that Agnew didn’t expect to do. In this interview, Agnew tells us about this CD as well as his expectations for 2007. […read more]

From the promises of their former label Squint to reach both the Christian and mainstream market to the demise of it all and now back again, the guys known as Radial Angel have forged ahead to be successful no matter what was happening behind the scenes. In this Monday Music Interview, bassist Eddie Jones discusses the new album, the story behind Squint, and what the future holds. […read more]

You gotta have something going for you when several record labels are courting you and Bart Millard and Pete Kipley are telling you that you are everything they want for their record label. Phil Wickham is that man. Getting his start as a worship leader at an early age, Wickham has recently released his self-titled debut album. Both Millard and Kipley are onto something as one listen through the CD reveals an originality rarely heard in the worship music genre. In fact, it might be the best worship debut of 2006. In this interview, Wickham sits down to discuss his upbringing in the Jesus Movement, his fears of becoming a signed artist, and what it’s like to represent a record label. […read more]

Derek Webb has had a fantastic year in 2006 with FreeDerekWebb.com being such a tremendous success. With over 80,000 downloads, it has certainly captured many new eyes and national attention. Listen to Derek speak on NPR about his last year and what’s coming up for him in the future.

With other Christian pop artists like Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and Out of Eden recording whole albums devoted to remaking great old hymns, it was only a matter of time before one of Christian pop’s biggest vocal groups jumped on the bandwagon. Avalon releases Faith: A Hymns Collection, a compilation of ten favorite old-school hymns, two modern worship tracks that are past off as hymns, and one patriotic stand-up-and-salute song. Avalon fans should like this album. Traditionally hymn lovers will have a coronary. Everyone else will leave shrugging their shoulders and asking “so what?” […read more]

OK…its time for Music Education 101. Why do we go to concerts? Answer this one essay question and out comes the answer of why we have “live” albums. This is the question Kutless is trying to answer with their latest album due out December 12. The band offers up their first “live” album with “Live from Portland” and results in a solid yet average effort.

Kutless takes off with a fresh start to the album by opening with Hearts of the Innocent and then stringing that song straight into Treason. The irony of this tie-in alone makes the listener crack a grin. However, the transition is smooth and very well done. It is an example of what concerts should be. Kutless lets their rock chops fly on this album which is also fun and exciting. It is fun to hear the edgier, rougher version of Kutless that doesn’t exist in radio. This edgier version of Kutless is no more apparent than in their 2004 smash, Sea of Faces. The guys create a ramped up rock version of the song from purely a vocal standpoint. Hearing this version resurrects a two and a half year old song and makes it new again. […read more]

When Reunion artist Michael W. Smith burst onto the music scene in 1983, no one could have imagined the road his career would take or the immense success he would experience. Now, twenty-three years later, he is the humble owner of five RIAA-certified platinum albums, fifteen gold albums, thirty-one number one hit singles, over three dozen Dove Awards, nine GRAMMY nominations, and three GRAMMY Awards. Through the course of his career, he has become the founder of several organizations, contributor to over two dozen compilations, author of a number of books, and actor in the Sony Pictures film The Second Chance, which was released earlier this year. But despite his impressive career and busy schedule, Michael W. Smith still presses forward to release his nineteenth album, Stand. […read more]

Somehow, great songwriters have a way of making me think jealous thoughts: ‘I wish I would’ve written that!’ For nearly a decade, Jon Foreman has consistently been fantastic at cleverly crafting words around common experiences that resonate within. Case in point: in “Amateur Lovers,” he laments “We don’t know what we’re doing” and follows it with a fearless declaration of: “Let’s do it again!” Coming to grips with our shortcomings, but enjoying them nonetheless is a great modern day proverb in my book. […read more]