Author: Noah Hardwick

Some would say that putting together a year-end list of your top 100 albums and EPs is insane. And I agree. It’s one of the most ambitious things I’ve attempted since I started writing for IVM. So how did I do it exactly? Well I started out by putting together a list of all the albums and EPs I listened to during 2020—a feat in its own right. When I was done I had a list of about 300 releases which I then set out to rate on a scale of 1 to 10.… Continued →

I wasn’t really sure how I was going to do my “best of” list this year. I was considering breaking it down into genres similar to what Casey did. Or splitting my albums and EPs into two lists. Or just doing my top 10 list like I normally do. In the end though I decided to take a page out of Josh Balogh’s playbook and go big. So here the first 25 of my top 100 album and EPs of 2020:… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics:… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Bride – Here Is Your God
• Chase Tremaine – Fear Not Want
• Fallstar – Waiting
• Messenger – In to Win
• Northern Flame – Twisted Reality
• Steve Taylor & the Danielson Foil – Ecstatic Delight
• Then It Ends – Kingdom (Alternative Version)
• Words – Trees (Live) (EP)

Pop & CCM

• Chris August – Ghost
• Conrad – Hidden Places
• Crossroads Music – Come In From The Cold
• Darla Baltazar – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
• Eniola Abioye – MARBLED MOSAIC.
• John Ward – Graves and Graces
• Jordan Feliz – Say It
• Josh Sellers – Far Away
• Lovelite – Mmxx (EP)
• Mike Donehey – Better
• Stephen Stanley – No Hopeless Soul
• walk in love.

… Continued →

If you’ve seen my Christmas posts on IVM the past few years then you probably think I’m big fan of Christmas music. And might just be right. It seems like the genre has been growing on me more each year. But it hasn’t always been that way for me. There was defiantly a time during my teens and college years where I found Christmas music annoying at best. So what changed? That’s a question I found myself asking this week and I came up with a few thoughts.… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Anberlin – Tear Us Apart
• Ben S Dixon – Psalm 46 Lord of Hosts
• The Chariot – Long Live (10 Year Anniversary)
• Heliocentric – Antithesis
• Living Scars – Hallelujah
• Signum Regis – Flag of Hope (EP)

Pop & CCM

• Adam Lamb – For Me
• Altared – Awakened
• Amng Wlvs – Voice of Hope
• Anae – You Can Find Me
• Cody Johns – Relentless (EP)
• Connor Flanagan – Fire of My Father
• Doobie Powell – Heartbeat
• Edgar Sandoval Jr – last few months
• Haiva Ru – Wildflowers
• Judah & the Lion – Pep Talks Live
• Jon Webster – Selah
• NEEDTOBREATHE – Who Am I (Acoustic)
• Tauren Wells – Famous For (I Believe) – Collection
• UNSECRET – No Sanctuary

Electronic

• Bryson Price – Demons Flee
• Jack Izaak – Still N Listen

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Charlie Peacock – Skin and Wind is a Mind Bend
• Future Divine – Nightmare Into Day
• Jon Foreman – Fear (EP)
• Thomas Toole – Time and Space
• Whale Bones – The Doors Are Locked, the Blinds Are Closed, I Am Not Home

Hip Hop & R&B

• Angie Rose – Not A Monster
• Jesse Francis – Frontier
• JSteph – Phase II: The Remixes (EP)
• King Chai – Godmix 2
• LZ7 – Gettin Wild
• Tru-Serva – Blessings on the Way (Remix)
• Tobe Nwigwe – CINCORIGINALS

Worship & Gospel

• Ashton Barber – Inheritance
• Ben&blake – Faith Alone
• Calvary Worship Live – Never Gonna Let Me Down
• Celtic Worship, Praise Gathering – It Is Well
• Chris Beland – Morning and Evening Hymns
• Curt Vernon – One I Thought You Couldn’t Change
• Emmanuel Worship – Songs of Quarantine
• Fount + Flame – Pull Me In
• Grace City – Holy Ghost (We Say Yes)
• Harvest City Church – Greatest Miracle (Live)
• Hillsong UNITED – (in the meantime) [Vol.

