Falling Notes: The 2013 First Quarter - Rock

We conclude our announcement of the First Quarter 2013 Platinum Vinyl Award releases. The Concluding Category is rock, and there were nine releases this quarter. Expected names and a few newcomers. The final list.

• As Cities Burn - Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest
• Discipe - O God Save Us All
• Flyleaf - New Horizons
• Overcoming Affliction - Rescue Me
• A Past Unknown - Vainglory
• The Story - Listen
• O.C. Supertones - For The Glory
• Submission Red - Untamed Ones
• Third Day - Miracle

The O.C. Supertones return to the limelight after a long hiatus, and we shall see how the New Flyleaf works out. Lacy Will be missed. Have a wonderful New Year, and I shall see you again in January. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Falling Notes: The 2013 First Quarter - Modern Worship

Continuing with the announcement of the First Quarter of 2013 Releases which qualified for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Our first post was a combination post of 5 different categories. Our second post was Alternative. We move on to Modern Worship, which had fourteen entrants.

• Paul Atleitner - Come to the Table (The Eucharist)
• Bethel Church - For The Sake of the World
• Brenton Brown - God My Rock
• Christ For The Nations Institute - Uncreated One
• Brian Doerksen - Ultimate Collection
• FFH - The Way We Worship
• Gateway Worship - Forever Yours
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - Hymns for the Christian Life
• The Glorious Unseen - Lovesick
• Matt Redman - Sing Like Never Before
• River Valley Church - All In All
• The Royal Royal - The Royalty
• Skull Church - When Darkness Shakes
• Phil Wickham - Singalong 2

If this category keeps up I will have to work with about 50 entries to whittle down to seven or so. I hope so. The last category is Rock, and that is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Falling Notes: The 2013 First Quarter - Alternative

The Alternative Rock Category is always one of the biggest in the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Alternative and Rock almost could be one category, but thank God we usually separate them, because it would make narrowing down the field without a major fued impossible.

There were ten entrants into the Alternative Pool this First Quarter of 2013. Because of that we go to our familiar list format, and will not go into detail on each one.

• After Edmund - Strange Education
• Anberlin - Vital
• Dawn - A Different Kind of Love Song
• East Coast Christian Center - This is Love
• Farah Loux - Flaws
• Further Seems Forever - Penny Black
• Gungor - A Creation Liturgy
• Hyland - Finding Our Way
• Lifehouse - Almeria
• Matt & Toby - Matt & Toby
• Smalltown Poets - Under the New Sun
• Sons - Keep Quieter
• Jonathan Thulin - The White Room

It's way to soon to make predictions on any chances, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Anberlin among the finalists (really big limb there). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Falling Notes: The 2013 First Quarter

Things never really end here at Night Beat HQ.  Once one quarter ends another begins, and often there is no rest. Being a shoestring operation, we only rest when the industry rests, and sometimes we need that time to catch up. This was one of those breaks.

The First Quarter of every Platinum Vinyl Award eligibility year is usually pretty quiet, seeing that the industry is awash in Christmas releases. This year is no exception. One category (Children's Music) has no entries, and four others (Gospel, Folk, Pop, and Hard Rock) have less than three entries each, some only one. We should be through this fairly quickly.

I try to start off each quarter combining the less represented genres into a single post, leaving the major categories to have their own moment in the sun.

We begin with Pop Music, which two entrants this quarter. Still, it was a fairly big entrant. Newsboys made a splash this fall with Live In Concert: God's Not Dead. While I wasn't impressed with the studio album, they more than made up for it with the live album. Kind of Like Gungor did this quarter. A former newsboy, Paul Colman, had a release this quarter as well, with From the Saltland to the River.

Also a bit surprising was to have only two entrants in Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. A newcomer, at least to The Night Beat, made the cut Texas In July took the honors with their self titled release. Among the newly discovered entries was Set For Tomorrow and Prophet Arise.

Adult Contemporary had four entries, and is our biggie for this post. Brandon Heath is an industry favorite, though I have not been impressed with all of his work (Leaving Eden did not impress me). Blue Mountain did, however. The somewhat lesser known Bebo Norman also made a showing with Lights of Distant Cities. Another old favorite, Clay Crosse made his reDedication this quarter, and Tyrus Morgan proved he can walk a Straight Line.

That's a lot to digest. I'll give you a little break. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: December 2012

We close out the year of 2012 with a whimper, at least as far as The Night Beat is concerned. Hey it could be worse, last year we didn't even have a Rewind. All that was released of any note in December 2011 was Hat's off to the bull by Chevelle. Seven releases passed through the Night Beat Offices this month, so I guess that's an improvement.

