Best Christian Music of 2023

I don’t know what I’d do without Christian music. In a world of so many burdens, songs that tune my heart to sing God’s praise are utterly calibrating and essential. It’s not that I don’t also love and listen to “secular music”; I do. And there are plenty of secular songs and albums each year that—in their common-grace beauty and truth—help me love God and neighbor more.

But with limited time available to listen to music, I’ve chosen in recent years to spend most of it on Christ-exalting, God-glorifying, Bible-inspired, theologically articulate music. And there’s no shortage of it, thanks be to God.

What follows are my picks for the best Christian music released in 2023: best songs, best albums, and best EPs. Undoubtedly, these picks reflect my tastes and shouldn’t be construed in an objective, “best out of every possible musical style” sense. But as someone who loves celebrating and sharing quality Christian music, I heartily commend these to you as musically rich and devotionally edifying works.

100 Best Christian Songs

You can find my picks for the best Christian songs of the year in a 100-song playlist on either Spotify or Apple Music.

7 Best Christian Albums

Here are my picks for the seven best overall album releases under the broad umbrella of “Christian music” (plus 10 honorable mentions).

1. Jon Guerra, Ordinary Ways

One of the best Christian singer-songwriters alive, Jon Guerra didn’t disappoint with his latest masterpiece, Ordinary Ways. I stand by what I wrote about the album back in May: “Part of the album’s power is just how captivated it is by the God to whom every lyric is directed and every note offered. To listen to Guerra’s collection of 13 psalm-like poetic prayers . . . is to have one’s own affections for God unavoidably stirred.” This album is as good, true, and beautiful as anything I’ve heard this year. And with every listen, it gets better.

2. Caroline Cobb, Psalms

I’m a sucker for Psalms-based music (and Bible-based music generally), and Caroline Cobb’s 2023 release, Psalms: The Poetry of Prayer, is a stellar entry in the genre. Featuring a lovely diversity of musical styles and instrumentation, as well as collaborators like Jess Ray and Wendell Kimbrough, Cobb’s collection has become a staple in our home and will nourish our souls for years to come.

3. Chris Renzema, Manna, Pt.1

Chris Renzema first came on my radar around 2020, when I included him on my annual list of up-and-coming Christian artists. Since then, Renzema has only matured as a songwriter and musician, and it’s especially evident on his 2023-released album, Manna Pt.1. The album (which is apparently the first part of a larger cycle of albums/EPs) includes beautiful, gut-wrenching, honest Christian songwriting that clings to faith in an age of deconstruction.

4. Victory, Glory Hour

Victory Boyd’s jazz/folk/soul sound is unique in Christian music today, and her sophomore album Glory Hour showcases the range of her talents, which evoke Nina Simone and other greats. It was a much-deserved breakout year for Victory (watch her performance of “Just Like in Heaven” on TODAY), and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

5. FLAME, 1517 Music, Freedom Lessons

Music has profound catechetical power—which is why it is and always has been central to Christian life and worship. Freedom Lessons is a tremendous example. A project of 1517 Music and Christian hip-hop veteran FLAME, Freedom Lessons is a hip-hop record based on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Listen to the Thinking Fellows podcast to hear about the creative process of producing this unique, wonderful album.

6. Skye Peterson, Where the Winter Was

For me, this is the debut album of the year. Skye Peterson’s Where the Winter Was is remarkably rich and mature for such a young artist (even if she is the daughter of legendary Christian songwriter Andrew Peterson). It’s an earthy, vibrant, lyrical collection of story poem pictures—all infused with the resurrection thaw of gospel hope in a winter world.

7. sxxnt. and Brother Joe, Hymns in High Fidelity

An instrumental album that sets classic hymns to contemporary hip-hop beats and lofi/chill sonic textures, Hymns is a daring, unexpected, groovy, and gorgeous ambience of musical worship. Turn this on as your devotional background music or in your office as you work. Check out my interview with sxxnt. (Stephen Bradley) and, as a bonus, pair this lofi gem with another 2023 lofi hymns project: Forrest Frank’s New Hymns.

Honorable Mentions: Joel Ansett, Layers; Jimmy Clifton, There’s Proof of God But Time Is Short; Candace Coker, Bare and Bones; Benjamin Daniel, Home Enough for Now; Former Ruins, No Creature Is Hidden; Forrest Frank, New Hymns; Fyr Fytr, The Glorious In-Between; The Gray Havens, Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery; Leeland, City of God; Anna Palfreeman, Certain.

8 Best Christian EPs

EPs are ever more common in the era of streaming, when artists can release smaller collections of songs more frequently and easily—without the pressure of making a full-fledged album. Of the countless EPs released by Christian artists in 2023, these were my favorites.

1. CityAlight, Simple Songs for Young and Old. In addition to blessing thousands of attendees live at TGC23 this year, CityAlight (from Sydney, Australia) released a wonderful new EP that’s perfect for family worship.

2. The Corner Room, The Words of Jesus, Vol. 1. In this excellent addition to the growing genre of straight-from-Scripture music, Adam Wright (a.k.a. The Corner Room) sets six “red letter” passages of the Bible to song.

3. Jess Ray, born again b-sides. With B-side tracks this good, Jess Ray shows why she remains one of the brightest lights among contemporary Christian singer-songwriters.

4. The Riverside, The Riverside Hymnal II. Of all the collections of hymns released this year (and there were some good ones!), I especially enjoyed this short EP from California-based folk band The Riverside.