… Continued →

I should probably be working my Best of 2020 list right now, but as I set out to make my annual Christmas playlist I kept stumbling across great new albums and EPs. So while my top albums of 2020 list sits on the backburner for a few more weeks, enjoy this list of my top 10 new Christmas albums and EPs that were released this year. Oh, and stick around for that aforementioned playlist at the bottom of the page.… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Andrew Stanton – Entrance Music
• Boiling Point – Come All You Weary
• Diamonds to Dust – Decisions (EP)
• Fallstar – King Lazer
• Fight The Fade – In Love. in Hope. in Peace. (Deluxe)
• Neal Morse – Jesus Christ the Exorcist (Live at Morsefest 2018)
• Phil Keaggy – Keaggy, Blazier & Lunn (An American Garage Band)
• They Came Running – Movement 1: Dawn – They Came Running (EP)
• Two Dimensional – Superman // Between You & Me
• Winona Avenue – December Night

Pop & CCM

• Drew Poole – I Love You I Love You
• Emily Brimlow – Nickel
• Freedom Heart – Lost and Broken
• Grace Graber – Heart For Me
• The Gray Havens – See You Again / / Autumn Sessions
• Heart + Soul, Vito Vasquez – Made In Heaven
• I AM THEY – I AM They Song Session
• joan – partly cloudy (EP)
• Joe Bae, Philip Shibata – Unravel
• Joseph – NYE (Violents Remix)
• Kios – Stay With Me (EP)
• More Than Rubies – Forgiveness
• Mountaintops – Wherever I Go (Ambient Version)
• Paul Cardall, Thompson Square – My Heart Beats for You
• Pyramid Park, Andy Lowe – Day and Night (Andy Lowe Remix)
• Timothy Li – Leaving

Electronic

• Chris Howland – Dive In
• Jack Izaak – I Have A Dream
• LEVV – I Am (Loving Awareness Mix)

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Cory Breth – Tangerine Sunsets
• The Dailys – Fill This Cup
• Jon Foreman – Love (EP)
• The Pharaoh Sisters – In Distress
• Praytell – Come Whatever
• Ray Nugent – Take a Drink
• Whale Bones – Sow Your Heart in Me

Hip Hop & R&B

• Aklesso – My Life is a Beautiful Mess
• Andy Mineo – Happy Thoughts (EP)
• Antoine Bradford – Seasons Change
• Cellus Hamilton, BlessThePen, Trubl3 – The Row Men
• Dillon Chase – Every Piece Matters
• Flame – Oh Yeah (Original Radio Edit)
• Guvna B, Madison Ryann Ward – Watching over Us
• I-Von – Hands to the Plow
• Jon Keith – Rose
• Jude.

… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Bandcamp |  Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics: … Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Anberlin – We Are the Lost Ones
• Brotality – Prisoners of The Abyss
• Heliocentric – Never Again
• Killdevil Theory – Die Another Day
• The Midnight Wedding – Enforcers
• Talkie – anna

Pop & CCM

• Alyssa Jordan – I’m With You
• Beach Chapel – Jerusalem
• The Brilliance – Tell Me I’m Dreaming
• Chasing Daylight – Heartbreak
• Common Courier – Let Go
• I AM THEY – Scars (Acoustic)
• I AM THEY – Tremble Acoustic
• J.Prosper – Never Let Go
• JJ Heller – I Have Enough
• John Gabriel Arends – God Is Moving Like a River
• Josh Sellers – All in My Head
• Shana|Lana – Goodbye Babylon
• Tom Read – Stabal Session (Live)

Electronic

• LoudWorship, Swedish Revolution, Retro Mars – You Say (Lauren Daigle Version)
• Trampolines – The Blessing

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• hadassa morais – Love Letters
• Jon Foreman – Doubt (EP)
• Jonathan Gabriel Masters – Park
• Karissa Frampton – Memos
• TJ Harris – Walk Love

Hip Hop & R&B

• Adriel Cruz – Punk (EP)
• Bryann T – Kingdom Muzic Family: The Remnant
• Courtney B – The Evolution of Courtney B
• davecreates – Ascension
• Hyper Fenton – Darkest Hour
• IMRSQD – Fox Glacier (EP)
• Jalen Williams – Thank God, Show Love
• Jekasole, Scootie Wop – N Luv
• JohnLion.,

… Continued →

Earlier this year I shared a list of the best albums of 2020 so far from A to Z. Now I’m back to share my list of the best songs of 2020 from A to Z! Once again the letters Q, X, and Z gave me some trouble but I was still able to put together a great list of songs for you. Be sure and check out the playlist of all the songs and runners-up at the bottom!… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Awaken – The Veil
• CHPTRS – When You Came Along
• CLOUDLAND – Lights
• Faintheart – Growing Pains (EP)
• Kevin Max – Revisiting This Planet
• The Lasting Hope – Lead Me
• Mike Mains & The Branches – Briggs (Cinematic Version)
• No Lost Cause – Hope For The Hopeless (2020 Version)
• The Reversalist – Falling Embers
• VERIDIA – Crushed Velvet
• Weathered – Everything All at Once

