Here we have the ultimate artifact from the bestselling Wow series: Wow #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever. This collection does have some great anthems, but they're the kind of tunes that anyone who's given... more » even a cursory listen to Christian pop radio in the ?90s or ?00s has heard dozens of times by now. It's hard not to see this release as the result of a zeal on the part of the Wow organization to reduce contemporary Christian music to the sort of bite-sized, sales-driven, best of the best mentality that fuels so much of secular consumer culture. For the most part, the result is a blanched and overproduced mess: very little of the music remotely urban or exciting, almost all of it overly sentimental. Rather than a hearty meal, it's like eating a cake made entirely of frosting. Many if not most of the artists themselves are talented, of course, and if even one more listener can get turned on to the highly personal rock of Rich Mullins or the sublime, beyond-diva-level vocalizings of Nicole C. Mullen, that's never a bad thing. --Mike McGonigal« less
Here we have the ultimate artifact from the bestselling Wow series: Wow #1s: 31 of the Greatest Christian Music Hits Ever. This collection does have some great anthems, but they're the kind of tunes that anyone who's given even a cursory listen to Christian pop radio in the ?90s or ?00s has heard dozens of times by now. It's hard not to see this release as the result of a zeal on the part of the Wow organization to reduce contemporary Christian music to the sort of bite-sized, sales-driven, best of the best mentality that fuels so much of secular consumer culture. For the most part, the result is a blanched and overproduced mess: very little of the music remotely urban or exciting, almost all of it overly sentimental. Rather than a hearty meal, it's like eating a cake made entirely of frosting. Many if not most of the artists themselves are talented, of course, and if even one more listener can get turned on to the highly personal rock of Rich Mullins or the sublime, beyond-diva-level vocalizings of Nicole C. Mullen, that's never a bad thing. --Mike McGonigal
Suzi H. (Bookmom) from DURHAM, NC Reviewed on 2/20/2013...
This is a very good praise and worship cd. My fave songs are Dive, One of These Days, Gather at the River, Testify to Love, Awesome God, Flood, Big House, Stomp, Don't Look at Me.
CD Reviews
This is the cream of the crop
Music Lover | USA | 04/19/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Much like Wow Gold that was released a few years ago, this is a retrospective from the vastly popular Wow series. Wow #1s takes a look at very best songs that were rated number 1. The difference between this cd and wow cd's that have been released since 1996 is that in order to get on this cd, the song must have been rated #1 and it doesn't matter which year it was released. If you, like me, own all of the Wow cd's, think of this cd like a greatest hits package from an artist that you own all of the albums for - it gives you 2 discs for all of the best music. This cd collection rates 5 stars for all the great music and the memories that it brings back. Listen and enjoy."
Great Collection of Hits!
S. Peek | Rocky Mountains, USA | 06/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This collection has lots of great hits from a wide variety of artists.
Out of the 30 songs included, there are only 2-3 that I don't really care for too much. On the other hand, there are 25 + tunes that I think are excellent.
Artists on this CD include: DC Talk, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Rebecca St. James, Nicole C. Mullen, Sonic Flood, Jennifer Knapp, and many more.
You can't go wrong with this album. I highly recommend it."
Very good CD A good sampling of music with a lot of variety.
coinman | Montana, U.S. | 08/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These CDs are great. There are only two songs that a actually do not like. Of the rest, all but a few songs are really good. A few songs that stand out are:
Disc 1
"Dive" by Steven Curtis Chapman: A really good song. Fast beat.
"Place in This World" by Michael W. Smith: A good song with a good message.
"In Christ Alone" by Brian Littrell: Kind of slow, but a very good message.
"I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me: A really good song with a very good message. I have heard two testimonies about how this song influenced someone to become a Christian.
Disc 2
"Flood" by Jars of Clay: A little slow at first, but the pace picks up to make a fast paced song. Pretty good.
"Jesus Freak" by DC Talk: My personal favorite on the CD. A fast paced song with a good message about not being ashamed about Christ.
"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer: One of the two that I don't like on this CD. It is a love song that starts out with, "Kiss me. Baby..." and that is the farthest I have listened.
"Stomp" by God's Property: The other song that I dislike. It is gospel and I am not a fan of gospel.
"Big House" by Audio Adrenaline: A good song. The writer must like football: "A big, big house, with lots and lots of rooms. A big, big table, with lots and lots of food. A big, big yard, where we can play football...."!
Overall, this is a very good CD with a good variety. Definitely worth multiple listenings. I definitely recommend this CD. Listen and enjoy."
New Christian?
L. G. Lewis | PA | 03/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not sure what CD from what artist? WOW CD's are an excellent place to start your Christian music library. It provides a broad overview of Christian music so you can hone in on a style or artist that suits you. Christian music has come a long way toward a contemporary sound. My passengers don't even realize it is Christian music until they start singing along."