Of the seven, one stood above the rest, or as we say here at Night Beat HQ, it was:

Pure Platinum

• Thousand Foot Krutch - Metamorphosiz: The End Remixes, Vol. 1

It may be cheating, but I did think that it was worthy of a Perfect 5 Emerald rating. Anytime Andy Hunter is allowed to take the reins of a project, magic is bound to happen.

Of course, there are always albums that don't make the standard we demand at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Albums which we say are

Missing The Mark

• My Heart to Fear - Lost Between Brilliance and Insanity 3.75 Emeralds
• Jael Johnson - Stay 3.75 Emeralds
• Corey Kilgannon - Let Go 3.50 Emeralds
• Levi the Poet - Seasons 3.25 Emeralds
• Von Won - Shock Therapy 3.75 Emeralds

Once again I must stress that these are not bad albums, just not worthy of award consideration. A 3 Emerald rating is pretty good. You should only worry if it is in the 2's or below. Most albums are somewhere in between. They are not Platinum, but they are what we call

Semi-Precious Metal

• As Cities Burn - Son I Loved You At Your Darkest 4.75 Emeralds
• Coffee Jones of Grits - Fresh Brew 4.50 Emeralds
• Joy Electric - Dwarf Mountain Alphabet 4.75 Emeralds
• Lifehouse - Almeria 4.75 Emeralds
• Pas Neos - Who Do You Say I Am? 4.75 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - Scripture Snacks, Vol. 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Sons - Keep Quieter 4.75 Emeralds

That concludes 2012 for all intents and purposes. We still have the First Quarter 2013 to announce, but that may take until January. We shall see. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Thunderbirds, UFO's and Stingrays, Oh My.

Welcome back to The Night Beat everyone, hope you had a wonderful Christmas. And for those of you in the public sector who have everything off until the New Year, I guess I should be envious.

While surfing the net I came across an obituary for Gerry Anderson. Now for the young ones out there who can't appreciate good television, Anderson was a brit, and for the other TV network in the UK, and then transfered to the U.S. in the 70's were two tv series that highlighted the use of Marionettes. The most famous of them was Thunderbirds.

Though I most fondly remember Stingray.

Marionettes weren't all that Gerry Anderson gave us. There were two live action shows. I was transfixed by UFO, with those adorable little toplike spaceships and the interceptors. On this show the 80's were the future. And the groovy intro.

Of course more people remember Space: 1999.

This was when TV was fun. Of course the minidresses didn't hurt either.

Until next time, I am Awaiting Your reply.

Christmas 2012 With The Night Beat

For those who have been with me for a year, this post and yesterday's post were originally made one year ago at this time. They are reprinted this year. To the new readers, enjoy for the first time.

Continuing with the Christmas Music Video Playlist. No Christmas Should be without these artists. I will begin with my favorites. Mannheim Steamroller. This is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Now we progress to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Another band that has put their stamp on the Christmas Music industry. First up is Christmas Canon. It's the classic edition with the children's choir. Simply Awesome. Unfortunately Atlantic Records will only give the link to the videos and have disabled the embed, so I give you the links to both Christmas Canon and Christmas Eve in Sarajevo. Enjoy them as I have. I will be able to pass on one TSO Video. The Rock version of Christmas Canon. Enjoy

If all of you thought you couldn't Rock out to Classical Music, or if your parents made you take up the violin or cello, there is always hope. You could all turn out like the Annie Moses Band. This is God Rest You Merry Gentlemen. Rock On.

We conclude our non-traditional Christmas Video Show with Denver and The Mile High Orchestra. Grab your fedora. Grab your partner. One, two, three, swing

As the late Steve Jobs said, One More Thing. I couldn't let the opportunity pass to share the Lovely Barlow Sisters of Barlowgirl and "Hallelujah Light Has Come." That concludes our show. We will return with regular post in the new year. But maybe I will pull out a few more of these in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" We shall see. Until next time I am Awaiting Your Reply. Merry Christmas to all from The Night Beat.

Christmas Eve with The Night Beat

The Christmas Season is officially here, and in honor of that, I think it proper to spend a few posts sharing some wonderful Christmas Videos. Of course what would Christmas be without Mannheim and TSO, but we shall wait for those in due course.

We will begin with a home video version of Jingle Bells by two lovely ladies from New Mexico by the name of Poema.


