Well, it's almost the end of 2009, which means it's time to rank album releases. My ratings here are based on my playback value. I've listened to probably over 50 albums this year, but I've only included ones that I've listened to thoroughly. Also, I should probably mention that while most of these releases come from what are considered "Christian" artists, a few listed are not. Last note- this list excludes EPs, live albums, and Christmas albums.
1. The Fear Of God - Showbread (5/5)
2. Hello Hurricane - Switchfoot (5/5)
3. Memento Mori - Flyleaf (4.5/5)
4. Son Of The Morning - Oh Sleeper (4.5/5)
5. The End Is Not The End - House Of Heroes (4.5/5)*
6. Brand New Eyes - Paramore (4.5/5)
7. Welcome To The Masquerade - Thousand Foot Krutch (4.5/5)
8. The Outsiders - Needtobreathe (4.5/5)
9. It Hates You - He Is Legend (4/5)
10. Picket Fence Cartel - Project 86 (4/5)
11. Forget And Not Slow Down - Relient K (4/5)
12. Church Music - David Crowder* Band (4/5)
13. Love And War - BarlowGirl (4/5)
14. Absence - Paper Route (4/5)
15. Heaven And Earth - Phil Wickham (4/5)
16. City Of Black And White - Mat Kearney (4/5)
17. Birds And Cages - Deas Vail (4/5)
18. Stop And Listen - Bethany Dillon (3.5/5)
19. The Good Album - All Star United (3.5/5)
20. In Shallow Seas We Sail - Emery (3.5/5)
21. Innocence And Instinct - Red (3.5/5)
22. The Lost Get Found - Britt Nicole (3.5/5)
23. Spain - Between The Trees (3.5/5)
24. Comedown - Dreampilots (3.5/5)
25. Blue - Manic Drive (3.5/5)
26. Beauty Will Rise - Steven Curtis Chapman (3.5/5)
27. Fireflies And Songs - Sara Groves (3.5/5)
28. The Now And The Not Yet - Jeremy Riddle (3.5/5)
29. Dear Future, Come Get Me - The Fold (3.5/5)
30. It Is Well - Kutless (3/5)
Others (not in any particular order): VOTA - VOTA (3/5)* Awake - Skillet (3/5), Live Life Loud - Hawk Nelson (3/5), Confessions - Pillar (3/5), Fangs! - Falling Up (3/5), Tear Down The Walls - Hillsong United (3/5), In The Hands Of God - Newsboys (3/5), Love Is On The Move - Leeland (3/5), Stand For You - Jonny Diaz (3/5), Best Night Of Our Lives - Everyday Sunday (3/5), Crash - Decyfer Down (3/5), The Fray - The Fray (3/5), Back And Forth - Lanae Hale (3/5), Until The Whole World Hears - Casting Crowns (3/5), Who Speaks For Planet Earth - And Then There Were None (3/5), God Of This City - Bluetree (3/5), Hope Rising - Fee (3/5)
Still have to check out: III - Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, Constellations - August Burns Red, Monster Monster - The Almost, Rocks Into Rivers - Seabird
Disappointments: Skillet, Newsboys, Falling Up
Could Have Done Better: Emery, Bethany Dillon, Flyleaf, Paramore (I enjoyed all of these releases; I just had really high expectations since these are some of my favorite bands.)
Surprises: Showbread, House Of Heroes, Thousand Foot Krutch, Switchfoot
Looking Forward To In 2010: After Edmund, Children 18:3, Sanctus Real, Disciple, Fireflight, The Wedding, Wavorly, Vicky Beeching, Rebecca St. James, RunKidRun, Demon Hunter
*House Of Heroes' album released digitally in 2008, but the hard copy (which I have) was not available until 2009. Same goes for VOTA, the digital album released at the end of 2008 and the hard copy in 2009.