| Tunes You are in: surefish > culture > music reviews Date: 7 January, 2010
George Luke advises what to order with any leftover Christmas money, with reviews of albums by Chris Tomlin, Delirious?, Welcome Wagon, Switchfoot, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Hannah Franklin, WOW Hits and one from the great C S Lewis Use the links to buy or download the albums and Christian Aid gets a percentage of the cost - the more you buy, the more Christian Aid receives Did you enjoy Christmas? Do you like Christmas carols? Then you’ll love Chris Tomlin’s Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship. It’s a simple but effective concept: combine the passion and community spirit usually found on live worship albums with old carols and newer songs that celebrate Christ’s birth. Matt Redman guests on “Light of the World”; elsewhere there are guest appearances by Audrey Assad and Christy Nockels. • Order Chris Tomlin – Glory in the Highest
By the time you read this, Delirious? will be nearing the end of their farewell tour. History Makers is one last parting gift from Martin Smith and the lads; a compilation of 14 of their most popular hits. Tracks include “Deeper”, “Lord You Have My Heart”, “ Revival Town”, “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” and “Our God reigns” (and the title track, of course). • Order History Makers - Greatest Hits
Husband and wife duo the Welcome Wagon were one of the big attractions at this year’s Greenbelt festival. Their debut album, Welcome to the Welcome Wagon, was recorded over an eight-year period by Sufjan Stevens (who also produced it, played several instruments on it, and has released it on his label, Asthmatic Kitty Records). It’s a quirky record, but also a very warm and affectionate one; a collection of old hymns, songs written by the Reverend Vito Auito (the male half of the duo), and covers of the Velvet Underground’s “Jesus” and the Smiths’ “Half a Person”. • Order Welcome to the Welcome Wagon
Switchfoot have a new album out – and I’m happy to report that Hello Hurricane is an absolute cracker. Buy it now; that’s all I have to say. It’s excellent. • Order Hello Hurricane
Last year, Stephen Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter in a tragic accident. His new album, Beauty Will Rise, is made up of songs written in the months following that tragedy. It’s easily one of the most personal albums ever in Christian music, offering an intimate – often heart-wrenching – picture of the healing process that follows the loss of a loved one. Touching, sad, but ultimately uplifting. • Order Beauty Will Rise
You are the Song is the debut album by Hannah Franklin – the young singer/actress from Lincolnshire who’s spent the last few years playing the lead role in the musical Luv Esther. Written and produced by the team responsible for creating the musical, it’s a fine debut from an incredible young talent. • Order You are the Song
WOW Hits 2010 is double CD compilation of 30 of the best songs released last year (and a couple of sneak previews from albums due out this year), from the likes of Tobymac, the David Crowder Band, Newsboys, Group 1 Crew, Mandisa, Third Day and Michael W Smith. • Order WOW Hits 2010
And finally… I know this isn’t strictly music, but I couldn’t end this column without recommending the CD set that’s grabbed my attention the most recently: the devilishly awesome new audio dramatisation of C S Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. I’m a big fan of radio drama (yes – even The Archers!), and the production on here is out of this world. Get a stereo with four speakers, sit in the middle of them with your eyes closed and turn the volume up; who needs pictures? Andy Serkis is on exceptionally brilliant form as Screwtape. • Order The Screwtape Letters audiobook Amazon links • Chris Tomlin – Glory in the Highest Use the links to buy or download the albums and Christian Aid gets a percentage of the cost - the more you buy, the more Christian Aid receives
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Delirious
Welcome Wagon
Switchfoot
Stephen Curtis Chapman
Hannah Franklin 
WOW Hits 2010
C S Lewis
