JesusfreakHideout.com: Looking Ahead To New Music In 2008

It's 2008 and we're possibly even more excited about what this year has to offer than when we gave this countdown a shot for the first time last year. So, once again, we're Highlighting our most anticipated projects already in development for the year. Read on to see what records the staff of Jesusfreakhideout.com are most excited about - and why!

12 of 25

#12. Leeland
Opposite Way

Release Date: February 26

Leeland Mooring and company threw a wrench into the conventionality of the Praise and Worship genre in 2006 with the release of their debut album Sound of Melodies. At the time of that release, the band's lead singer and songwriter hadn't even had his 18th birthday! Still, the album garnered high praise, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, with five Dove Award nominations to boot. Now the band is back with Opposite Way, and their indie sound is as strong as ever, evident in their newly released single "Count Me In." Hopefully the band can build on such a stellar debut (one of the best of this decade) while staying true to the style that won over listeners in '06.
- Spencer Priest

I concur. Leeland was an impressive debut, and the fact that they brought some fresh worship to a suffocatingly stale genre, makes their sophomore effort something to really look forward to. It may be early to state that their second effort, Opposite Way is even better than their freshman project, but man... the title track has a good chance of making my top 10 songs of 2008 list...
- John DiBiase

Visit our Leeland page for more information about them...