The title of Eric Church's latest album has raised some questions.

"People keep asking me about the 'vs.' in the title," Church said of his eighth LP, Evangeline vs. The Machine, in a statement. "They want to know, 'Is it a battle, Eric?' And I say, 'Yes. It is a battle. A battle for everything creative. That's the whole reason I'm here in the first place.'"

One of country's most authentic and fearless artists, Church has been blending his signature soulful Southern rock sound with an outlaw mindset and evocative vocals since his 2006 debut. Church brings all of those elements to the eight-song Evangeline, which emphasizes his creative conviction in a musical climate defined by viral moments and AI threats. 

Evangeline stresses the importance of a powerful song, particularly on the first two tracks, "Hands of Time" and "Bleed On Paper." The latter's chorus doubles as a mission statement for the album and for Church as an artist: "Keep on singing what I know/ Between a minor and a major/ Keep pulling at the bittersweet/ And if it ain't the latest flavor/ Little bit of devil, little bit of savior."

With the meaning of Evangeline vs. The Machine in mind, the 10-time GRAMMY nominee chose the most important songs in his expansive catalog. Below, see what Church had to say via email about the six that are his most personally or professionally significant.

This song will always hold a special place because after much rejection around [Nashville], it was the song that got me my publishing deal and led to my record deal.

This song saved me, when I was on the verge of losing my record deal. I argued for this song to be shipped to radio because I could see the passion around it every night when we played it live. 

Of course, the subject matter was not in line, the sound was not in fashion. But, to their credit, the label let me have enough rope to hang myself… we lived to ride another day.

This is my favorite song. It fully captures the feeling of my journey, personally and professionally.

I love what this song has to say. As a writer you wrestle with the power of words every day.  Some days you command them, others they command you.

I love the twist in this song… the building onto a story that Southern rockers know well.

This was a tough one. I wrote this after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.

The hardest thing I've ever done as a dad was dropping my kids off at school the day after this shooting happened less than a mile away. I sat in the parking lot watching my boys walk into the building. I just couldn't drive away. 

As fate would have it, [Charlie Daniel's Band's] "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" came on the radio, and the thought occurred to me, we sure could use [the song's protagonist] Johnny right now, the devil seems like he's everywhere.  I went home and wrote "Johnny."