Artist Playlists
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Chris Tomlin is one of CCM's leading voices, thanks to a gift for writing universal anthems he's seemingly drawn from the ether. His sound rests upon a subtle blending of pop-rock with the participatory passion of worship. On 2005's See the Morning, his crystalline tenor rides swelling waves of piano and immaculately layered guitars. Tomlin doesn't shy away from lavish studio production, yet simple pleas like “Jesus Loves Me” and “Indescribable” prove that he's humble in his expressions of faith. - The fearless sense of invention that Chris Tomlin brings to CCM and contemporary praise & worship spills over into his cherished Christmas recordings. Albums like <i>Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship</i> and its 2021 companion piece, <i>Emmanuel: Christmas Songs of Worship</i>, are star-studded events packed with sing-along classics and modern-day originals that balance pop-rock energy with a deep respect for holiday tradition. And let’s face it: only Tomlin could pen a tune as endearing as “Miracle of Love”, a heartfelt celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ that also unleashes some of the most upbeat hooks this side of Sir Elton John.
- Chris Tomlin’s genius for blurring the lines between fervent praise & worship and pop-savvy CCM has netted him numerous acolytes. Indeed, chart-topping musicians like Matt Maher, Phil Wickham and Kari Jobe rely on aching harmonies and gleaming pianos that echo Tomlin’s own. It’s an influence that also extends to Jesus Culture and other straightforward praise & worship bands who place a premium on songcraft.
- Nestled among Chris Tomlin’s sparkling ballads and energetic anthems are intimate glimpses into his small-town roots. Both the acoustic-kissed “Take My Life” and the twangy “Impossible Things” feel tailor-made for the kind of clapboard churches dotting the East Texas landscape where he was raised. Just as telling is “Praise the Father, Praise the Son”, a 21st-century composition that manages to channel the rustic solemnity of traditional worship.