Hello music listening friends! We are fast approaching the end of 2021, and anyone who knows me knows that’s one of my favorite times of the year. Why? Year-end music lists of course! Now, I realize the sheer amount of music to try and keep up with is overwhelming to say the least. Here’s my attempt to help if you’ve fallen behind or need a kickstart. These suggestions are simply that—my take on what the best of the year in Christian music has to offer. Just my opinion, though I do work hard to keep up from week to week with running list all year long.

Also, I know we’re still shy of the true end of the year at the time of this posting (Nov. 5) with a few notable albums still to come, but by and large I think this list will help you get started or give you a few albums/songs you may have missed along the way. So—happy listening!

Also, I’d love to hear from you if you find a new favorites so please come back and let me know! Nothing gives me greater joy than to introduce a new favorite artist/song. I’ll post my Spotify list of favorites songs as well if you’d like to see the 125+ songs I’ll need to whittle down to a Top 100 or 50 by years end. These 50 albums 50 songs and 10 eps are what I’ll ne sifting through for my Top 10 and Top 20 year-end lists to come in December.

So—without further ado, here are ten albums in five different genre categories (plus a bonus category for Top 10 EPs) and ten songs from each category that I submit to you as possibilities for you year-end list!

Indie Artists

Taylor Leonhardt – Hold Still

The Gray Havens – Blue Flower

Young Oceans – You Are Fullness

Benjamin Daniel – Shelterheart

Andy Squyres – Poet Priest

Future of Forestry – Remember

Glowing Moses – Event Horizon

Jess Ray – Baby Hold My Hand

Chase Tremaine – Development & Compromise

Holden Days – Peregrine

Indie Honorable Mentions:

J Lind – Land of Canaan

Bethany Barnard – All My Questions

Aaron Tate – Midlife

Panther City Riots – You Gotta Say Something

The Chairman Dances – The Strength of Your Arm

Worship

Judah – 3+7

Shane & Shane – Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs Vol 1.

Psallos – Philippians

Zeal House – Vol. 1

Crowder – Milk & Honey

Maverick City/Elevation Church – Old Church Basement

Influence Music – Ages

Phil Wickham – Hymn of Heaven

Fuzzy Robes – Night Prayers

Antoine Bradford – Light Will Find You

Pop/Singer Songwriter

Jon Foreman – Departures

The Gray Havens – Blue Flower

Sara Groves – What Makes it Through

Ellie Holcomb – Canyon

Mat Kearney – January Flower

Chris Renzema – Get Out of the Way…

Carolyn Arends – Recognition

Charlie Peacocock – Skin and wind

Natalie Bergman – Mercy

Andrew Ripp – Evergreen

Rock/Alt Rock

Switchfoot – Interrobang

Twenty One Pilots – Scaled & Icy

Smalltown Poets – NWxSE

Glowing Moses – Event Horizon (Indie)

Idle Threat – Blurred Visions

Needtobreathe – Into the Mystery

Make Sure – Ninjutsu

Dens – Tamed Tongues

Starflyer 59 – Vanity

The Choir – Deep Cuts

Hip-Hop

Indie Tribe – Upperhand

Andy Mineo – Neverland II

NF – Clouds Mixtape

Propaganda – Terraform: The People

Swoope – 24

Krum– Dart

Hulvey – Christopher

Aaron Cole – 2 Up, 2 Down

SRVINCA – Orchards

IMRSQRD – Encantado

EP’s

Colony House – Rotten Tomato’s EP

Gable Price & Friends – 50MG EP

The Arcadian Wild – Principium EP

Tenielle Neda – What is My Hope EP

Phil Joel – Better Than I Found It EP

John Mark McMillan – Has it Been You EP

Andrew Bloom – 987 EP

Terrian – Genesis of Terrian EP

Coby James EP – Mixtape Side A

Natalie Bergman – Keep those Teardrops From Falling Ep

10 Worship Songs:

“Child of Love” – We the Kingdom (Feat. Bear Rineheart)

“Irresponsible” – JUDAH.

“Jireh” – Maverick City

“Psalm 90 (Satisfy Us With Your Love)” – Shane & Shane

“Yours” – Gas Street Music (Feat. Leeland)

“Wherever You Lead” – Bethel Music

“Stronger Love” – Chris Renzema (Feat. Leeland)

“Hey Jesus” – Elyssa Smith (Feat. Steffanie Gretzinger)

“Slow Down” – Zeal House

“Sure Thing” – Hillsong United

10 Pop Songs:

“The Day That I Moved Out” – Make Sure

“I Need You (to be wrong)” – Switchfoot

“Range Rover” – Ben Rector

“Lord Ain’t Let Me Down Lately” – Dave Barnes

“Into the Mystery” – NEEDTOBREATHE

“Can’t Look Back” – Mat Kearney

“Good God Almighty” – Crowder

“Wonder Working” – All Creatures

“Promised Land” – Tobymac

“Sweet Ever After” – Ellie Holcomb (Feat. Bear Rineheart)

10 Singer Songwriter Songs:

“Wait” – Josh Garrels

“Jesus I Have My Doubts” – Jon Foreman

“Hold Still” – Taylor Leonhardt

“Jericho” – Andrew Ripp

“Green Again” – Benjamin Daniel

“Old Friend” – Chris Renzema

“Momento Mori” – Carolyn Arends

“The Day That You You’ve Been Waiting For” – J Lind

“Broken Harvest” – Madison Cunningham

“Love Never Fails” – Andy Squyres

10 Alt Rock Song:

“Two Graves” – Anberlin

“For God is With Us” – For King & Country

“The Fix” – Glowing Moses

“Beloved” – Switchfoot

“Home” – Last Years Model

“No Turning Back” – Idle Threat

“Automatic” – Colony House (Feat. Fleurie)

“Stay” – Army of Bones

“I Don’t” – Chase Tremaine

“The Beginning, The End” – Meadows (Feat. Kevin Klein)

10 Hip Hop Songs:

“Been About It” – Andy Mineo (Feat. Lecrae)

“Holy Smoke” – Indie Tribe

“All In the Wrist” – Derek Minor (Feat. Parris Chariz, Foggieraw)

“Lemonade Stand” – Kid Ambient Arcade

“Favorite Part” – Peabod

“Is That Okay” – Social Club Misfits

“Don’t Worry Bout It” – Wande (Feat. Porsche Love)

“Reasons” – Hulvey (Feat. Lecrae, SVRCINA)

“Worship in the Moshpit” – KB

“Story” – NF

Here’s the playlist as promised! Lastly, if you found this post helpful or think others would benefit from it please share it!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ElavL5CykwJf2LmTCpTLc?si=dlOnuWZdQWO7ZFeO3MbiRA

Also check out my Top 20 Albums of 2021