Pop & CCM

• 21:03 – Never Let Me Down
• Bien – Megaphone
• Cristabelle Braden – My Story Now (Lo-Fi Remix)
• Daulton Hopkins – I Melt With You
• DC Talk – Trying to Find A Life
• Feikje Douwina – This Time (EP)
• Gabriel Conte – Belong
• Jacob Hilton – A Voice Shouting (Féz Remix)
• Jessica Love – Stronger
• JJ Weeks Band – JJ Weeks Band
• John Michael Howell, Ashylnn Rose – You Will Love Again
• Jordan St.

… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics:… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• 12 Stones – Smoke and Mirrors Volume 1 (EP)
• Amongst Wolves – Golden (Remix)
• Cory Shane – Pyramid Scheme
• Crushing the Deceiver – At The End Of The Tunnel
• Fallstar – SSRI Feel Better Already
• Fight The Fade – What’s Left (Acoustic)
• The Fold – Young & Free
• Love and Death – Down
• Revelation Attic – Agony
• The Rocket Summer – Bee Sides: Select Rarities 2015-2020
• Talkie – to be alone
• Then It Ends – Despised (Acoustic)

Pop & CCM

• Andrea Hamilton – Time Under Tension (EP)
• Camryn Leigh Smith – Tightrope
• Freddie Fardon – Under Your Wings
• Grace Graber – Real
• Harolddd – Hoodie Weather
• Jessie Early – The Fire Never Dies (EP)
• Jon Webster – Rendezvous
• Judah & the Lion – Spirit
• MacKenzie Phillips – Deeper
• Marie Bashiru – Joyride
• Matthew West – Gobble Gobble
• Neoni – OUTLAW
• Punch Parade – Stay In
• Smalltown Poets – In Real Life (Live)
• Spencer Kane – Smoke
• Terrian – Light It Up
• Whosah – Heaven Here

Electronic 

• God’s Warrior – River Flows In You (God’s Warrior Remix)
• God’s Warrior – Tears

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Alisa Turner – Row
• Allison Clarke – Live Oak (EP)
• Jamie Barnes – Ex-Voto
• Jessie Dipper – Sirens
• More Than Rubies – The Bravest Thing
• Ordinary Time – Hard Times
• Tracy Nitschke – Ghost Town

Hip Hop & R&B

• Aluis – Faith Without Sight 2
• Angie Rose – Meet Me (Heaven On Earth)
• Anthone Ray – FACADE
• Arrow – All That (feat.

… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• 2 Minute Minor – Stand for Something or Fall for Anything (EP)
• Chaotic Resemblance – Unto the Lamb
• Collision of Innocence – Sorrows End
• Dawnbreaker – Vanquished Horrible Night
• Diamonds to Dust – Corpus Christi
• The Midnight Wedding – Set Me Free
• Northern Flame – Sanctification of the World
• Talkie – look at me
• Weathered – In This World

Pop & CCM

• About A Mile – Godless America
• After Grace – Forever Home
• The Brilliance – Hurricane
• Common Courier – At the Table
• The Complete Fiction – Things Are Looking Up
• Future Of Forestry – We Can’t Breathe
• Gabriel Conte – Los Angeles
• GALLERY – Beacon (Radio Edit)
• The Gray Havens – Forever / / Autumn Sessions
• Greg Attwells – So Crazy
• Jamie Grace – Normal
• JJ Heller – Impossible
• Joel Vaughn – It’s Okay
• Mary Ives – Is There Anybody Out There
• Tom Read – Dead Things to Life (Live)
• Tyler Batts – Falling In
• Xandria Cross – Marionette
• Wake Low – Wake Low

Electronic

• Edu Linares – Is Now
• God’s Warrior – Honor Jesus
• Jeremy James Whitaker – I’m a Mess (Buryme James Whitaker Remix)
• JSteph – I’m Sorry (Sam Bowman Remix)
• Man Cub – In A Dream (Remixes)
• Neon Beach – Countdown
• Roberto Rosso – Freedom (Radio Mix)

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Allie Crummy – Balance
• The Arcadian Wild – Fall: War
• Becca Jordan – Autumn Gold
• Madison Cunningham – Wednesday (EP)
• Thomas Austin – Someday

Hip Hop & R&B

• Aha Gazelle – 180 (Chopped NOT Slopped)
• Ahchwan – Trapped-N-Truth
• Aklesso – Popular
• Alphein – Hold On
• Andrew Puckett – Fight
• Avila – Love Lust
• Beleaf – My Father’s Business
• BigGucciDame – Memories to the Future
• B-Shock – Rise and Shine EP
• B-Shock – Sing Thru It All
• Caleb Gordon – elev8
• Christ Is King – Real Slow
• Christ Jr – One Way
• Chxsen – Highs & Lows
• Collinthekid – Hvnly Glow
• CS LIT – CD-R
• Darrell Dominic – Polarized
• Datin – Who Do You Believe?

… Continued →

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Lyrics:… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• 09 x Matty Mullins – Masquerade
• Aaron Ray – In My Blood
• Barry Blair – Down in the Lowlands
• Gable Price and Friends – You Are My Country
• Last Year’s Model – Rondé Vous
• Living Scars – Without Me
• My Epic – Lower Still
• Nine Lashes – Follow
• Odds of an Afterthought – The Truth Will Set You Free but First It Will Piss You Off
• Paradise Now – Lockdown Mixtape (EP)
• The Protest – Greater
• Shelbi – Rocket Science (EP)

Pop & CCM

• Amy Grant – Unguarded (Re-Release)
• Andrew Marcus – No Reason to Say Goodbye
• Alisa Turner – Run for Your Life
• Ben Fuller – Town Called Grace
• Ben Laine – 12
• Caitie Hurst – At All Times (EP)
• Chris Howland – Dreamworld
• Coby James – Homesick (EP)
• David Dunn – Perspectives (Deluxe)
• DOE – DOE (EP)
• Ernstly Etienne – Jericho 
• Frankie Orella – While My Guitar Gently Weeps | Help!

… Continued →

Rock & Punk… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Cyborg Future & Emery – The Road We Find Ourselves Upon
• Deane Walden – Stupid Cupid
• Earth Groans – Waste (EP)
• Faintheart – Say to Me
• Fireflight – Who We Are: The Head And The Heart
• HANDSXFEET – Grace
• Hard Look – Breathing in the Wrath
• Ignite the Fire – Unstoppable
• Nate Parrish – Bullets and Blades
• Paradise Now – Monsters
• WeAreGeneration – Nightmare
• Weathered – Chasing Me
• Words – My Body’s a Zombie for You

Pop & CCM

• Adrienne Acosta – Keep Holding On
• Cade Thompson – Almost Dawn
• Caleb Crino – Basics
• Connor Caughlan – Skeletons (Live Version)
• Cory Asbury – Dear God (Acoustic)
• Courtnie Ramirez – Chase Me Down
• Chris Bray – More Like You
• DLLN – Imma Winner
• Ernstly Etienne – Quarantine
• Evvie McKinney – Look No Further (EP)
• Gabriel Conte – Wrong With Me
• The Gray Havens – This My Soul / / Autumn Sessions
• I AM THEY – Faithful God
• Jason Gray – Order, Disorder, Reorder
• John Jin Han – Young Folks
• Natalie Layne – Tell Them I’m Brave
• Riley Clemmons – Healing

Electronic

• Fishburn – Known All Along
• JackSayFree – King of Nations (2k20 Edit)
• ØM-53 – Rain Down

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors – Live at the Tennessee Theatre
• Paul Demer – Singing at a Restaurant
• Taylor Armstrong – Taylor Armstrong
• Teressa Mahoney – Maybe

Hip Hop & R&B

• Akil Hamilton – Best Part
• Andrew Puckett – Right Time
• Andy Mineo – Jackson Pollock (TikTok Remix)
• Anh Thai x Paul the Messenger – Overwhelm
• Arrow – On God (feat.

… Continued →

Last week a message in a bottle washed up in my inbox containing a treasure map. Okay, actually it was Indiegogo campaign. But let’s roll with the treasure map thing because the message was about everyone’s favorite nautical rock band, Rusty Shipp. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Noah, how can I get on this treasure too?” Well I’m glad you asked. The band is in the process of crowdfunding their second full-length album, which like their last EP Liquid Exorcist will be a concept album.… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics:… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• As He Is – Let It Go (Re-Recorded)
• Ben S Dixon – The Brightest Light
• Brotality – Foxhole
• Ethan Luck – Lockdown (EP)
• Everything In Slow Motion – Influence
• Gable Price and Friends – Fractioned (Live) (EP)
• Often Home – Outgrown (EP)
• Relent – Last Days
• We Are The City – Lover is Dead

Pop & CCM

• Alisa Turner – The Window
• boy & KING – Younger
• Built By Titan – Will You Grow Old With Me
• The Citrus Trees – The Citrus Trees
• Cochren & Co.

… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• As We Are – Paralyzed
• Awaken – Stained Glass
• Earth Groans – Ghost
• Empty Isles – Make Sense of It All
• HANDSXFEET – Icarus
• Paradise Now – Criminal
• Klae – Drifting
• Weathered – Quick Tempered
• Wolves At The Gate – Dawn

Pop & CCM

• Emily Raymond – Remade
• Grace Graber – Darkness
• Haiva Ru – Space
• HillaryJane – Never Left
• Holly Halliwell – You
• Iryne Rock – Cleanse Restore Renew
• Izzi Ray – Self Untitled
• Jeremy Horn – Never Knew
• Jon Shabaglian – With God
• Jonas Myrin – Not Alone (Stockholm Symphony Version)
• Landry Cantrell – Glasshouse
• LZ7 – Won’t Run Out
• Marci Coleman – Glimpse of Heaven
• Mat Kearney – Until We Meet Again… (Live Unplugged)
• Melody Adorno – Uncertainty (Live)
• Mercedes Nodarse – My Savior
• Ruelle – Good Day for Dreaming
• Sarah Reeves – Life Love & Madness

Electronic

• The Complete Fiction – New
• Everen Maxwell – Dancing Under Neon Skies
• Matthew Parker – Pray for You (Remix)
• Mediatrix – I Wanna
• Micah Ariss – Pray for You (Remixes) (EP)
• Trampolines – The Way God Sees You

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• Andrew Blooms – Part of Me Knows
• Copperlily – Songs from the Bottom
• The Dailys – Bring You Home
• Jess Ray – Middle
• Madison Cunningham – In My Life
• Megan Brown – Gomer’s Song

Hip Hop & R&B

• Aaron Patterson – Acting Different
• Arize – Soul Bandit
• Caleb Gordon – No Limit
• Charles Goose – Dreams of Freedom
• Crowns Down – Real Talk
• Deraj – Art of War (EP)
• Derek Minor – Alright Alright (feat.

… Continued →

Rock & Metal

• Acceptance – Wild, Free
• Crowned In Chains – King Suffering Part II
• Everything In Slow Motion – Satellite
• Fire from Heaven – Twilight of the Evil Wolf
• Fireflight – Who We Are
• Flight Deck – That Isn’t Me
• Harbor & Home – Hold on to Love
• I Am The Deceiver – Another Perfect Day
• Ignescent – Exodus
• Perpetual Paranoia – The Reapers
• Relesser – Empires to Ash
• Simply Leslie – Little Movement
• Then It Ends – Restored
• Words – Trees (Instrumental) (EP)
• World Divided – Dispirit
• Zambroa – Repent / Believe

Pop & CCM

• Abe Parker – 80 Dollars
• Arie Camp – What We Need
• Ayiesha Woods – Full Circle (EP)
• Brooke Staten – Still Here
• Chris Sligh – Enemies
• Clemency – Dare to Dream
• Jason Gray – Reorder
• Jessie Early – The Fire Never Dies
• Lipstick Kid – Connection Together
• Manic Drive – Thank God I’m Alive (Remix)
• Throwback Kid – Back to the 90’s
• TobyMac – I’m Sorry (a lament)
• Wake Low – Testify
• Zoe Hinkle – Wake Up, Girl

Electronic

• Kingdom Squad x Bryson Price – Secure
• Jimmy Rock – World of Drops (EP)

Folk & Singer/Songwriter

• David Benjamin Blower – Apocalyptic Lockdown Blues, Pt.

… Continued →

While I haven’t been posting about it the past few months like I was earlier in the year, I’ve been continuing to update the New Release Sampler playlist on Spotify every month with new songs. I felt like taking some notes while I was putting the finishing touches on it today though and thought I’d share them readers. So here are the 55 new songs I picked out from September 2020 that I think that you should hear. 1. ’68 – Bad Bad Lambo Love is Ain’t Dead has been one of my most listened to new releases this month.… Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics: … Continued →

Listen: Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music Lyrics:… Continued →