Science Fiction Begins Now

No, I am not going to write about life on other planets. That's just a teaser. This is about music. The trend in music these days is Synthetic, not Organic. Personally, I think that's a good thing. Who needs instruments? All you need is a synthesizer and some vocals. Actually, vocals are optional.

Two brothers lead the pack in synthetic music are two brothers who are too lean. No that's not a comment on their diet, it's their name. David and Jonathan Thulin (the pronunciation is above). David is the EDM king, and Jonathan is the Electronic-Industrial/Alternative half. This is about Jonathan.

Way back in #PlatVnyl4 Jonathan came out with The White Room (Deluxe Edition) . Until then he was unknown to us, as was his brother. So much so that I had his name as Thu-lynne. Bombs Away was the song that caught my attention, and the video is a perfect analogy for redemption. It gathered nominations that year, and the Deluxe edition is in contention again in #PlatVnyl5.

The follow up to The White Room is pure Science Fiction . I've got the album on auto repeat here. It is addicting. Jonathan has a lot of help in this album (featuring credits) from big time artists (Rapture Ruckus, Derek Minor, Kevin Max, Moriah Peters) and some which may not be recognized at first, such as Manwell (Group1Crew), Tauren Wells (Royal Tailor) and Emily Irene (Shine Bright Baby).

One of the highlights of The White Room was the tendency to the spectacular, with musical scores more reminiscent of Epic Motion Pictures. To be fair, he delivered in the song, and especially in the Music Videos, which would be mini-movies. JT does not disappoint here. Cry Wolf,  Mockingbird, and The Ruins should make great videos with this one.

Considering that this has been on auto repeat from the start I have no qualms about giving Science Fiction a perfect 5 Emerald rating. This one has really set the bar for Electronic and Alternative. Like all good sci-fi, you do have to wait. The link is just for a pre-order, the actual album drops March 17. And it's a whole lot better than green beer. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: February 2015

We are up and running in 2015. There were open 30 releases this month. Of course, not all of them will be covered here. Two wound up being spoken word and one was classical. Of course, they weren't exactly the judges cup of tea, so they were unceremoniously dropped.

We begin with a few songs, or as we like to call it

The Singles Scene

• Audio Adrenaline - Love Was Stronger 3.50 Emeralds
• Family Force 5 - Hold Your Hand 4.50 Emeralds
• Fireflight - We Are Alive 4.50 Emeralds
• David Glenn - Church Triumphant - Single 4.50 Emeralds

Hearing the first single from AA 3.0 as it has been dubbed has cemented my opinion that they should hang it up. Fireflight shows promise. I mean, it is still Dawn, but it's a bit poppy. Not everything can be For Those Who Wait, but I think when they finally release an album it will be more than enough rock. The following can not be said about our first grouping.

Missing The Mark

• Christ Fellowship - Like No Other 3.75 Emeralds
• Roy Fields - Stand Up 3.75 Emeralds
• Darlene Zschech - In Jesus' Name: A Legacy of Worship & Faith 3.50 Emeralds

I like to think that I am the toughest on the Modern Worship genre. There are so many "Zschechies" out there, some which literally go all "Single White Female" in copying Darlene's dress, hairstyle and everything. It's downright spooky. Unfortunately all of them, including Hillsong, have pretty much rested on their laurels and mail it in, expecting everyone to applaud anyway. Maybe I overcompensate, but I look for bands that break out of the Hillsong Mold.

No mold grows on our next grouping, however.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Red - of Beauty and Rage [+digital booklet] 5 Emeralds
• Skrip - Renegades Never Die 5 Emeralds
• Sumerlin - Runaways (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds
• The Vespers - Sisters and Brothers 5 Emeralds
• Virtue - Testimony Reloaded 5 Emeralds
• Yancy - Little Praise Party: Taste and See 5 Emeralds

This was a loaded month, and I couldn't be more pleased. On the flip side, however, I can announce that the Night Beat Candy Store is now officially open. Six perfect fives in February equals a lot of editing again to come up with a best of in December.

Of course most releases fall somewhere in the middle, or what we like to call

Semi-Precious Metal

• Crystal Aikin - All I Need 4.75 Emeralds
• Dave Barnes - Hymns for Her 4.50 Emeralds
• Bridgecity - Christ Be Glorified 4.75 Emeralds
• The Brilliance - Brother 4.75 Emeralds
• Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - Pray 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - I Will Follow 4.75 Emeralds
• Davis The Band - Only Your Love 4.50 Emeralds
• Dee-1 - 3's Up - EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Benita Farmer - Mender Of Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Aaron Gillespie - Grace Through the Wandering 4.50 Emeralds
• Brandon Heath - No Turning Back 4.75 Emeralds
• Inspire Music - Inspire 4.50 Emeralds
• Mat Kearney - Just Kids 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon-Micah Sumrall - Faith & Family 4.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Risen Powerful Gospel Resurrection Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - WOW Gospel 2015 4.75 Emeralds

That concludes this edition of Night Beat Rewind. For the first time I believe I have even linked the Missing The Mark entries. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.