One of the reasons why we are so passionate about gourmet music is that we believe good art helps to remind us of God’s love, grace, and peace… maybe especially when the world around us seems to be in turmoil. This type of meaningful music is needed now more than ever!  If you haven’t been able to keep up on the never-ending supply of new projects last year, we are here to help point you to the cream-of-the-crop. For the 17th consecutive year, our panel of music critics scoured the world of well-crafted, faith-inspired music to find and vote on the best of the best.  It’s our most-loved annual tradition at UTR!  At the bottom, we also share a wider list of top recommended albums from our critics (over 35 extra!) because there’s much worth exploring. It’s always fun to get YOUR reactions too, so make sure to comment below. Without further ado, we are proud to present UTR’s Top 11 Gourmet Albums of 2025.

[Albums qualify if by an artist who is a Christian, has over 50% new material, and is released publicly between 12/1/24 and 11/30/25.]

1.  Jesus – Jon Guerra

Continuing a trajectory of soul-stirring music, Jon Guerra’s 2025 offering seems to be just what we needed in the midst of a turbulent year.  One of our critics says that this album “is so passionate, so direct, so simple, and so well-informed by a truthful and full reading of the Gospels, that it might actually be too Christian for Christian music.”  Another shared, “Lush, gentle, and reassuring, this is the album I needed in 2025. The centering on the life and words of Jesus has been the biggest blessing and encouragement I could have hoped for.” Jesus by Jon Guerra is the #1 best gourmet album of the year!  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

2.  Ace – Madison Cunningham

Good art often comes from the fertile soil of brokenness and pain.  Such is true with Ace, as Madison Cunningham releases a more piano-centric album that taps into her grief on the heels of a recent divorce.  One UTR panelist declared, “Madison’s ability to lay her heart bare through these 14 tracks makes this an elite singer-songwriter albums.”  And a different panelist added, “She pushes into new realms of compositional innovation, lyrical introspection, and genre-bending innovation. The problem for all other artists may be just how high Cunningham is setting the bar.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

3.  Miracle Service – Andy Squyres

This was the first of two EPs Andy Squyres released in 2025.  These four songs live in that delicate space of faith, doubt, hurt, hope, and surrender.  One critic quipped that this project “expresses both poetically and imaginatively, what it means to have a faith that is at times unstable but still genuinely present.” Still another shared, “This EP is like being pulled between waves of tongue-in-cheek candour and physiological wondering that leaves you feeling inspired.” Don’t overlook one of the best songwriters from the last five years.  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

4.  Love Who I Am – Allison Eide

This 25-yr-old Minnesota native technically released some indie music as a teenager (all of which is now out of print), but new artist Allison Eide considers this her real “debut album.” The songwriting is vulnerable, the delivery is fresh, and you’ll be left wondering how high this debut artist will soar in the years ahead. One UTR panelist called this album “passionately delivered anthems about mental health struggles.” Another stated, “The album encourages listeners to reflect God’s light and reject the world’s darkness. With its catchy, biblically inspired melodies and innovative production, Love Who I Am breaks away from typical CCCM, making it one of the year’s standout albums.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

5.  As Long As I am in the Tent of this Body I Will Make A Joyful Noise, Pt.1 – John Van Deusen

When we heard in early 2025 that John Van Deusen was going to break away from the angsty, faith-fueled indie rock that we know him for to work on a series of worship albums, there was some pause for concern. But – wow – he nailed it! Our critic was right when he quipped, “There is nothing ordinary about this worship music, and originality is what we’ve come to expect from JVD.” From his I-don’t-give-a-flying-flip 18-word album title, with a robust 18 tracks to go with it, these songs take a very Psalm-like approach and make way for a spectrum of emotions to be involved in worship. Another of our critics said this album “makes theology accessible without watering it down.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

6.  Plastic Wine – Strings and Heart

This Arizona-based trio of brothers redefines what you think of when you hear the term “family band.” This September 2025 release, their sophomore studio album, is resonating with listeners worldwide. One of our panelists shared, “Strings and Heart are making the songs of this generation. Plastic Wine is full of anthemic songs that spark the hope of the listener.” Another praised, “Plastic Wine is a light and breezy (both in runtime and vibe) release brimming with clear talent and genuine heart. It’s an album that embraces its indie surf pop-rock unapologetically while hinting at even greater potential ahead.”   [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

7.  Richest Man in the World – Ben Rector

This is an artist that seems to have a touch of “extraordinary magic” where his well-crafted pop tunes feel effortless, invitational, and completely relatable. Here’s what one UTR panelist wrote: “On his latest album, Ben invites you into his life in such an authentic and relatable way, you’ll feel like you are a lifelong friend after you listen.” Another stated, “Each track is filled with whimsy and candour. Yet his delivery, instrumentation, and production are so smart. He embodies each song and pretty soon the groove has you singing and dancing along.” [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

8.  Mt. Zion – Josiah Queen

It’s been a meteoric rise for Josiah. He was a debuting artist in 2024. He won the Amazon Music Christian Breakout Artist of the Year. And he claimed the top spot in last year’s “Top 11 List” from UTR. In 2025, he was a featured artist on two tracks that topped the charts, and he sold out Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and other venues across the country… all at the age of 22! One of our critics explained, “Mt. Zion features the type of fervent, wide-eyed sincerity that’s infectious. Featuring folk strumming, banjos, and the type of stomp-clap energy that soars to the rafters.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

9.  Cosmic Supreme – John Mark McMillan

“McMillan somehow collides nostalgia of his previous works with fresh expression in sound and lyricism, leaving the listener in awe of this project and of God,” quipped one of UTR’s critics. On Cosmic Supreme, it doesn’t feel like a lot of new ground, but that’s part of the beauty. McMillan knows his voice and once again invites us to explore the tapestry of the Christian walk, which includes mystery, wonder, praise, doubt, joy, and sorrow. Another critic described this as “an unbarred exploration into the meaning of life, spirituality, and the character of God – along with the invitation to leave behind religiosity.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

10.  Eyes Renewed – Graham Jones

One of our panelists very accurately describes this May 2025 release as “honest folk music – great storytelling and great insight.” In the same vein as Andrew Peterson or Michael Card, Graham’s music isn’t just for passive listening. You want to swim in these songs and let the stories wash over you. Another of our critics puts it this way: “In Eyes Renewed, Graham Jones provides sonic imagery of the tension of waiting and the joy of harvest time.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

11.  My Name is Nell – LaNell Grant

Even though she has been releasing singles and projects for a few years, many of us first heard this incredible new artist with the release of the May 2025 album My Name is Nell.  If this is your introduction, you will be blown away by LaNell Grant’s rapping, production, and pull-no-punches lyrics.  One of our critics shared, “LaNell effortlessly proves that her pen is unmatched and she is not to be underestimated as she tells the story of her life as a disciple, wife, mother, and woman producer.”  [SPOTIFY LINK]  [YOUTUBE LINK]

What do you think of our critics’ picks of the Top 11 gourmet albums of 2025? Our panel has a wide taste and interest in music, so narrowing down a collective list to just 11 picks is an interesting ride.  This also means that there were over three dozen albums cited by our critics that did not make the list above.  So we are giving a quick nod to each of these as an extended “best of the year” list.  The first six listed are our Honorable Mentions, but the rest are listed in no particular order.

• Winning Streak – Andy Gullahorn
• Sad & Beautiful World – Mavis Staples
• Curioso – Wilder Woods
• Far Country – Ellie Holcomb
• Hosea – Rachel Wilhelm
• Good Grief! – Jervis Campbell
• 77, pt.1 – Colony House
• Settle In – Kevin Schlereth
• Through the Fire, Across from Peter Balkan – The Mountain Goats
• Way Past Taken – Kylie Dailey
• Reconstruction – Lecrae
• The Mercy Room – Andrew Ripp
• It Is Good To Be Here With You – Nick Chambers

• Table Songs – The Porter’s Gate
• In Your Field – Former Ruins
• I Call This One – Gileah Taylor
• Folk! – Rend Collective
• Wild One – Hopeful.
• Magnificat – Gungor
• One Long Year – St. Sinner Orchestra
• The Call – Liz Vice
• Paper Thin – Olwen Ringrose
• I Carry the Flame – Chris Taylor
• The Space Between Us – Robert Deeble
• Translucent – The Choir
• Memory Bank – Drew & Ellie Holcomb

• Atlas – Sam Bowman
• Cover Story – Russ Taff
• Fielder – Fielder
• Peace to All Who Enter Here, Vol.2 – Josh Garrels
• Falcon – Phil Madeira
• Sacred Vows – Andy Squyres
• m us eum – Citizens
• His World – Allie Paige
• Crows Potens, An Outcry – Adam Whipple
• Handcrafted Raps – Braille
• Dopamine and Jesus – Luke Bower
• Gravitas – Common Hymnal

If you’d like listen to the Top 11 Gourmet Albums audio countdown, check out Episode 115 of the Gourmet Music Podcast (releasing JAN. 22).

We LOVE getting your feedback. In fact, lists like these are mostly good discussion starters.
a) What is your overall reaction to the Top 11 list?  What do you agree with? Which albums, in your opinion, are missing?
b) Are there any albums that you’ll try out (or give a second chance) based on this list?