Next up we shall rock out with the Almost and The Little Drummer Boy
Time to get a little animated. Animation that is. Here is the Sleigh Ride Video from the slightly demented Relient K
Forget What I said about Relient K. I think someone spiked Tenth Avenue North's eggnog. This is a Totally Demented version of Deck the Halls
I think that is enough for one post. We shall continue with the Night Beat Christmas Video Show throughout the week as I find them. A Merry Christmas To All and A Blessed 2012 from The Night Beat.

The Platinum Collection: The Top Six

In our last post we announced the bottom half of The Platinum Dozen, the twelve best albums of the year 2012, as determined by us here at The Night Beat. We Continue now with the Top 6.

6. Blessed By A Broken Heart, Feel The Power (January 24, 2012)

I LOVE 80's Music. Probably since that was my formative decade. CCM Came into the rock era in the 80's and so did Heavy Metal, with bands such as Bloodgood and Stryper. Since then the metal world has gone screamo/thrash with those growls that always make me think "that's got to hurt". This band from Montreal has it all. Stryper like harmonies, awesome guitar shreds, and great songs. As they say on their album, "Bang Your Head, Shut Up and Rock." What a way to kick off the new year, as this was the first Perfect album of the year, coming out on January 24. Read my original post at the link. They can even do a good Metal Love song in Forever.

5. Shiny Toy Guns, III (October 22, 2012)

From Metal to Techno. Before they were in the mainstream, the duo of Chad Petree and Jeremy Dawson were well known among the Christian Fringe as Cloud 2 Ground, and though the music may have less of an obvious Christian tint, Shiny Toy Guns still has enough of C2G to please. I gave the album a Perfect 5 in my Original Post. Of course with their music videos, what is it with Carah Faye having to run everywhere. Somebody get this gorgeous blond a sports car. Another one which should clean up at next years Platinum Vinyl Awards. There is nowhere to hide from Shiny Toy Guns.

4. Project 86, Wait for the Siren (August 21, 2012)

The Hard Rockers from San Diego (no, not P.O.D.), these are the other ones strike Platinum once again. Strings, Screams, arrangements. From the opening notes of Fall Goliath Fall with its Celtic intro to the title cut which ends it, this is a Hard Rock album worth every penny. Defector is about the only place to take a breather. The title cut, placed at the end with Celtic Pipes worthy of Iona, pure genius. Definitely a Siren Song worth listening to.

3. Sarah Macintosh, Current (March 6, 2012)

The former lead singer of Chasing Furies returns with her first album in four long years and does not disappoint. Her vocals are unique in the music world, and they are expertly used in this album. About the time the album was released a series of Music Videos taken in the Recording Studio were released on Youtube. The raw energy of these recordings is breathtaking. Personally, the best of these is Damaged.

T1. Lara Landon, Overcome (May 1, 2012) and Gungor, A Creation Liturgy (October 9, 2012)

Falling for an artist was never easier. Lara is without argument the best singer in Christian Music today, and probably the only Torch Singer in the industry. Yes, I'm a guy, but there is no way to describe her voice except seductive. And her Arabic heritage allows her to pull off the middle eastern Look East without a hitch. She can even do country in Leah, and I love it. That says a lot. Get caught in the River.

There was never a doubt about number one from the moment this album was released until the PVA Year ended, and Gungor came out with their live album for the Ghosts upon the earth tour. I didn't like the studio album much, felt it lacked pop, so I was skeptical about the live album, which is usually less energetic for some reason. Not so here. If they could have captured this magic in the studio, but they didn't.

That's it folks, the Top 12 Albums for the Calendar Year 2012. I will soon come out with my PVA Top list, which goes from October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012, and a few others will be on this list. Until then, A Merry Christmas to all from all of us here at The Night Beat.

The Platinum Collection: The Best Albums of 2012

Around this time of year things very predictably slow down in the music world. That makes it fairly easy to put out a best of list by late November. You still have to be careful. Last year a number of Best Album lists were out in the CCM world and then Chevelle came out with Hat's off to the bull. Chevelle, like Evanescence, started out in the Christian Market, but, unlike the latter, has managed to stay on good terms with the industry. Still, it missed the Top album lists due to its release date. Not here, but we at The Night Beat work on a flexible deadline.

There don't appear to be any releases on the horizon, so we begin The WENC Night Beat Best Albums of 2012, or what I shall term.

The Platinum Dozen

I thought about doing a quick list, but then thought better of it. 12 Albums makes quite a long post. So we begin with the bottom 6.

