#PlatVnyl6 v. #WLCMA4 - The Album Awards, Part One

The matchup begins. As we mentioned in our last post, the +We Love Christian Music Awards recently announced their nominee pool, and we here at the +The WENC Night Beat were pleasantly surprised to find we are pretty much on the same page. We go now to the actual nomination comparisons. We start with the Album Awards. One slight Caveat. We have not yet finalized our nominees yet, so I can only speak with possibilities except in the case of Perfect 5's, which are considered Automatic Qualifiers for the finals.

The Hook Awards correspond to our Pop Album of The Year. Our biggest problem with this bunch of picks is we seem to have a difference of opinion on our definition of "Pop". Their nominees.

• Blanca - Blanca 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - Science Fiction 5 EMERALDS 
• Kevin Max - Broken Temples: Deluxe 5 EMERALDS
• Mat Kearney - Just Kids 4.75 Emeralds
• Ryan Stevenson - Fresh Start 4.75 Emeralds 

We agree with Blanca and Stevenson, and at 4.75 we shall see if they make the finals in Pop. Jonathan Thulin and Kevin Max, however are automatic qualifiers for Alternative, not pop, and Kearney is in the mix in Rock. I wish to suggest the following Pop Albums for Consideration. 

• Annie Moses Band - American Rhapsody 5 EMERALDS
• JJ Heller - Sound of A Living Heart 5 EMERALDS
• Plumb - Exhale 5 EMERALDS
• Kerrie Roberts - My Hearts Lifted 5 EMERALDS

The Softlight Award correspond to our Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Album of The Year. Again we seem to differ in our genre interpretation. Their nominees

• Chris August - The Maker 4.50 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - I Will Follow 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be 4.75 Emeralds
• Plumb - Exhale 5 EMERALDS
• Sidewalk Prophets - Something Different 5 EMERALDS

Of the five Daigle and August are in the right genre in our opinion, though August most likely wont get in the finals at only a 4.5. Plumb isn't her usual dance, but AC? Please. It's Pop. And Jeremy Camp and Sidewalk Prophets are both Rock. Only Two AQ's for AC from us for your perusal.

• Big Daddy Weave - Beautiful Offering 5 EMERALDS
• The City Harmonic - We Are 5 EMERALDS

The Prose Award, which they say is for Singer/Songwriter Album of The Year, would seem to correspond to our Folk/Folk Rock Album of The Year. You can check my latest rant to see what I think of the Singer/Songwriter label. Anyway, their nominees.

• Andrew Peterson - The Burning Edge of Dawn 4.75 Emeralds
• Cindy Morgan - Bows and Arrows 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Guerra - Little Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Wilson - That Was Then, This Is Now 4.75 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - Floodplain 5 EMERALDS

We have a number of problems to sort out here. One is misplaced genre, as Wilson and Morgan are Pop. Guerra is AC/Insp. Except for Guerra's 4.50 I Think they would make a fine finals. Our biggest problem is the meshing of eligibility years. Ours run from Oct 1- Sept 30, so Andrew Peterson and Sara Groves, while excellent choices, are in the running for #PlatVnyl7, not the current #PlatVnyl6 year. Again, not much for Folk AQ's but here are ours.

• Jennifer Knapp - Set Me Free 5 EMERALDS
• The Vespers - Sisters and Brothers 5 EMERALDS

I can hear the peanut gallery screaming "Jennifer's Not Christian Anymore". I never heard her renounce Jesus. These two are in big time.

As to picking, here goes. I think Blanca should get the Hook Award, Daigle the Softlight and Sara Groves the Prose Award. We'll hit another bunch next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.