Was it a good thing for Christian music? A bad thing? Just another swing of the pendulum? One thing’s for sure, the industry was never the same after this major pivot in the late 90s/early 00s. These are the five albums that I think created the seismic shift of a genre that was arguably at the peak of its creativity/variety at the turn of the 20th century.
Ultimately, it left the CCM industry at a crossroads, and the choice as of the writing of this list (2024) has been quite obvious to any paying attention. But, that’s a post for another time so I won’t belabor the point, this is just to get a conversation started – here we go!
5. Matt Redman – The Heart of Worship (1998)
Perhaps the song itself more than the album, but Matt, just like his fellow countrymen across the pond next on the list prepares the soil of worship that was soon to make its way to America. “Let Everything That Has Breath” and “The Heart of Worship” from this album were staples of many youth group rooms and adult services of the era.
4. Delirious – King of Fools (1997)
Yes. I know, the Cutting Edge EPs from 1994-1995 would also work here. But, while I think they have many of their most iconic songs, it wasn’t until the 1997 King of Fools album, and particularly the song “Deeper” hit the United States like a tidal wave that they reached the crest of their influence. Right album, right time.
3. Third Day – Offerings: A Worship Album (2000) (Certified Platinum)
To be fair, the Georgia southern rockers had included worship songs in their live set preceding this album, so it was an easier jump for them into the rock worship arena. Offerings was a good combination of business savvy and a true representation of the heart of the band. This album was everywhere in 2000-2001. Also, “King of Glory” is simply one of the band’s best songs period.
2. Sonicflood – Self-Titled (1999) (Certified Gold)
I have a love/hate relationship with Sonicflood. On one hand, at the time of its release, I adored it and listened to it non-stop. It was an important part of a hard first year of college for me. However, as time wore on and I moved past it into the next two decades of CCM I began to resent it. I falsely blamed it for ruining the creativity in the industry, for tipping the scales that would never (to this day) level back in the other direction. It’s taken time, but I’ve cooled on that emotional grudge. If not this album it would have been another one, it was simply a response to what audiences were responding to. Right? 🤷♂️
The album was influential for sure, catchy pop/rock music in the vein of mainstream contemporaries like Third Eye Blind meshed with familiar worship choruses and vertical lyrics was new at the time. Certified gold, the record sold extremely well and sped the trajectory of a worship-centric CCM into ludicrous speed.
1. Michael W. Smith – Worship (2001) (Certified Platinum 2x)
Michael W. Smith, or Smitty as he’s affectionately known, (probably?!) had no idea how impactful this album would become, but man did it sweep through the industry and change things forever. It certainly changed his trajectory with a sort of 3rd career wave for him. Additionally, it had the biggest impact on the CCM industry, hence its #1 ranking here. Certified 2x platinum, the industry jumped on that gravy train giving the people what they wanted in increasingly large doses. Now in 2024, worship is the new pop, and CCM pop is narrower in sound energy lyric than it’s ever been.
I wrote more in depth about the impact of Smitty’s Worship here: Two Roads: P.O.D, MWS, and the CCM Industry
Well, what do you think? Did I nail, or miss it all together? So begins the conversation! What albums do you think had the biggest impact on the worship centric turn of the CCM industry? Let me know in the comments!
Bonus:
Of course, without the existence of the U2’s The Joshua Tree (1987) (Certified Platinum 25x) we may not even be having this conversation, so major kudos to it and its enduring influence on CCM.
Other related posts you may enjoy: Top 30 Most Influential Worship Songs (1994-2024)
33 Favorite Worship Albums of All-Time