12. Thousand Foot Krutch, Metamorphosiz: The End Remixes, Vol. 1 (December 4, 2012)

Yes, it's a remix album, and not a true album. Still, any band who hands the remix hands off to Andy Hunter knows what they're doing. Techno-Rock at its best. Two Hunter remixes. The only thing wrong with this album. Only five cuts and just over twenty minutes. It should be much longer. This EP should make a big run in the 2013 PVA Awards. (Since it came out after September 30, 2012 It will not make the current awards).

11. Poema, Remembering You (September 11, 2012)

I don't know if the title was inadvertent, considering the release date. Either way, these sisters hit it out of the park in their debut full length release. The Puckett girls are my favorite members of that family since Kirby. Gorgeous, both physically and in voice, though, alas, way too young for me. This is pop the way it's supposed to be. Uplifting and devoid of syrup. A top runner for this years Pop award.

10. Abel, Make It Right (September 18, 2012)

Another album that made a late rush into the list. I had never heard of this band until I saw it on AOL Music and gave it a listen. Fire Walk With Me had me hooked, but so much more. I can see that this band could attain Anberlin like success.

9. Anberlin, Vital (October 16, 2012)

From the student to the teacher. Just missing the cutoff date for this years PVA, otherwise it would have been a shoo-in for Alternative Album of the Year. Actually it's just as well that it missed the calendar cut-off. Stephen Christian already has his side project Anchor and Braille in the PVA running, and it wouldn't be fair for him to dominate. Yeah, Right.

8. Demon Hunter, True Defiance

Hard Rock done right. Demon Hunter has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and not just because they have the coolest logo and name in Christian Rock. (Anytime you get accused of being a bunch of satanists (the logo) you know you're probably on the right track, at least if you want mainstream acceptance. True Defiance is probably Demon Hunters heaviest in a while, though they can still do awesome Red like vocals. This album doesn't really let up from beginning to end.

7. David Crowder Band, Give Us Rest

If you're going to go out, go out with a bang. Give us Rest (only a few words of the longest title in Christian Music History [Challenge me at your peril]. When I heard that these guys were breaking up, I thought, sure, just when I get hooked. Two discs, thirty four tracks, almost two hours of the best alt-worship out there. I kind of hoped that they would have stuck around to be the Delirious of this generation, but I guess we shall have to hope for a reunion of Delirious.

That gets us through the bottom 6, so to speak. Best of lists always  stir up feelings, so feel free to comment if you think I've snubbed your favorite. Until we do the next 6, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Leigh's Angels

Leigh Nash that is, as in Sixpence None The Richer. The latest edition of the Christmas Parade brings us back to Sixpence. We did Silent Night by them back on the sixth of the month. This time we go with a Music Video of Angels we have heard on high.

We will be continuing with the Christmas Parade on a pretty regular basis, though I can't promise daily. Until the next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Newsboys

The Night Beat Christmas Parade continues. Sorry for the long delay, but I've been working on some end of the year lists. So much for easy.

This time we have a Youtube Audio of Newsboys O Holy Night. This is Michael Tait in the lead, and he carries off this tune pretty well.

Thanks for Reading, Listening, and Following. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: There is a Star

Cuteness Alert! Cuteness Alert! You have been properly warned. Sarah Macintosh is a veteran of the Christian Alternative scene. She has released three solo albums. Incidentally they are released on a once a presidential year cycle (2004, 2008, 2012). Prior to that she was lead for the shining star known as Chasing Furies.

In 2009 she released a Christmas album Christmas: With One Breath He Came . Of course I didn't learn about it until this year, as it has been streaming all week at NRT. An animated music video with extremely cute animals has been made for the song There is a Star. This is today's Christmas Parade selection, enjoy.

You can purchase the album at Amazon by clicking on the link, and helping to support The Night Beat at the same time. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Toy Packaging

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous. We continue with The Night Beat Christmas Parade with a home video set to Sara Groves hilarious Toy Packaging. The song chronicles the seemingly endless battle to get children's toys out of child (and possibly human) safe packaging.

Really hoped somebody got some dynamite. That would have been cool. Oh well, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Pretty Little Baby

We're back on the Christmas Parade. I've got a treat for you, but it's somewhat of a teaser. This is the smoldering Lara Landon singing Pretty Little Baby.

