MercyMe

MercyMe came tearing out of Texas in the mid-'90s with a mission much loftier than that of your average rock band. They quickly leaped to the forefront of the Christian rock scene with the breathless excitement of the power ballad "I Can Only Imagine," singer Bart Millard's bigger-than-life voice belting out a message of unshakable faith. The spiritual sock-it-to-me becomes a study in contrast when the punchy power-pop hooks of "So Long Self" lend a Fountains of Wayne-like froth to an almost Zen-like rite of egolessness. It's not all pedal to the metal, though: the funky, lazy lope and acoustic-guitar bob-and-weave of "One Trick Pony" help to answer the question what if Jack Johnson was a Christian artist?. Have your faith in rock 'n' roll restored in Next Steps.

MercyMe put their heart and soul into songs of salvation, but it's their irresistible rock 'n' roll energy that's made them a multi-platinum powerhouse. The driving pulse and chomping rock riffs of "3:42 AM (Writer's Block)" mirror the confusion of a spirit that needs to "let go and let God." The thick wash of guitars the band slathers over a pumping, near-disco rhythm on "Time Has Come" make for a powerful way to praise the Lord. And, no, their "Gloria" isn't a cover of the classic tune by fellow Christians U2, but it packs just as much of a punch with its uplifting, anthemic, glory-giving explosion of sound.

Pushing their meaty guitar licks and hit-bound hooks just as intensely as their faith-based lyrics, MercyMe can send your soul toward a higher plane while keeping your ears abuzz with pure pop-rock pleasure. Lead singer Bart Millard's big, oak-toned voice is an amazingly flexible instrument, matching the band's musical moods step for step — he can unfurl a plaintive falsetto on a gentle, acoustic tune like "Finally Home" or lean into a rougher-edged approach on a gear-grinding rocker like "In the Blink of an Eye," sounding just as soulful at either end of the spectrum. From soaring, widescreen ballads to heaven-sent, hard-hitting rockers, this is the place to tap into the spirit-powered sound of MercyMe.