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    For our 8th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Each list contains 15 artists/releases for a total of 30 in total for 2014. So, without further ado, we give you Highlighting First-Half 2014!



  1 of 15  


 

JFH's Highlighting 2014 Winner!

#1. Steve Taylor and the Perfect Foil
Goliath

Release Date: April 2014
Forget dc Talk, Steve Taylor fans have been waiting 21 years for a brand new studio album from the acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer/director/etc. But not only is Taylor back with a brand new album this year, his band, "The Perfect Foil" stars CCM legends John Mark Painter, Jimmy Abegg, and Peter Furler! Yup; this'll be good.
        - John DiBiase

What do you get when you mix a former Newsboy, a former Ragamuffin, half of Flemming & John, a Christian music pioneer, and a highly successful Kickstarter campaign? Apparently, Steve Taylor and the Perfect Foil, possibly the oldest, most accomplished "new" group to hit the scene in decades. It's hard to imagine anything less than excellence from these guys.
        - Mark Rice

In the past few years, I've come to appreciate the multi-talented Steve Taylor a lot for his incisive way of seeing the world, though my knowledge of his past music is limited at best. But man, how could you not be intrigued by this project? Steve Taylor and Peter Furler collaborating again? Can't wait to hear what comes of this.
        - Jen Rose

As inconceivable as it may seem, it has been two decades and change since Taylor last put out a studio album under his own name. Of course, he's been more than busy during the extended stretch between albums, writing and producing for everyone from Guardian to the Newsboys, and even trying his hand - quite successfully, as it turns out - at movie direction and production. Still, as much as he placed his inimitable stamp on other artists' recordings, his fans are rightly excited to have him once again take his rightful place behind the microphone and serve up an album's worth of his typically witty and incisive ditties as only he can.
        - Bert Gangl

I'll admit it... I didn't expect this at #1. Nor did I expect Peter Furler to appear on this list twice. But indeed, we at JFH are united around utter excitement about Steve Taylor's return to music. I first heard about this project from my 2011 interview with Peter Furler, so it's been a long time coming to see this oft-rumored collaboration actually happen. Steve Taylor and his friends are shaking things up this April, and 2014 is already an exciting year for music.
        - Roger Gelwicks

If you haven't seen Steve Taylor's Kickstarter video where he reapplies for his "license to rock" at his local DMV (Department of Music Veterans) and goes through a hysterical lead singer test, then you need to go there right now and see it. Taylor has not lost a step humor-wise, and Christian Music is all the better for having his wit and cultural commentary back in full swing,
        - Alex "Tincan" Caldwell

With a clever and astoundingly successful KickStarter campaign, Steve Taylor has forced his way back into the forefront of the music scene. After decades of virtual silence, fans are preparing for what may well be the most anticipated album of the year - and all of this even without a christening title.
        - David Craft

$40,000 Kickstarter goal, $121,197 raised. Enough said. It's been twenty years since Steve Taylor has made his own unique brand of music. Two decades = anticipation to spare.
        - Mark Geil

  • Visit our Steve Taylor and the Perfect Foil page for more information about them...

  • 2014 First-Half 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... Demon Hunter (who announced their release date AFTER we made our list), Guardian, For Today, Michael W. Smith, Rend Collective, David Ian, Family Force 5, Abandon, Paul Wright, Sarah Kelly, Shonlock, Kari Jobe, Manafest, Rapture Ruckus.
    Highlighting 2014
    ©January 2014 Jesusfreakhideout.com



     

     




                     
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    This Friday, October 30
    ALBUMS
    Beach Chapel A Special Place In Heaven (independent)
    Kirk Franklin I Am What I Am [Uptown]
    Lucy Gray By The Water - EP (independent)
    The Hyssongs We've Got a Song to Sing [Horizon]
    The Oak Ridge Boys Buried Treasures [Lightning Rod]
    Olive Shoots Music Longing and Loss (independent)
    Various Artists Songs Inspired By The Chosen: Season 1-5 [Capitol CMG]
    Vomitorial Corpulence Martyrdomical Symphonanthem [Rottweiler]

    SINGLES
    2 Lane Summer How Do I Live - Single [Quartz Hill]
    1K Phew & Timbaland Seven Trumpets - Single [Reach]
    Bethel Music Greatness (feat. Aubree Archibeck, Martin Smith) - Single [Bethel]
    Gracie Binion & Mitch Wong Gloria - Single [BEC]
    Lauren Daigle with Preservation Hall Jazz Band Sleigh Ride & Go Tell It On The Mountain - Double Single [Interscope/Capitol]
    Will Ellis My Yesterday’s Are Gone - Single (independent)
    Forrest Frank What a Life - Single [River House]
    goodwill., GodFearin & Xay Hill IN MOTION - Single [Syntax]
    Amy Grant To Be Together (feat. CAIN) [Capitol CMG/AG]
    I.A.N. Pray For Me - Single [Syntax]
    Laura Kaczor Wrapped in Love - Single [Upstream]
    Lady Audri My Body - Single [Syntax]
    Leem of the Earth The Cavern of Dark - Single [Velvet Blue]
    LOUDWERX Bass Go Boom (feat. Magic & Bird, Andy Mineo) - Single [Artist Influence]
    Malcolm Rue & A Tribe Apart Omemma - Single [Syntax]
    Kevi Morse Is it too late? - Single [Syntax]
    Nai and J Follow - Single (independent)
    New Wine Worship For Jesus - Single (independent)
    Lloyd Nicks Glory (Angels We Have Heard) - Single [Curb]
    Blessing Offor Broken Me (from The Chosen Album) - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Hunter Plake It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Single [BEC]
    Chelsea Plank Make Me Willing - Single [Provident/Sony]
    Razzie & OnBeatMusic Brick After Brick - Single [Syntax]
    Jordan St. Cyr Guide Me Home - Single [BEC]
    Carly Ann Taylor How Glorious (Amazing Grace) - Single [Curb]
    TobyMac The Hard Times - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Phil Wickham SOS (Don’t Let Me Go) - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Aaron Williams Abide (Christmas) [feat. Hope Darst] - Single [Provident/Sony]
    ZOEgirl I Still Believe - Single (independent)

    This Saturday, October 31
    SINGLES
    Chaotic Resemblance Move - Single (independent)

    Next Friday, November 6
    ALBUMS
    Big Daddy Weave It's Time For Christmas - EP [Curb]
    Hillside Recording & Addy Prado Come and See - EP (independent)
    Meadows DESERT WALKER (CD) [Facedown Records]
    Mystical Death Across [Rottweiler]
    Chris Tomlin Good News Of Great Joy (Christmas Songs Of Worship) [Capitol CMG]
    We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas LIVE) [Curb]
    Mark Wills Grand Ole Revival [Gaither]

    SINGLES
    Olivia Lane Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Single [BEC]
    Tasha Layton & Dave Barnes What Should I Get You For Christmas - Single [BEC]
    Hunter Plake Holly Jolly Christmas - Single [BEC]
    River Valley Worship Come and Behold - Single [BEC]
    Vineyard Worship Jesus Our Christ - Single [Vineyard]

    VINYL
    Meadows DESERT WALKER Vinyl [Facedown]

    For all release dates, click here!