Now seven years strong, the WOW Gospel collection never fails to disappoint as it showcases the previous year's best and gives fans a hint of what is to come. The 2004 release, like its predecessors, offers a wide variety of styles all embedded under the "gospel" tag. For the more traditional fan, try on the widely popular Blind Boys of Alabama as they "Wade In The Water" or Richard Smallwood with Vision's "My Everything (Praise Waiteth)." More contemporary fans will appreciate Fred Hammond and his driving, upbeat "You Are My Daily Bread," Hezekiah Walker's hit single "I Need You to Survive" or even the super-slick Kirk Franklin and his roof-raising "Brighter Day." And for those looking ahead, you'll be encouraged with Tonex's rock-steady "Doesn't Really Matter." Another nice touch this year is the tribute to Houston, Texas artists (don't miss Kurt Carr's "I Almost Let Go") as the WOW series features prime gospel markets for the next decade. This is a must-have for any gospel fan or for those curious about where gospel might be going. --Michael Lyttle