1. MxPx – Life In General
• This is my favorite album of all-time. Hands down and it’s not close. This came to me in my most formative of years and has stuck with me since then. It’s pure love.
2. Mae – The Everglow
• This is a truly special album that I still listen to often. It’s beautiful and exciting and it really is one of the best. Seeing the 20th anniversary show and The Everglow played in it’s entirety was amazing!
3. OC Supertones – Supertones Strike Back
• This one still holds a special place in more heart. Cheesy? Maybe. A great example of the best parts of third wave ska? Absolutely! I don’t listen as much as I did as a teenager, but it’s still great.
4. Dead Poetic – New Medicines
• I’m not sure if I really knew what post-hardcore was before this record, but holy smokes did I fall in love immediately. It’s one of the best Tooth and Nail albums in existence and always falls within my top 5 ever.
5. MxPx – Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo
• Yeah… Two albums in my top 5 from MxPx. It’s my favorite band and this is arguably better musically than Life In General. It’s my second favorite MxPx album, but it’s very close.
6. Further Seems Forever – How To Start a Fire
• Such a debatable band. Most old school fans are hardcore on The Moon Is Down. Other fans are split over How to Start a Fire or Hide Nothing. For me, How to Start a Fire is the runaway favorite. That opening match strike and “Let’s set this thing ablaze” still hits hard.
7. eLi – Things I Prayed For
• This one is VERY different from the preceding albums, but it’s still an incredible album. These songs are well-written and carry a lot of weight. “King of the Hill” is still one that nearly brings me to tears.
8. Living Sacrifice – Conceived in Fire
• This is THE album that got me into metal music. It’s still holds up so well and is one I return to more than other metal albums.
9. Seven Day Jesus – The Hunger
• I was introduced this album by someone in school while I was in 7th grade. I will forever be thankful to Steven Doggett — who probably doesn’t remember me at all. Brian McSweeney is still one of my favorite vocalists from this era.
10. Playdough – Hotdoggin’
• Playdough (now known as Krum) is one of my favorites when it comes to hip hop, and this album has continued to grow on me over the years. While there are multiple great hip hop albums in CCM, this one holds my top spot.
11. Dogwood – Through Thick and Thin
• Most people will point to Tooth & Nail Dogwood albums as their favorite, but for me, it’s their final release on P.O.D.’s Rescue Records. It’s a great album, and the 2025 re-master cleans up some issues in the production. Great songs and great album!
12. Jars of Clay – Much Afraid
• I’ve gone back and forth over the years on this, but adult me full recognizes that Much Afraid is the better Jars of Clay album. While no other song will touch “Worlds Apart,” this album shows improvements across the board from what was a really good debut.
13. The Gray Havens – Fire & Stone
• I was unfamiliar with the Gray Havens until it showed up in my mail box from a PR agency. I honestly didn’t expect much, but what I discovered was one of my absolute favorite albums in the past decade or so.
14. Huntingtons – Fun and Games
• Again, Huntingtons are most known for their Tooth & Nail output, but their final Flying Tart release is always my go-to. Ramones-core at its finest, with a litany of fun and singable songs.
15. Scribbling Idiots – Invitation Only
• A VERY close second in my favorite hip hop albums. SI is a fantastic crew alone, but they have so many great guest features as well. This one is a shining example of why my hip hop preferences lean towards boom bap.
16. Smalltown Poets – Smalltown Poets
• This album was a gift and was purchased ONLY because they saw it was an “enhanced CD.” That’s literally why I discovered Smalltown Poets. They released an awesome EP in 2025, but their debut is still an album that stands out in a sea of CCM releases.
17. The Classic Crime – Vagabonds
• Perhaps a controversial take to some, but Vagabonds is just so dang good! It’s my favorite from TCC, but their acoustic album may be close.
18. Shaded Red – Shaded Red
• I feel like this short-lived band is a forgotten one of the era. This is my favorite of their two releases; it has a few killer songs — especially “Found Someone.” I really need this to be available on streaming in The US.
19. Demon Hunter – Summer of Darkness
• I liked Demon Hunter’s debut, but Summer of Darkness set a new bar. I enjoy albums after this (especially Storm the Gates of Hell), but SoD has stuck with me most. “Beheaded” is still my favorite track from the band.
20. Acceptance – Phantoms
• It may be surprising to see this album above some others like Anberlin, but I can’t help it. Phantoms is so great and has so many songs that stick with me. I feel this one is massively underrated.
21. Pigeon John – …is Dating Your Sister
• I went on the biggest of Pigeon John kicks years ago. He may be my favorite name to see as a guest feature on a song. He has some solid stuff, but …is Dating Your Sister has much to offer. Fun songs like “High School Reunion” and “Identity Crisis” while also bringing some of the heaviest topics like “Emily,” “Orange County,” or “Sam the Goat.” It’s solid from top to bottom.
22. All Star United – All Star United
• Steve Taylor gets all the credit as the snarky and sarcastic guy in CCM, but Ian Eskelin is no slouch. I suppose if Steve is the king, Ian has to be the prince. While this album is full of fun social commentary, it also has some serious moments, like “Savior of My Universe.” There are no skips on this album that’s a blast from start to finish.
23. Mark Lee Townsend – 1919: The Ballad of Rexford
• I’ve followed Mark Lee Townsend for years because of dcTalk and Zilch. When I saw he was releasing a solo album, I got excited. Not many are brave enough to release a 19-track, hour-long concept album as their debut, but MLT did — and knocked it out of the park. This is my favorite overall album in the past 10 years.
24. Audio Adrenaline – Bloom
• Audio A is too important to my history to leave them off of a list like this. My favorite album has changed a few times over the years, but in my 40’s, things have come full circle. What’s not to love about the blending of 90s alt/rock with clear 70’s classic rock influences. This one is still a solid listen any time.
25. Project 86 – Wait For the Siren
• A controversial choice for a P86 album, but this hits all of the right notes. This took over as my favorite album of the band shortly after release and remains it today. It’s all of the best parts of Schwab and P86 in one place.
26. T-Bone – The Hoodlum’s Testimony
• This was my absolute favorite hip hop album for the absolute longest time. It was also the first rap album I ever bought. I still know all the words. While I’ve discovered others that I like more over the years, this holds up. 90’s west coast will always speak to me.
27. Newsboys – Take Me To Your Leader
• I truly believe this album and sound could’ve been a smash hit in the alt/rock market in 1996. People always joked that Christian music was behind, but this one was right on top of the bubble. Tracks like “God is Not a Secret “ and “Cup O’ Tea” fit right into the rock landscape of 1996. However, there was too much Jesus for non-Christians to take them seriously. It’s sad, but at least we got a great album.
28. Anberlin – Never Take Friendship Personal
• I was surprised to see this fall so far down my rankings. I love so many songs here, and it’s my favorite from the band. I do believe it’s a top Tooth and Nail album and I will always enjoy it.
29. Dc Talk – Jesus Freak
• This is the album that started it all for me. Did Nirvana do it 4 years earlier? Yeah, but I didn’t know that at the time. It doesn’t have the replay value it once had for me, but I do understand its importance in the pantheon of Christian music. Without Jesus Freak, I’m not sure if my musical tastes would’ve developed the way they did. I’m forever thankful to these guys for that.
30. FM Static – What Are You Waiting For?
• I threw this on my list as a place holder and it survived the trimming. I won’t call this a guilty pleasure because I unashamedly love it, but I get how it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. For my money, this is the best music that Trevor McNevan ever released. It’s some of the catchiest bubble gum pop punk I’ve ever heard!
— Michael Weaver