Yesterday, Caedmon's Call divulged months and months of secret information to the fans and the Christian music world alike.  It has been little known for a year or so that Caedmon's Call's last album, In The Company of Angels II: The World Will Sing was their final album under their contract with Essential Records/Provident Music Group.  It was rumored that Caedmon's would stay independent, but yesterday's announcement told of signing with INO Records, one of the few labels in the industry that has a more independently-minded model.

Submitted by Andrew Osenga (solo artist; formerly of The Normals)

1. Paul Simon – Surprise

This was my favorite album of the year. The songs are amazing, the production is stunning and the parts and performances are brilliant. The sonic team of Brian Eno and Tchad Blake takes Paul out of the acoustic/folk sphere and allows him to breathe in a more spacious Peter Gabriel-esque world. And all the songs about kids and adoption lend a wonderful new perspective.