Dave Barnes is fascinated by my phone. It’s tiny and red and looks very much like someDave Barnes type of voice recorder, and when I tell him it’s really a phone, he exclaims that it’s the coolest thing he’s ever seen. He’s also impressed with my new Canon L-series lens…not necessarily because he knows what it is in terms of luxury lenses, but because it’s big and weighty and in his estimation could probably spot Jen (Anniston) and John (Mayer) in LA from where we sit on the other side of the country. We are sitting at an outdoor picnic table underneath the main deck of the Windjammer in Isle of Palms, SC. Barnes is sharing the stage with Matt Wertz at the Windjammer later in the evening.

The two have an eight-year history together that dates to a performance McCracken made at a Nashville coffee shop, according to Webb's e-mail newsletter. Webb was on a coffee run that day and became enamored of McCracken's voice and songwriting, the newsletter states. McCracken was eventually asked to join Webb's then-bandmates in Caedmon's Call on tour, and the seeds for a deeper relationship were sown.

Larry Norman, whom some call the Father of Christian music, died early this morning with family at his side at the age of 60. This does not come as a surprise as health problems related to his heart have plagued Larry for many years.

He began pushing boundaries in the late 1960's when he merged rock music with gospel lyrics. This was the dawn of what folks now call the Christian Contemporary music. Back then, there was not a distinction between Christian and mainstream rock music at the local record store.

Larry lived long enough to see the opposite occur as musicians of faith made waves into the general market in recent years. In the end, I wonder if he would have wanted it that way when he first made heads turn with songs like "Why Should the Devil (Have All the Good Music?)"

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.

Singer/songwriter Derek Webb is trying to broaden his audience and is trying many new ways to gain an audience.  Last year he gave away music at FreeDerekWebb.com (if you gave him your e-mail address and those of five friends).  This time, he wants to do it again, but on a much bigger scale.

Submitted by Dan Ficker (Webmaster, inReview.net)

1. Mute Math - Mute Math

There's no doubt that 2006 was the year of Mute Math. In early 2006 I saw them play live and picked up the independent version of this CD. Both the show and the disc blew me away. Plus, the major-label fall re-release with a nice live EP got me out to the stores for more. From the opening notes of "Typical" to the last pulsating note of the epic "Reset", this album does not disappoint. My favorite parts are easily those electronic sounds in "Noticed" and "Stare at the Sun" paired with it's extended instrumental, "Obselete". Let's hope 2007 will be even bigger for Mute Math.

1. Kevin Max - The Imposter

Everyone else has thought it, but I'll go ahead and say it out loud - Kevin Max is the most talented member of dc Talk. And he may possibly be one of our generation's finest vocalists and songwriters. The Imposter is perfection.

Submitted by Lori Lenz of Biscuit PR

1. Imogen Heap ­- Speak for Yourself

Who knew an electronica record could be emotional and warm?

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.