Sorry about the abrupt cutoff. That's why I called it a teaser. Still, I hope you enjoyed it. Until tomorrow, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Last Christmas

Wham. No, seriously, Wham. Perhaps we're heading down perilous ground, but I think we should do some bad Christmas songs.

This Christmas is one of those. However this version featuring Florence and the Machine is very pretty.

I'm taking tomorrow off to attend to some returns. I shall see you Thursday. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply

Music Video Monday: Ariel in Wonderland

No, this isn't the title of a Tim Burton Disney Mashup, or worse. A few videos have recently come down the Night Beat Pike, allowing me, briefly, a respite in the Christmas Parade. I do appreciate that. Despite the fact that it is much easier, It is a challenge nonetheless.

One of my favorite bands these days is the Annie Moses Band. Who would have thought that piano, violin, cello and harp would grab the interest of a headbanger like me. They do. It is just the way my complicated mind works. This is the music video for Blush, from Pilgrims and Prodigals.

Just one comment on the video. I understand it completely, though I would rather be a sheriff like Wyatt Earp or Marshall Dillon than an Knight. Gallantry, though, I understand. Like I said, it's how my complicated mind works.

Speaking of a complicated mind, or maybe I should say Demented. Hence the Tim Burton reference. Ariel is the lead singer of Icon for Hire. They recently made a music video for their single, "Off With Her Head", which the Queen of Hearts says quite frequently in Alice in Wonderland. Watch the video and find out why I thought of this.

Such a beautiful girl, and such a demented mind. If not her, then at least the one responsible for the video. I hope you enjoyed this brief respite. Until tomorrow, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

P.S. - Commentary is part of the job here at The Night Beat, and I couldn't let this pass. Though I don't know a word of Spanish, my cheapskateness in refusing to shell out 40 bucks for cable means that my DTV is limited to Univision, the only over the air signal it regularly picks up. So when my twitter trends said that Jenni Rivera's plane was missing and presumed crashed, I admit I knew exactly who they were talking about. She was only 43, and that is too young for anyone to die, whatever the reason. We at the Night Beat give our condolences to all.

A Nutcracker Siberian Crowder Christmas

Yes I know that is quite a mouthful, but this is David Crowder Band we're talking about. They are somewhat nutty, and this video proves it. They animated themselves as nutcrackers and performed Christmas in Sarajevo by Trans Siberian. This is from their O The Joy album.

Hope You enjoyed. As always, I am Awaiting Your reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Grinchypoo

Who doesn't love the grinch.  The Night Beat Christmas Parade continues, and what Christmas would be complete without the appearance of the Grinch.


Hope the only Stolen on Christmas is the bread (stollen). Until next time, I am awaiting Your Reply.

Flashback Friday: God

Nobody could scream God's name better than Rebecca Jean Smallbone. No, that's not what I'm talking about. Get your head out of the gutter, this is a Christian Music blog after all. Not familiar with the name? You should, but perhaps you know her better by her stage name, Rebecca St. James. So far she's sticking with that name, which is a lot better than her married name, but more on that later.

Rebecca St. James is probably one of the most loved artists in the pop/rock arena of CCM. Hailing from the land Down Under, she is connected to the Jesus Music Era of CCM through her father, David Smallbone. It seems that in 1977, right around the time RSJ was born, Larry Norman released a self titled album that was on Rhema Records in Australia. Rhema was owned by David Smallbone, hence the connection.

God (1996) was RSJ's entrance into the upper echelon of CCM. Far from being a sophomore slump, it propelled her to Superstardom (and the ability for everyone to know you just by your initials). Just listen for yourself.

Pray (1998) followed, but I was really impressed when Transform (2000) came out. At this time she "transformed" her style to techno, and while she wasn't able to land the title of Christian Dance Queen (that Tiara is worn jointly by Plumb and Beckah Shae), it was a heroic effort. It was also pretty much of a swan song, musically. From this point on she only released one more album (2005 If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something) that would be pop-rock. She has pretty much turned to Modern Worship.

Well that and acting. Rebecca has become quite an accomplished actress in the Christian Movie Industry, nine films and counting. Her film career began with Left Behind in 2000 and recently included Suing The Devil.

Though about a decade or so separates us in age, and therefore I always considered her more of a little sister, it was with regret when I found out she was off the market (got married, for those not into the lingo). I know that you can't pick who you fall in love with, but Jacob Fink. I mean, really Rebecca. All I can say is don't give up your stage name. Nobody wants to refer to you as Rebecca Fink.

