For our 7th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Normally, we select our top 25 most anticipated releases for the whole year, but we realize that it's tough to really gauge EVERYTHING that may release throughout a given year when we're making the list in January. So, for 2012, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December, and we're using this format again for 2013. Also, each list contains 15 artists/releases for a total of 30 in total for 2013.

PLEASE NOTE:
We've already selected the first fifteen artists, so please click here to check those out. If you think an artist may be missing on this list, please keep in mind they may have made our list for the first half of the year before their release date was pushed back to the latter half of the year (like Switchfoot, Five Iron Frenzy and Relient K, for example). Without further ado, we give you Highlighting Second-Half 2013!

	1 of 15   #1. Jars Of Clay Inland Release Date: August 27, 2013 Jars of Clay will stay #1 on my list as long as they remain synonymous with quality music. It's been four years since the astounding The Long Fall Back to Earth dropped, but a band this talented is worth the wait for new material. Everything I've heard from Inland has been nothing short of refreshing, and it should break the bittersweet taste of summer's end with little trouble.         - Roger Gelwicks Since their brilliant self-titled debut in 1995, Jars of Clay has never made their fans wait longer than two years for a new full-length record. Well, it has been three since their last effort, The Shelter. As if Jar's legacy itself wasn't enough to get anyone excited, the added wait time is enough to put some people's anticipation through the roof. Can Jars deliver? Is that even a legitimate question?         - Mark Rice All of the recent teases of new material from Inland have made the wait even that more difficult, but with Inland having a release date now and is visibly on the horizon, we can rest assured than another great entry into Jars of Clay's impressive musical catalog is just within our grasp.         - John DiBiase A perennial JFH favorite (and for good reason), Jars of Clay is still going almost 20 years strong, surprising listeners and stretching their craft with every release. The last few records have reminded me just how great they still are, and the first couple singles I've heard from Inland have left me eager to hear just what they come up with next.         - Jen Rose These CCM veterans rarely disappoint and the early released tracks from Inland have Jars of Clay primed to release another great album. It's amazing to see a band last as long as Jars, but even more amazing that they are still relevant and releasing solid material. This one is going to be good.         - Michael Weaver So far this year, we've already had a few veteran bands release highly-anticipated, but ultimately disappointing, albums. Fortunately, we have good reason to think that Jars of Clay will not follow this trend. Even as a best-selling veteran act, Jars always seems to fly under the radar when they release a new album, and that might be a good thing. Inland looks like its going to be another phenomenal release from these guys.         - Timothy Estabrooks I love the album title Inland. It fills my head with geographical metaphors (Comfortable settlers lived on the coast of America. The truly rugged, daring pioneers went "inland"). The title track is an encouraging nudge to get off the couch and press onward into the unknown. Jars Of Clay has made the leap to seasoned veteran; a time in an artist's career when every record feels like a visit with an old friend.         - Alex "Tincan" Caldwell Visit our Jars Of Clay page for more information about them... Second-Half of 2013 Countdown Recap: 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Here are a few other artists that made our staff's individual lists that didn't quite make the top 15... Everyday Sunday, Thousand Foot Krutch, Andy Hunter, August Burns Red, Phil Wickham and more... ©July 2013 Jesusfreakhideout.com