As is appropriate for a collection that spotlights the most celebrated tunes in all of CCM (at least the most celebrated in 1998), 1998 Dove Awards Nominees acts as both an effective sampler of the genre's state-of-the-art circa the late '90s and a one-stop introduction for neophytes and the curious. True, some big names are missing on the collection, but there are enough major artists -- Michael W. Smith ("Live the Life"), Steven Curtis Chapman ("Let Us Pray"), Bob Carlisle ("Living Water"), Rich Mullins ("Elijah"), Caedmon's Call ("Hope to Carry On"), Crystal Lewis ("People Get Ready...Jesus is Comin'"), Kathy Troccoli ("Baby's Prayer") -- to make it a representative sampler, as well as an entertaining listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize