Here is the last installment of my Favorite Albums of 2007. Again, they are listed in alphabetical order. Be on the look out of my list of Favorite Books of 2007 later this week. Until then, Merry Christmas everyone.

Oh! Gravity
Switchfoot

While 2003’s The Beautiful Letdown introduced the world to Switchfoot the alum seemed incomplete. It was disjointed and the second half of the album seemed like it belonged elsewhere. This year Switchfoot released Oh! Gravity and in doing so released a fully realized album with great lyrics and stunning soundscapes. Lyrically this is their deepest album yet. The songs deal with out of control consumerism, inauthentic living, and selling our souls for less than what their worth. Oh! Gravity is Switchfoot’s best album to date and judging by their direction this is only the beginning.

Download: American Dream (acoustic), Awakening, Faust, Midas, and Myself, Dirty Second Hands

Remedy
David Crowder* Band

I am a huge DC*B fan. Remedy seems to capture everything great about the DC*B that we’ve seen before (thoughtful lyrics, organic sound) and coupled it with some new sounds (more electronic beats, guitar solos). The requisite reinterpretation of a classic hymn on this album is O For a Thousand Tounges to Sing by Charles Wesley. While Wesley argued that no one should ever change or update his hymns Crowder and Co. do a great job of bringing this beautiful song written in 1739 into the 21st century. The best surprise on this album is the guest appearance by Ted Nugent on the song We Won’t Be Quiet. The Nuge lays down some of the heaviest licks ever on a CCM album. Good stuff.

Download: Glory of It All, O For a Thousand, We Won’t Be Quiet, Everything Glorious

Snakes and Arrows
Rush

See Kratzer’s review in the comments section.

This Is Somewhere
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

The only band I was interested in seeing Sunday morning during the Austin City Limits Music Festival was a little band I had seen on Leno. I had no idea what a treat I was in for when Grace Potter and the Nocturnals took the stage. Their straight up, gospel infused, southern rock blew me away. Their latest album This is Somewhere is a solid effort from this Vermont band. I was not disappointed by this album at all. It wasn’t able to completely capture the energy and raw prowess of their live show but they sure came close.

Download: Stop the Bus, If I Was From Paris, Falling or Flying

We Shine
Fee

The award for my favorite worship album of 2007 goes to Steve Fee and his band’s first full release, We Shine. Fee led worship at this year’s Catalyst Conference and turned the volume to 11. This album has new worship songs (All Because of Jesus, Beautiful the Blood) and it has some great interpretations of worship favorites (Glorious One, Happy Day). Check out We Shine and look forward to Fee’s sophomore release.

Download: All Because of Jesus, We Shine, You Are The Light