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Aaron Neville
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Aaron Neville has a true story to tell in his first all-gospel album: the tale of hope that outlasted a tough upbringing in the projects in New Orleans, told in Neville's world-weary voice through a mix of gospel, originals and soulful covers of the likes of Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel. The traditional "Mary, Don't You Weep" devastates us from the outset, readying the heart for the personal testimony to come.
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Virginia Rodrigues
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Virginia Rodrigues' second album brings together everything inspiring and lovable about Brazilian music--its joy, beat, fever, fire, but most of all, its sensual surrender to spirit.
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Johnny Cash
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With his reputation established early on as a dangerous man, a party animal who used drugs and frequented prisons, Cash has told the story of faith from society's dark side. This compilation sums up the country legend's consistent religious faith over the years.
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U2
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U2's new album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind," finds Bono beseeching Jesus again, and "not unbitterly," as a music magazine has put it. The group's most spiritual album since "Joshua Tree" is considerably less sarcastic than their last few, though we still find the doubting Bono singing, "Jesus could you take the time/To throw a drowning man a line?"
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Westminster Cathedral Choir directed by James O’Donnell
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Often mistaken for its better known crosstown Anglican counterpart at Westminster Abbey, the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral Choir has put together a program of sacred music that is no less spiritual and or hauntingly beautiful for being unusual and eclectic. This CD should help imprint the Cathedral's ensemble in our minds.
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Jordi Savall with Montserrat Figueras
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On this stunning album, Jordi Savall and his ensemble, Hesperion XXI, perform the vivid and soulful music of the Sephardic Jews of Medieval Spain, from their Hispanic origins to their emigration to North Africa, the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean.
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with John P. Kee, Fred Hammond, B.B. Jay
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This album includes just about everyone you would want to hear on a gospel compilation album at the turn of the millennium. From BeBe Winans and Shirley Ceasar to the innovative sounds of hip-hop gospel artists B.B. Jay and Tonex, the gospel message remains the same but the style is right on time.
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Caedmon's Call
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Few Christian groups risk much musically, and Caedmon's Call had little reason to put their secure careers on the line. Nonetheless, their album "Long Line of Leavers" grabs the listener's attention like a sharp slap. While they break down the walls that constrain them, Caedmon's doesn't end up with musical rubble.
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with Dub Tribe, Underground Ministries, Joe Clausell, Yoruba/Marie St. James
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This compilation from the legendary New York City party by the same name features the most spiritual house music played today. An eclectic mix of traditions and voices mixed by Body & Soul’s master DJs makes this the best album the Body & Soul people have put out to date.
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Anoushka Shankar
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Daughter of the legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, Anoushka has come into her own on her second solo album, with material that is less flashy, but with sitar no less hypnotic and beautiful.
