'Musically, The Sound is, for the most part, a throwback to the 60s and 70s.'

George Luke offers a plethora of Christian music albums for you to give or receive

If you were one of the people who voted “Shackles (Praise You)” into third place in Surefish’s Great Big Gospel Song Sing this summer, you’ll be pleased to know that Mary Mary have released a new album.

Musically, The Sound is, for the most part, a throwback to the 60s and 70s. “Boom” and “I’m Running” could have come off a Jackson Five album, while the title track brings back memories of Phil Spector’s girl groups, surf rock and Motown.

On the more contemporary side of things, hip hop’s newest bad boy David Banner joins the sisters on “Superfriend”, while Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard guests on “God in Me”. The fake radio jingles interspersed between songs are a nice touch; as well as adding to the retro mood, they make the whole listening experience so much more fun.

• Anything you buy from Amazon, including Mary Mary – The Sound, will raise money for Christian Aid by using this link

Chris Sligh was a finalist in the 2007 American Idol series (won by the equally God-friendly Jordin Sparks). Now firmly ensconced in Nashville’s Christian music scene, he’s released his debut album, Running Back to You.

Several of Nashville’s elite worked on Chris’ album; people such as veteran producer Brown Bannister and ex-pat Brummie (and former Sir Cliff collaborator) Chris Eaton. And the end result? Disappointingly average. It’s not a bad album; it’s just not a particularly memorable one either. I hate to think how Simon Cowell would describe it.

• Buy Chris Sligh's Running Back to You

Staying with telly talent contest winners and also-rans, the ACM Choir – recently seen on BBC1’s Last Choir Standing – also have an album out.

If you’re looking for a gospel album with original material and some attempt made to move choir music forward/push the envelope/(insert your own favourite clichéd euphemism for “doing something new creatively” here), this really isn’t the album for you.

If, on the other hand, you’re simply after a generic collection of inspirational numbers with all the usual suspects – “(Something Inside) So Strong”, “One Love” or that medley of ‘gospelised’ pop songs from Sister Act – then it might as well be this one. That’s Mum’s Christmas pressie sorted, then…

• Buy Last Choir Standing

Let’s see if we fare any better with our third reality TV refugee. It’s Dan Evans, who achieved his 15 minutes of fame by losing 136 pounds on the American version of The Biggest Loser.

On Goin’ All Out, Dan serves up country-pop with the help of the producers behind the success of country stars Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. Apparently, Dan had always dreamed of being a country singer – but his long struggle with overeating and low self-esteem had held him back.

Sage advice

Dan addresses those issues head-on in his song “Letter to My Addiction”. More sage advice gets dished out on “Here I Am” and “Things You Can’t Control”, while “Good Thing Gone” and “I Never Let You Go” deal with that old country staple, lost love.

Goin’ All Out is a collection of life-affirming songs that get their message across without a hint of smugness. Dan deserves to be seen as a genuine artist, and not just as some bloke who lost weight on telly once.

• Buy Goin' All Out

In the last few days, I’ve fallen madly in love with the sound of the Wurlitzer electric piano… and it’s all Ruthie Foster’s fault.

Ruthie – or The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, as her modestly titled new album describes her – draws so much emotion out of the instrument when she plays it, you just can’t help but be smitten.

Bluesy

This is bluesy old-school soul at its best. Ruthie’s take on Lucinda Williams’ “Fruits of My Labour” will bring tears to your eyes. And when she lays her hands on Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Up Above My Head”, it’s nothing short of uplifting.

Ruthie’s UK fan following sprang up following appearances at the Cambridge Folk Festival and a stint supporting Eric Bibb. Eric returns the favour with the song “A Friend Like You”.

Warm, mature, emotional – The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster is all that and more. Whether you’re into folk, soul, gospel or all three, this album is a must-buy.

• Buy The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster

Moya Brennan spent part of last year touring Europe, including a gig in Liverpool with the string section of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights of that gig (and one she did in Germany) have been compiled into the live album Heart Strings.

Heart Strings features old Clannad favourites such as “In a Lifetime” and the “Harry’s Game” theme song alongside some of Moya’s solo hits like “Perfect Time” and “Merry Go Round”.

This is perfect winter music. You just want to curl up with a hot drink as that classic Moya/Clannad/Enya sonic wall engulfs you, radiating its warmth through the speakers. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s string section really makes it come alive. Sheer bliss.

• Buy Heart Strings

Songs for Christmas

Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas is, in the truest sense of the word, a Christmas gift to his fans. Or rather a collection of them. Each Christmas between 2001 and 2006 (with the exception of 2004),

Sufjan recorded a few Christmas songs as a present for friends and family. In 2006, his label packaged the five mini-albums together with a few short stories, an animated video and other surprise goodies.

The resulting box set has to be the most unpretentious Christmas recording money can buy. Sufjan clearly loves Christmas, but knows how to celebrate it without getting lost in cheese.

And how can you not love songs with titles such as “Come On! Let’s Boogie to the Elf Dance!”, “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)” or “Get Behind Me, Santa”?

• Buy Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas

CD and DVD Gifts

That’s the Christmas music out of the way; now here are a few live CD/DVD packages that aren’t seasonal but will make fantastic gifts. After all, if you are going to give the gift of music this Christmas, why not do it in both sound and vision?

Best of the bunch is the David Crowder Band’s Remedy Club Tour package, compiled from gigs the band played in Atlanta and New York. The DVD half of this is heaven for any aspiring guitarist (and for Guitar Hero fans too – but I don’t want to give too much away).

Tutorial

Not only are the chords and lyrics to every song provided; each individual band member also gives a tutorial on playing their part on each song (accompanied by hilarious sarky comments from their band-mates).

You also have the option of watching the concert with on-screen song lyrics and guitar chords. And did I mention that David Crowder is the coolest bloke in Christian music? The man’s a legend; his beard even has its own unofficial fan website!

• Buy David Crowder's Remedy Club Tour

Casting Crowns’ The Altar and the Door concert is, on the whole, a less raucous affair than the David Crowder Band’s live set. But it does have a great bit where the band’s violinist squares off against the guitarist, ‘duelling banjos’ style.

Bonus features on their DVD include a behind-the-scenes look at the band on tour, and a series of four video sermonettes similar in style to Rob Bell’s popular Nooma videos. Casting Crowns also have a Christmas album out – but I did say I wasn’t reviewing any more Christmas CDs, so let’s move on quickly…

• Buy Casting Crowns’ The Altar and the Door

There are no special features on the DVD half of the Newsboys’ Live: Houston We Are GO package. But as far as arena gigs go, their concert’s pretty spectacular (three words: hydraulic drum risers.

Actually, make that four words: hydraulic rotating drum risers!). Most of the band’s old favourites are on this – but the brief, non-disco rendition of “Love Liberty Disco” is a bit of a disappointment.

• Buy Newsboys Live: Houston We Are GO

The bonus DVD that comes with Integrity’s Gotta Have Gospel! 6 double CD compilation features ten music videos and six ‘behind the music’ mini-documentaries.

All that plus over two dozen of the hottest gospel songs from the likes of Tramaine Hawkins, Israel Houghton, Kirk Franklin, Vickie Winans and Fred Hammond.

• Buy Gotta Have Gospel! 6

Of course, you may want to buy something other than music to give as a gift – in which case, I hear that Mary Mary have just brought out a line of bath and body products…

• Read our Tunes columns