That concludes this edition of Flashback Friday. We continue with the Christmas Parade Tomorrow. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Silent Night, Sixpence Style

We return to our Night Beat Christmas Parade, this time featuring a returning favorite, Sixpence None The Richer.  Leigh and company recently returned to the scene after a really long absence, and the new album did not disappoint. This is a Music Video for Silent Night.

Keep it here for more great Christmas Music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Presents: The Christmas Song

You didn't think we would get through the season without without this Classic. Nat King Cole doing The Christmas Song. I'm surprised that he didn't write it. Mel Torme did in 1944 and Cole recorded it two years later. It goes to show it doesn't matter who did it first, it's who made it famous that counts. At least as far as music is concerned. Once a version is deemed "The Signature", who cares who the author was. So this is Cole's song, and rightly so.

Keep it locked here for more Christmas Music Videos and Songs. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: A Jazz Christmas

We Continue with The Night Beat Christmas Parade. Today's Artist is Kirk Whalum, and we have a little Jazz Saxophone version of the Little Drummer Boy, which he calls the little Ghetto Drummer Boy.

I hope you enjoyed it. Until tomorrow, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Sally's Song

For those of you looking for Music Video Monday, it has gone away, sort of. Until the New Year, Mayan Calendar notwithstanding, the Night Beat will be in Holiday Music Mode, with the exception of Flashback Friday and Rewind.

We are going a little nontraditional this day, with something out of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is Sally's Song, as done by Amy Lee of Evanescence, one of the most beautiful voices (and women) ever to grace Rock and Roll and Christian Music. (Amy and Company are one of the K.O.O.K. founding members [That stands for Kicked Out Of (the) Kingdom]. Enjoy, everybody.

The Christmas Parade Continues. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: November 2012

We are finished with the November releases, and it's still November. The reason for this is the Christmas slowdown. Of course there are Christmas releases, but these are PVA ineligible.

Non Eligible Christmas Music

• Kari Jobe - Where I Find You: Christmas Edition 4.50 Emeralds
• Daniel Kirkley - Love Is Christmas3.75 Emeralds
• Mikeschair - It's Christmas (EP) 4.50 Emeralds
• North Point Music - North Point Christmas : Peace on Earth 4.50 Emeralds

I wish to reiterate, these seasonal releases are being judged solely on their merits, as they are not eligible for Platinum Vinyl Award consideration. When you take that pressure out of the equation, 3.75 is pretty good. There were a handful of non seasonal releases that were eligible, however. We begin with those that didn't make it.

Missing The Mark

• An Magritt - Memoriam 3.50 Emeralds
• Attaboy - Motion Toward The Miles 3.75 Emeralds
• Matt Compton - The MC Project 3.75 Emeralds
• Julie Elias - A Wild Rose 3.75 Emeralds
• Corby LaCroix - About Face - a Worship EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Twenty Three 3.75 Emeralds
• S.O. - So it continues3.50 Emeralds
• Social Club - Misfits-EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Ursula T. Wright - Saturated for the Nations 3.75 Emeralds

You will note that all of these pretty much just missed the 4 Emerald Bar, so don't judge them too harshly.  There were two albums released in November that reached the vaunted 5 Emerald mark.

Pure Platinum

• Shelly Moore - Unraveling 5 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - Free from the Trap 5 Emeralds 

Semi-Precious Metal

• Paul Anleitner - Come to the Table (The Eucharist) 4.50 Emeralds
• Clay Crosse - Rededication 4.50 Emeralds
• Dawn - A Different Kind of Love Song 4.50 Emeralds
• Disciple - O God Save Us All 4.75 Emeralds
• East Coast Christian Center Live - This Is Love: A Worship Collective (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• After Edmund - Strange Education 4.75 Emeralds
• Japhia Life - Westside Pharmacy 4.50 Emeralds
• Matt & Toby - Matt & Toby 4.75 Emeralds
• Overcoming Affliction - Rescue Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Matt Redman - Sing Like Never Before 4.75 Emeralds
• Set For Tomorrow - Prophet Arise EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Skull Church - When Darkness Shakes 4.50 Emeralds.
• The O.C. Supertones - For The Glory 4.50 Emeralds
• Third Day - Miracle 4.75 Emeralds

Though Matt Redman technically is a skewed rating, being a best of album, you can see that of the fourteen releases, most  had just one or two things that prevented them from going Pure Platinum.

That concludes our look at the November releases. I have not checked on the months releases, but last I did it looked pretty sparse, so we shall be staying with the Christmas Parade, which resumes Monday. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.