Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

    For our 11th annual Highlighting feature, we split the year into TWO pieces -- January to June and July to December. Each list contains 10 artists/releases for a total of 20 in total for 2017. So, without further ado, we give you Highlighting Second-Half 2017! (For our January to June list, click here!)



  1 of 10


 

JFH's Highlighting 2017 Winner!

Album Cover
#1. John Mark McMillan
Mercury & Lightning

Release Date: August 4, 2017
Renowned songwriter John Mark McMillan never ceases to push the envelope, usually with varying degrees of success. As one of the few industry staples who’s willing to take risks, all of his offerings -whether sloppy and wet or unforeseen- have the potential to keep listeners intrigued.
        - David Craft

Right after the presidential election, John Mark McMillan released a clip of his music video for his single "No Country," which will be featured on upcoming album Mercury & Lightning. No context was immediately given for the single, and McMillan felt content at that time to let his music speak for itself. Given the reflective nature of McMillan's music, Mercury & Lightning is poised to be one of the boldest, most somber and perhaps most controversial albums we've heard from him yet.
        - Nicole Vacca

Worship releases this year have mainly continued the trend of being bland and forgettable, but hopefully it’ll all work together to make John Mark McMillan’s newest effort feel like lightning in a bottle! All the news surrounding Mercury & Lightning has been nothing if not intriguing, so the album ought to be worth discussing come release time.         - Mason Hayne

With the exception of The City Harmonic's beautiful farewell album this past June, we've seen an unfortunate shortage of strong worship releases this year. With news of a new album around the corner, I trust that Mercury & Lightning will give the genre an offering it truly deserves.
        - Lucas Munachen

I’ll always be grateful for a worship artist like John Mark McMillan who’s able to balance artistic integrity with unfettered honesty. And really, there’s little reason to believe Mercury & Lightning will betray our expectations, even after the long wait. It’s been established; JMM is one of the more accomplished artists working today, and his unblemished track record more than earns #1 on this list.
        - Roger Gelwicks

I’ve always liked John Mark McMillan, but I’d never found myself overly excited for new material from him...until I heard Live at the Knight last year. Something about that live album sparked a greater interest in his music. If I wasn’t excited for Mercury & Lightning before, I am now!
        - Scott Fryberger

John Mark McMillan is in need of breaking out of his particular sonic rut. Having seen him live last year, I can report that his songs performed live are better than the slightly more sluggish album versions. I hope Mercury & Lightning lives up to its fearsome title.
        - Alex Caldwell

I was bummed last winter when I heard this album was being pushed back, because there is no worship artist out there right now who is more interesting than John Mark McMillan. I will be very surprised if Mercury & Lightning isn’t worth the wait.
        - Mark Rice

  • Visit our John Mark McMillan page for more information about him...

  • 2017 Countdown: July to December

    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 10... Nicole Nordeman, Unspoken, Kings Kaleidoscope, Andy Mineo, K I D S, Family Force 5, Stavesacre, Tauren Wells, JGivens, The Ongoing Concept, & more!
    Highlighting 2017
    ©June 2017 Jesusfreakhideout.com



     

     



                     
    Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

    Search JFH



    This Tuesday, March 24, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Philip Anthony Rare Form (independent)

    This Friday, March 27, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Romy Fay The Chosen Adventures (Vol. 1) [feat. Romy Fay] [Capitol CMG]
    Gaither I Go To The Rock [Gaither]
    Kelo & DreBeeze Da Godson TRAP WORSHIP 2 - Single [Syntax]
    Limoblaze Solid Ground - EP [Reach]
    Jason McGee & The Choir Another Tomorrow [CDAC]
    NEEDTOBREATHE The Long Surrender [UMG]
    Point of Grace Lady Wisdom [Curb]
    Tommee Profitt The Resurrection of the King [Capitol CMG]
    Tommy Royale ChurchBoy [Capitol CMG]
    Various Artists We Shall Behold Him Tribute to Dottie Rambo [Daywind]

    SINGLES
    29:11 Worship The King and The Lamb - Single [Dream Worship]
    B. Cooper Driver's Seat - Single [RMG Amplify]
    Bethel Music Cathedral (Live at Church) (feat. Jonathan David & Melissa Helser) - Single [Bethel]
    Chris Caro Noah's Song - Single [Syntax]
    Franni Cash Raised by Wolves - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Steven Curtis Chapman & Miel San Marcos Cinderella (Español) - Single [The Fuel]
    ChristianXXII Glory - Single [Wick Media]
    Cutright Nasty - Single [Syntax]
    Evelyn Cormier Leaning on Jesus - Single [BEC]
    ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band The First Time I Heard About Heaven - Single [Daywind]
    FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL SOS - Single [Riverhouse]
    Freedom Church Is He Not Worthy - Single [Dream Worship]
    Justin Gambino Let Me Not Forget - Single [Residence]
    Abbie Gamboa The Wonderful Blood (Amazon Music Original) - Single [Anotherland]
    Amy Grant How Do We Get There From Here (feat. Ruby Amanfu) - Single [AG]
    Philippa Hanna Citizen (feat. Israel Houghton & Moses Bliss) - Single [Integrity]
    Benjamin William Hastings x Aodhán King Hollow Grave - Single [Capitol CMG]
    J. Suthern Hicks You Are Loved - Single (independent)
    Tasha Layton x Claire Leslie Whispers - Single [BEC]
    Patrick Mayberry Three Days Later - Single [Provident/Sony]
    Matthew Plante Love You Have - Single [Dream]
    Q-Flo Midnight Matcha - Single [Syntax]
    River Valley AGES Anxious for Nothing - Single [BEC]
    Angelina Saathoff Butterflies & Goodbyes (Feat. PAIGE) - Single (independent)
    The Sagehens Dumb & Drummer - Single [Velvet Blue]
    Saints in Exile My Mind is a Prison (Orchestral Remix) - Single [Syntax]
    SEU Worship A Forgiving God (Moment) - Single [Provident/Sony]
    Signum Regis Throne Of Gold - Single [Fireflash]
    Switchfoot Wake Up, Mr. Crow - Single [By Design/BMG]
    Lauren Talley Walls - Single [Horizon]
    tonyxtrotter UNTIL THE GOSPEL ft. KJ-52 - Single [Syntax]
    Vertical Kings 20-Something - Single [Covenant Music]
    Wilson Fairchild Lean On Me - Single [Gaither]

    Next Friday, April 3, 2026
    ALBUMS
    Meredith Andrews Live From Liberty University (with Liberty Worship Collective) [Curb]
    Peech. Small Town America (Vol. 2) - EP [Capitol CMG]
    Michael Sweet The Master Plan [Frontiers]

    SINGLES
    ANTHNY x Kierra Sheard show up - Single [Provident/Sony]
    FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL Waste Some Time - Single [Riverhouse]
    Omega Levine All Things New - Single (independent)
    Oyinbrakemi Goosebumps - Single (independent)
    To Fight Fo Alive - Single (independent)
    Bay Turner Redeemer - Single [Centricity]


    For all release dates, click here!
     

    Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
    Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images