The WOW collections to date offer something for everyone and seldom disappoint. However, WOW Hits 2005 may have set the bar higher in terms of variety of new acts and a bountiful harvest of creativity. If we are to take th... more »e producers of the WOW collections at their word, then these Purple and Silver discs offer the year's best. Several good listens later, you'll agree that there is a bright future ahead for contemporary Christian music. Sure we have the bigger name acts of Mercy Me ("Here With Me"), Newsboys ("You Are My King"), Jars of Clay ("Show You Love"), and maybe the year's best single from Steven Curtis Chapman "All Things New." But there's plenty of new blood as well with Matthew West ("More"), Kutless ("Sea of Faces"), Building 429 ("Glory Defined"), Bethany Dillon ("All I Need"), and bonus baby Day of Fire ("Cornerstone). Praise and worshippers will be pleased with the inclusion of David Crowder ("Open Skies") and the delightful Zschech ("Pray"). While WOW Hits 2005 gathers a lot of radio hits, there's no doubt that more critical voices may clamor about various omissions. Ask a roomful of Christian music fans to put the year's 30 best on a WOW release and you'll get a roomful of answers. But all can agree that WOW Hits 2005 proclaims that the year 2004 was a good one. --Michael Lyttle« less
The WOW collections to date offer something for everyone and seldom disappoint. However, WOW Hits 2005 may have set the bar higher in terms of variety of new acts and a bountiful harvest of creativity. If we are to take the producers of the WOW collections at their word, then these Purple and Silver discs offer the year's best. Several good listens later, you'll agree that there is a bright future ahead for contemporary Christian music. Sure we have the bigger name acts of Mercy Me ("Here With Me"), Newsboys ("You Are My King"), Jars of Clay ("Show You Love"), and maybe the year's best single from Steven Curtis Chapman "All Things New." But there's plenty of new blood as well with Matthew West ("More"), Kutless ("Sea of Faces"), Building 429 ("Glory Defined"), Bethany Dillon ("All I Need"), and bonus baby Day of Fire ("Cornerstone). Praise and worshippers will be pleased with the inclusion of David Crowder ("Open Skies") and the delightful Zschech ("Pray"). While WOW Hits 2005 gathers a lot of radio hits, there's no doubt that more critical voices may clamor about various omissions. Ask a roomful of Christian music fans to put the year's 30 best on a WOW release and you'll get a roomful of answers. But all can agree that WOW Hits 2005 proclaims that the year 2004 was a good one. --Michael Lyttle
Marylou A. from FOREST CITY, PA Reviewed on 10/14/2014...
i love this cd i play it all the time
Ronald S. (Tony) from TULSA, OK Reviewed on 1/7/2010...
This is an awesome cd. Great music and artists.
CD Reviews
WOW!
Media Lover | 05/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD set is awesome! It is all the greatest Christian songs from this year.
The first disc is mostly ballads and pop. It begins with MercyMe's "Here With Me" an awesome song, and gets better from there!"
Disc 2 is mainly Rock and Funk, and it is done very well, every song is a hit!
When all is said and done, you might as well buy this."
UPLIFTING AND TRULY INSPIRING!!!
Steven Hancock | Winston Salem, NC United States | 12/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WOW 2005 is an amazing CD set full of uplifting and powerful songs about the message of Christ! There are a few let-down songs ("Everyday People," "Open Skies," and "Cornerstone"), but the rest is some of THE best that Christian Music has to offer! If you're a fan of the WOW series, then get ready for their best collection yet! And if you're a first-time buyer, prepare to hear the message of the Scriptures in a whole new way! Grade: A+"
Wow 2005 makes me really say WOW
Kenneth A. Borror | Fort Wayne, IN USA | 10/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'll tell you what... I stopped following the Wow releases a long time ago. The reasoning was that it was the stuff I had heard 1000 times on the radio, and if I liked certain songs enough, I would buy the artist's cd anyways. Well, I looked at the song list for this years release, and I was impressed. So I bought it. I'm listening to it right now, and still impressed. Not only are the songs EXCELLENT this year, but the songs are NEWER. It's not just the music you've heard 1000 times... there are actually songs that are JUST hitting the radio. For example, the TobyMac album "Welcome to Diverse City" JUST came out 6 days ago (at the time of this review) and the title track "Gone" is already on this compilation. You will most definitely enjoy this album, and it's worth 20 bucks to get 34 great tracks."
Blown away...
Danny Owsley | Cuiabá, Brazil | 04/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After being to despondant about the poor songs choices of WOW 2004 (Like Stacie Orrico's shallow "Stick" and the fun, yet pointlss "All my people" and Amy Grant's Syrupy "Simple Things") I was scared to even listen to this. But I had already bought Bethany Dillon's and Selah's most recent CD's (which I reccomend if you like great lyrics) so I went ahead and checked into this.
WOW. Truly wow. These songs just cut right to my soul. Beautiful, Christ centered lyrics about Jesus, his healing restoration, love, mercy, constance, and power were the rule, not the exception like the previous 3 WOW releases.
The artitists were different which was good and bad. I missed Michael W. Smith (His new songs "Healing Rain" or "Here i am" would have fit in perfectly here), but I wished Jaci V. would just give up. After she began to write her songs they became shallow and boring to listen to. her first release "Heavenly Place" remains her best as far as lyrics.
Rachael Lampa on the extreme other hand has begun writing her own songs and will hopefully take Jaci's place at the forfront of christian music. Her song "When I fall" left me thinking "how on earth does she know exactly what i've been through?" She will do great things in the future.
Some wise choices were made. Matthew West, (whose career shoul deservedly sky-rocket after this, his song "more" is so original and raw and wonderful.)Barlow girl (where did these talented, commited girls come from ?) Todd Agnew (WOW, is all I can say about him), and Chris Rice (listen and weep) were all the center stage performers who gave Christ the center stage.
Some wisedom on the producers part: No Switchfoot. No Amy Grant. No Jump5. No Rap. Just Jesus. This release was not something taylored to please, rather it was litterally "coming back to the heart of worship."
I am now breathless for the next year's installment and pray that I will not set my standards too high.
Get this CD and be blessed and bless others (share it with a fried:)
May God bless you through this,
bRAZILBOY"
The true portrayal of "WOW"
Julie | Brooklyn, NY - USA | 06/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After WOW 2002, I stopped buying/listening to the WOW albums because they were becoming less inspirational and motivating.
I personally admire music and albums that are full of songs that stir the heart and mind, especially when it is in direct relation with Christianity and spirituality.
Then, I received WOW 2004 as a present... and that album seemed worthy enough to keep as a decent addition to my personal collection.
THEN, I decided to buy WOW 2005, and I was blown away.
Artists that I had not been aware of such as Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon, and Todd Agnew suddenly were available for me to listen to and want to keep on listening to over and over again.
Well known artists that I admire such as Jars of Clay, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, David Crowder Band, Darlene Zschech and Third Day were also included. The specific songs that were on this album were amazing.
I personally feel that the money that is paid for this album is definitely a wonderful investment... and this CD is one that is kept in my CD player consistently."