Sanctus Real Named Best Band by Christianity Today, Rakes in Dove Nominations

ChristianityToday.com recently voted Sanctus Real as Best Band and Matt Hammitt as Best Male Vocalist for 2004. Sanctus Real is in great company with the other nominees, which included Relient K, Switchfoot, Salvador and Mute Math. Finalists in the best male vocalist category included Bart from Mercy Me, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Andy Chrisman from 4 Him. ChristianityToday.com has also voted Fight the Tide one of the best albums of 2004.

Sanctus Real has additionally received 4 Dove Award nominations from the Gospel Music Association.

The band was nominated for:

1. Modern Rock Album of the Year
2. Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Everything About You"
3. Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Alone"
4. Special Event Album of the Year for "In the Name of Love"

Sanctus Real's awards from 2004:

R & R's Most Played Rock Artist Of 2004.

"Everything About You," No. 1 for eight weeks, topping both the R & R CHR and Rock charts

"Beautiful Day" from In The Name Of Love: Artists United For Africa, No. 1 for 4 consecutive weeks

"Everything About You," No. 4 on R & R's Christian Rock 2004 Year-End Chart

"Everything About You," No. 10 on Christian CHR 2004 Year-End Chart

"Beautiful Day," No. 15 on R & R's Christian Rock 2004 Year-End Chart

In addition to 2004 radio success, year end critics' choice lists named Sanctus Real among their top picks. ChristianMusicToday.com asks, "Why can't more modern rock bands be this good" and named the band's Fight The Tide their seventh overall favorite in any genre for 2004. They further commented in their review, "It's clear that Sanctus Real aspires to clearly communicate their faith walk while aspiring to become one of the premier rock bands of their time. They're one step closer on both counts."

CMCentral.com readers also nominated Sanctus Real for Rock/Alternative Album of the Year for Fight the Tide and Rock/Alternative Song of the Year and Rock/Alternative Performance for "Everything About You." 

The year further brought significant features for Sanctus Real in CCM, Christian Music Planet, Breakaway, YouthWalk and Advance magazines, as well as their first appearance on CBS's The Early Show.  Live clips of Sanctus Real's performance at the LifeLight Fest 2004 in Sioux Falls, SD, Sept. 4 were used in the morning show's "Bible Magazines: Big Sellers" story that ran Wednesday, Dec. 29.  Upcoming coverage of the band includes features in Campus Life (March/April), On Course (Spring issue), and Christian Single (March).

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