Brandston - Letterbox (Steadfast Records)
So why isn’t this in the indie section? Let me tell you, brother ... it’s incredible. For those left in the dark, this is Myk Porter (Six Feet Deep)’s new band, but don’t expect hardcore, or AS MUCH hardcore. This is emo, and it’s poppier than you’d expect Porter to do. The opening song, "January" sports vocals buried under a flurry of guitars ... and songs like "Blindspot" and "Ninevah" showcase winning melodies too. And the lyrics? Supreme. Just read the song "(words for you)" to get what I’m talking about.

The Corbans - Three (Organic Records)
"So Toad the Wet Sprocket went Christian, huh?" my friend said when this album went in the stereo. No, but there is a reasonable amount of pop vocals, shimmering guitars, and memorable melodies, enough to draw comparisons to Matchbox20 and the aforementioned Toad. The lyrics, while a tad bit on the preachy side, are thought provoking. Give it a spin, and see if you like it ... I do.

Eager - Eager (Questar/Mission Records)
Wow. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of PFR, former bassist Patrick Andrew has crafted together a great pop band and a killer album. It’s 11 tracks of vocal bliss and guitar pop. Songs like "Unspoken" and "Blame" bounce while tracks like "Don’t Let Go" and "The Hand That Can" rock in a quieter way. And "Look At Mary" is the kinda song that makes kids want to mosh their brains out. Highly recommended.

Dimestore Prophets - Fantastic Distraction (SaraBellum Records)
Broke up? Yes, they have. And the rock scene is at a great loss. But don’t let that stop you from buying their swan song Fantastic Distraction. A huge improvement over the already winning formula that made their debut album successful and jump started 5 Minute Walk Records. With four songs produced by John Keane (10,000 Maniacs, Indigo Girls) and even the horn section from Five Iron Frenzy dropping in for "King of the Tragic Ones," Justin Steven’s voice has never sounded better, and songs like "Boxing Shadows" and "Yeah Sure OK Monet" simply shine. Good night, DSP. You guys ruled.

Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever (SaraBellum)
Could this possibly be the most awaited album of 97 after Much Afraid? Probably. Five Iron Frenzy took the world be storm last winter with Upbeats and Beatdowns, their opinions on everything from stuck-up ska kids to our country put to a horn soaked, bouncy pop beat. And they’ve only gotten better. On this album, they’ve become even tighter, and songs like "Litmus" and "Fistful of Sand" showcase that. Targets? Plenty of them. Close-minded punks on both sides of the religion line get it in "Handbook for the Sellout" and "Litmus," materialism is slammed in "Fistful of Sand," and, um, really mean sisters in "BlueComb ‘78." Give it a try, it rocked my world.

Fine China - No One Know e.p. (Velvet Blue Music)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again ... Velvet Blue Music has got to be one of the BEST labels out right now. This year alone they’ve brought us the masterful Bloomsday e.p., introduced us to Jetenderpaul and Lassie Foundation, and they’re even releasing a Psychedelic Furs tribute album. But what about Fine China? 4 guys from Arizona that hooked up with Ronnie Martin for 4 tight indie pop tracks. Imagine The Rentals covering The Smiths, and you’ve got Fine China. Definitely a good indication of what’s to come.

Fold Zandura - Ultraforever (BEC Recordings)
With electronica being the new thing, and bands like U2 ditching their past sound for a more hip electronic flavor, Fold Zandura’s playing a joke on the CCM "mainstream":it’s called Ultraforever and you’re all invited. When I say joke, I don’t mean the album itself is funny ... in reality, nothing at all here is funny. When I say joke, I mean prank. At first listen, it’s nothing more than a glorified electronica album ... but is electronica supposed to have huge, heavy guitars in it? Wait a second, is that a LIVE drummer? Oh my gosh, the lead singer is ... singing? That’s right, what we have here is a pop record, one that takes the entire notion of pop AND electronica, turns them upside down and makes them one. 16 tracks of hummable melodies (songs like "Ultradust" and "Please Believe" will stay in your head for years), rock and roll (just try to stay still while listening to "Revenger" or "La Futura") and some seriously COOL tricks (Frank Lenz’s overdubs on "Everything" are sick). Mortal who?

Honey - Lovely (Sub*lime Records)
OK, this album took me a while to actually purchase, but it’s well worth the wait. 10 brooding, ethereal songs that at times resemble Radiohead in their experimentation. "My Brian", "Glisten", and "Mist" are all beautiful songs, and the haunting "Still" kicks off the album with some Sixpencish alternapop and disturbing lyrics ... the imagery on this album is incredible. So is this band.

Havalina Rail Co. - Russian Lullabyes (Jackson Rubio Recordings)
Is there life after Tooth and Nail? Some say yes, but when was the last time you heard from Wish For Eden? Another band that left the Nail on their own will is the avant-garde band Havalina Rail Co., who’s bassist, Orlando Jackson, started his own label, Jackson Rubio, and started signing KILLER indie bands left and right. JR’s flagship release, Russian Lullabyes, is an inspiring and eclectic composition. And eccentric. Take a look at some of the song titles. "The Lovesick Blues of a Young Soviet Proletariat"? Theme wise, we’re still treading The Diamond in the Fish waters, with it all sounding like soundtrack to some jazzy, obscure spy B-movie ... but when beauty such as "Rivers of Russia" or "Kaliningrad" is discovered, it makes this album a 10 ... perfect.

LN - Cool September Skies(Velvet Blue Music)
Seeing as Christian music WAS lacking in a lot of genres before VBM came along (lo-fi, shoegazer, yadda yadda yadda), it’s high time that a GOOD slowcore group comes along, a band that all at once reminds you of The Smiths, Starflyer 59 ballads, and such important slowcore bands of the past like Low, Dirty 3 and Bedhead. This is a 7 song e.p. of beauty. Three guys from the midwest whisper vocals to make you cry over effects-laden guitars and slooooooow drum beats ... this is the kind of music you fall asleep to.

The Merbabies - The Merbabies (Jackson Rubio Recordings)
Officer, arrest these gentlemen ... for impersonating Dinosaur Jr. But go easy on them, because they do it so darn GOOD. Seriously, indie rock hasn’t sounded this good since Sebadoh released Harmacy. And I mean it. Country-ish vocals over straight up rock’n’roll. I’ll bet these guys are incredible live. Standout songs are the revved up "Whirlpool" the slacker drag of "Boot Girl". Long live The Merbabies!

Satellite Soul - Satellite Soul (Forefront)
It’s no secret that I’m not a huge fan of Forefront Records. Any label that made bands like Geoff Moore and The Distance, Audio Adrenaline, and dcTalk available to young, impressionable music fans should be severely reprimanded. But every once in a while, they do me proud. Like the new Grammatrain. What a record. And Skillet, Smalltown Poets, Bleach ... all good, in their own right. But what’s up with Satellite Soul? Incredible. This album is prefect. If you like The Wallflowers, Counting Crows, or early-REM, this would be the album for you. Thoughtful lyrics, acoustic guitars, harmonica, cello, dulcimer...think of the late Rich Mullins rocking out and you got it. Favorite song? Track 11, "Interstate Travel," closes out their debut with a beauty heard all too little these days ... expect great things from this band.

Seven Day Jesus - Seven Day Jesus(Forefront)
But Forefront still has a way to go. Seven Day Jesus was one of the best bands around when they were on 5 Minute Walk ... seriously. Their debut, The Hunger, reads like a how-to manual on do it yourself power rock. And then Forefront signed them. Thus is the end of Seven Day Jesus. Now a group of impostors, also called "Seven Day Jesus" kidnapped two of the original band members and made them play music that, well, stinks. Why does Forefront always do this? I almost dug this album. Track 2, "Always Comes Around," is going to be a huge hit, and it deserves it. It’s radio-ready pop, complete with sing along chorus and Brian McSweeney’s soulful voice (the guy still sends shivers up spines). What a great tune. I just wish the rest of the album could add up. 6 minute power ballads, "hey kids, let’s bring back grunge" tunes, and not a moment of risque. Seriously, listen to this album. Cold you imagine a song like "Rape My Soul" (from the first album) on here? Of course not. Youth pastors would complain. And to be fair, "I Will Find You" is a cool song. But the other 8 songs are downers. Better luck next time.

Stavesacre - Absolutes (Tooth and Nail Records)
Hardcore is a wheel ... an old wheel. And Stavesacre’s reinventing it. When’s the last time you heard a hardcore album that was intense, inspiring, beautiful ... all at the same time? Once again, Stavesacre defines itself as one of Tooth and Nail’s most powerful bands. Coming from groups as heavy and inspiring as The Crucified, CHATTERbOX, Scater’ed Few, and Focused, this blast of punk, hardcore and emotional vocals is hands down the best hardcore album of the year, just beating out Living Sacrifice. Give this new wheel a spin.