We Are The Brave

Deena Jakoub. Remember that name. I predict you'll being hearing a lot about her in the future. Right along with Amy Lee, Lacey Sturm, Sarah Anthony and Dawn Michele. That's Evanescence, Flyleaf, The Letter Black and Fireflight for the rest of you.

Welcome to the World of Female Fronted Rock and Roll, which is one of the fastest growing areas of Christian Music, and believe me, that is a very good thing, and not just from the eye candy point of view. Face it, the male fronted bands are getting kind of predictable and all sort of sound the same, and that's the truth.

Truth, from the latin Veritas. From Nashville, Tennessee we bring you Veridia, which is a variation on Veritas. It means truth seeker. And the truth these days that the girls can rock better than the guys. They have deeper resonant voices (a side effect from the hair metal days), and a wider range. They can hit the high notes without their voice cracking. And they're gorgeous. Sorry guys, I know, the truth hurts.

As anyone knows, the Truth and I are Inseparable. And that's one of the reasons I love this band. More than just the music is the message. The album is chock full of message. We Are The Brave is about facing fear. Disconnected is about the power of words. Furious Love is for the girls who feel they have to remake themselves in a guys image or never have love. The last song is Mystery of The Invisible is about being lost in God. My favorite though, is track four. Mechanical Planet is written from the P.O.V. of Regret, and has this awesome bridge.

The truth is I work day and night to keep the gears grinding in your mind.

To keep you from knowing you are worth more than gold.
Not some assembly line rusted shell of a person that I try to remote control.

I never want you to believe that when you're down on your knees
that someone is actually listening
If you were undistracted for even a moment I  lose my hold
and you would notice that you have never been alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
On This Mechanical Planet.

Like I said. Powerful words. I encourage you to listen for yourself, courtesy of The Night Beat, HM Magazine and Soundcloud.
And since I want you to get this album, I want you to go to iTunes. It's got an exclusive right now, so I won't get a penny from the sale. I'm giving Inseparable 4.75 Emeralds. I'd give it a perfect 5, but it is a debut and an EP, and I want more. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: No More Hell To Pay

Welcome Back to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. No holiday this week (knock on wood). And the rugrats are back in school. So, things are back to normal.We are in a Headbanging Mood this week, so let's hit you with some heavy metal videos.

We begin our day with a Vendetta. Righteous Vendetta, that is. This is This Pain.
Next up we go to a legend. Stryper is with us, and there is No More Hell To Pay.
Impending Doom is upon us, though, as it is Doomsday.
And we close with a Lyric Video from Stryper Frontman Michael Sweet. This is The Cause.
That does it for this week folks. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: How We Do It

Welcome to the Presidents Day edition of Music Video Monday. The fake holidays never seem to end these days. Don't get me wrong, I love Washington and Lincoln. Only in this case, I wish we had two holidays instead of one. Making President's Day is just wrong. Sure, you get to honor the two above listed Presidents, but since it is a "day to honor all Presidents like William Henry Harrison (1 month), James Buchanan (Caused The Civil War), and Ulysses S. Grant (most corrupt administration in history). I could say more, but this is a music blog. You got a Whig, a Democrat, and a Republican. There's balance for you.

We have four rap videos for you today. We start with London Rapper Jahaziel. They Don't Know.

More music shot out of a Canon. It's How We Do It.

Benjiman is next. He Can't Stop

We finish with Benjah. He knows that an edition of Music Video Monday is a lot of Work.

Next Monday we crank things up with a bit of metal. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Caught in a Firefall at General Hospital

The Calendar doesn't say it, but it is coupleary once again. For those new here, that is my name for the first half of February and the last half of January. It's the thirteenth month, and it exists mainly to depress single guys and make guys in a relationship feel guilty if they don't spend big bucks on this one day. I usually can ignore the month as best as is humanly possible, but these past few years have made me a bit more sensitive to its effects.

For that I blame love songs. They seem to occur with more frequency around now. A while back I was having breakfast at a fast food joint and a love song from the 70's came on the radio. Plus, they are always written by people who already have the girl.

You are the woman that I've always dreamed of, I knew it from the start.
I saw your face and that's the last I've seen of my heart.

Corny? Maybe, but pretty innocent. Just listen to the cars that pass by any day and you would have an eternal bleep if you tried. That's not love. Still, I remember listening to it and thinking "Lucky guy". If I knew it at the time, things would have been different. No, I am a bit closer to another love song, this from the 80's.

All I need is just a little more time to be sure of what I feel. Is it all in my mind. Cause it seems so hard to believe that you're all I need.

That second one comes from Jack Wagner, at the time a star on the soap opera General Hospital. You want to know how I know that?My High School Sweetheart was a GH Fan and she raved about the song. That should have been my cue to exit, stage right. No way I was going to compete with a soap opera star. What's reality when you've got fantasy.  I may have needed a little more time, but she probably wanted a decision NOW. When I finally had enough time I found out that my time was up long ago.

I'm not entirely a lost cause. I still believe there can be love at first sight. Only if it doesn't go both ways at that time, it never will. Though that line about marrying your best friend. Only if they became your best friend after marriage. Otherwise, once again, It doesn't work. Believe me, I know whereof I speak.

My post last year said it best. On the 15th, the candy goes on sale. Then we single guys get left alone until next year. Time to put Sumerlin on. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: All In

The stakes have been raised in an all new all rap Music Video Monday. We have a video trifecta today. We begin with Canon, which is a misnomer. He raps so quickly he should be named Mac 10. This is Mad Haven.

Next at the table is Flame. He's holding a Royal Flush, so you know he's All In.

We finish today with Lecrae. I'm Turnt.

That does it for this week. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: January 2014

Happy New Year everyone. Welcome to the first edition of Night Beat Rewind for 2014. The year has kicked off with a bang, with three perfect albums in this months total. We begin, however, with those albums which will not get an award in the 5th Platinum Vinyl Awards (The fourth is being tabulated for nominees as we write).

Missing The Mark

• Casting Crowns - Thrive 3.75 Emeralds 
• Copperlilly - Love Is A Legend 3.75 Emeralds
• Keno Camp - Riot 3.75 Emeralds
• Maranatha Music - Top 25 Praise Songs 2014 3.75 Emeralds
• Saving Grace - The Urgency 3.75 Emeralds

Now all these releases are pretty good, but pretty good just won't cut it at the PVA's. The only release that disappointed me was Casting Crowns. The only way to describe it is flat.

From Flat to Perfect. We now announce the January releases deemed to be

Pure Platinum

• David Ian - Valentine's Day 5 Emeralds
• Charlie Peacock - Lemonade 5 Emeralds
• Switchfoot - Fading West 5 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - The White Room (Deluxe Edition) CD Re-release 5 Emeralds

Ian and Peacock put out two outstanding Jazz records this past month. Switchfoot? Far from Fading away, they, in my opinion at least, put out their best album ever.

Now to the releases in the middle. Not perfect, but in the pool nonetheless.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Dave Barnes - Golden Days 4.50 Emeralds
• Latice Crawford - Latice Crawford 4.75 Emeralds
• Colton Dixon - A Messenger (Expanded Edition) 4.50 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Only King Forever 4.50 Emeralds
• Israel and New Breed - Playlist: The Very Best of Israel & New Breed 4.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Grace - Ready To Fly [+video] 4.75 Emeralds
• Jake Hamilton - Beautiful Rider   4.75 Emeralds
• Maranatha Music - Heart Of Worship - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) 4.75 Emeralds
• Andy Mineo - Never Land EP 4.50 Emeralds
• J Moss - The Very Best of J Moss 4.25 Emeralds
• Nine Lashes - From Water to War 4.75 Emeralds
• Number One Gun - This Is All We Know 4.75 Emeralds
• Papa San - One Blood 4.75 Emeralds
• Triplicity - Triplicity 4.75 Emeralds
• Shout Praises Kids - We Belong To Jesus 4.50 Emeralds
• David Thulin - Reconstruction (Vol. 2.1) 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - iWorship Now/Next 2014 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for January. Yeah, I know there are four among the perfect and I said three. Three originals. This is a re-release from November for Jonathan Thulin. They all want an additional entry to the pool. Also, due to the possible snowstorm around these parts, I have only included limited links. Don't worry, they will be fully updated. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Runaways are always walking in the dark

"What makes your heart break, you've been dying to let it go.
But you keep holding on to what makes your heart beat
so desperate to find what is real. Longing to feel again."

I have a love/hate relationship with certain artists and albums. I love the fact that they do much more than entertain, that they seem to reach down into your soul and speak to how you're feeling, and become an agent of healing. On the other hand, you hate them for being able to penetrate your defenses. You would think that would mean you would never listen to them again, but the healing wins out, and you listen again and again. I am convinced more than ever that Amy Lee knew what was in my heart long before I did. That's +Evanescence for the rest of you.

Runaways is such an album. The latest release from Dream Records artist Sumerlin. It's their first full length album after two EP's, and what a release it is. I think that Dream Records has something to do with it. They are vying with +Tooth & Nail Records and +Brandon Ebel for The Kingmakers of Christian Music, and with Sumerlin, The Thulin Brothers (Jonathan and David), Press Play, Satellites and Sirens, and Silverline. their making quite the claim to the throne.

Some albums put a love song on the album as its ballad. This song is one great lost love song (from a guys perspective).

1. Heartbeat
2. Walking In The Dark
3. Home With You
4. Breaking Out
5. Counterfeit
6. You Always Were
7. As I Am 
8. Speak Up, Speak Out
9. War
10. Voices
11. More Than A Memory.

Breaking out was the first song to get its hooks into me

"If only gravity couldn't keep me down
so I could go to any new place to a new life
but these eyes have seen enough, and these hands
are broken I can not feel you.
It's my fault I gave my heart away with the key. 
I Thought she'd be the one to stay here. Don't leave me astray."

WOW. The tears had to be stifled on that one. How about this for power.

"Is it possible to live life without a heart?
To live your life like a ghost walking in the dark.
I've longed for something new to ease the pain
I've made and built up inside. And leave the past behind."

Powerful rock, touching ballads (Home With You, You Always Were, More Than A Memory). Unlike in TV, the game of Love doesn't always end right. The guy doesn't always get the girl.

"Can I be caught in the moment you or am I just a picture on your wall
I say over and over again this can't be the end of us, this can't be the end of more than a memory, more than a memory."

 Yeah, I know, he's a stalker that can't take no for an answer. It's certainly not that easy to pigeonhole. Healing never is. Get Runaways . It grew to 5 Emeralds. If you've ever had a relationship not work out, you'll get it. Keep the Kleenex handy. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: #LITO

Welcome to an all new Music Video Monday. Keep your dancing shoes on. Call on your Royal Tailor. Ready, Set, Go. 

Now Press Play and always remember the password #LITO

We move on from the dance floor to the theology of rap. Always remember to have a Beautiful Eulogy and capture things with a Vital Lens. 

It's all rap next week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.