What does it take to be a legend?

A legend in Christian Music (or perhaps Music in General) shouldn't be easy to attain. It should be more than a Rock God. Of course that doesn't mean that it is an unattainable goal. All it means is it can't be attained by just starting a band, though that is the first step in the process. I think there are three main ingredients.

• Longevity: Time to the 10 cent dictionary crowd. You can't be a legend if you quit after a few years. Still, even if you are around for 5o years, that doesn't automatically guarantee legendary status.
• Popularity: To be a legend, people have to know you. That is a cruel fact but such is the case. A band can go on forever in obscurity and they will never become legendary except for the few fans that love them. So Much for ArkAngel.
• Influence: Plainly put, the music scene had to change after their arrival. Perceptibly. It goes beyond we would miss them if they weren't here. You can tell they are a legend either through the number of their "disciples" (copycats) or the fact that they changed or introduced a sound into the scene

Well that pretty much sums it up.  I have selected a baker`s dozen of bands which I consider to be legendary. 2nd Chapter of Acts, AD, The Choir, DC Talk, Iona, Jars of Clay, Phil Keaggy, Petra, REZ, Servant, Randy Stonehill, Stryper, and WWMT (aka The Tribe or World Wide Message Tribe). I have omitted what I would call Legends in the making. If you can think of any more let me know by commenting here, or at Twitter, Facebook, Or Google+, and give me your nominee. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: I Get To Be The One

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. We begin with a cuteness overload. The Song isn't new, but the video is. JJ Heller has been one of my favorites for a while, both in the Folk and now the Pop genres. A few years back she put out a Children's Album and my favorite on the album was a song called I Get To Be The One. Well the video is now out and it has been done Home Movie Style. A Lot of Cute Baby Video is in this. Be Warned.

One of the upcoming Inspirational/Modern Worship bands out there is called I Am They. Kind of reminds me of a sermon I heard once ("Who cares what they think. Unless HE is in the middle of They, it doesn't matter what they think". Yeah.). This is a cover of Bethel Music No Longer Slaves. 
And finally, before we go we had best turn out the Lights. The Canadian songstress took her Pop/Dance oriented Little Machines album for an acoustic spin, which she dubbed Midnight Machines. She has an awesome voice which made this album Pure Platinum. This is Meteorites.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We are currently announcing the Platinum Vinyl Award nominees on our Facebook page. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: April 2106

We have passed the half-way mark for the Pool Entrants for #PlatVnyl7. This is going to be a very big year. We begin our wrap with the song releases, or

The Singles Scene

• Amy Grant ft Tori Kelly - Baby Baby 4.50 Emeralds
• Needtobreathe - Happiness 4.50 Emeralds
• Needtobreathe - Money and Fame 4.75 Emeralds

Needtobreathe is releasing the singles in anticipation of a July release of HARDLOVE. On to the albums. We begin with those which will not make the pool, those that

Missed The Mark

• J-Giles Son - 80ayechd 3.50 Emeralds
• Poured Out - Blind Heart EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Promise - Tell A Vision EP  3.75 Emeralds
• Paul Wilbur - Forever Good 3.75 Emeralds
• So Long Forgotten - So Long Forgotten 3.75 Emeralds

Most of the albums on this list aren't bad. I would let you know if they were. They just don't impress me that they are award worthy. Not so with the next grouping. The WOW factor is in full force here.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Dogs of Peace - Heel 5 Emeralds
• Hammock - Everything and Nothing 5 Emeralds
• Lights - Midnight Machines 5 Emeralds
• NF - Therapy Session 5 Emeralds
• Adam Young - The Spirit of St. Louis 5 Emeralds

A handful of Pure Platinum, and a different story for every one. Dogs of Peace is a rock supergroup consisting of John Hammond (of WhiteHeart) and Jimmmy Lee Sloas (The Imperials) and a number of others.  20 Years between releases only shows that perfection needs time to brew. Hammock is an Alt-Electronic-Trance outfit out to give Salt of The Sound a run for their money. They have a "Choir" Pedigree so that should help. Lights (aka Valerie Anne Poxleitner) has taken her Little Machines acoustic and showcased a truly beautiful voice. Bring out the phone book. NF has been building a reputation with each album release and finally, at least to this blogger, has put it all together. And Adam Young (Owl City) continues his Platinum Soundtracks to already released movies. Someone should hire him to do a current one.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Adalid - Before Greatness 4.25 Emeralds
• Canyon Worship - 2016 4.75 Emeralds
• Darkness Divided - Darkness Divided 4.50 Emeralds
• Decyfer Down - The Other Side of Darkness 4.75 Emeralds
• Todd Dulaney - A Worshipper's Heart 4.50 Emeralds      
• Everything In Slow Motion - Laid Low 4.75 Emeralds
• Jordan Feliz - The River 4.50 Emeralds
• The Fifth Service - Proven 4.75 Emeralds
• Forfeit Thee Untrue - Cremationem Jesus Lacrimam 4.75 Emeralds 
• 1GN - Unite 4.50 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Gateway Worship Voices: Kari Jobe 4.75 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Ghost of a King 4.75 Emeralds
• Ghosts Again - The Closest Thing To Closure EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Indiana Bible College - Omnipotent 4.75 Emeralds
• LoveCollide - Resonate: A Ripple To A Wave 4.75 Emeralds
• Love Displayed - You're the only one 4.50 Emeralds
• We Are Messengers - We Are Messengers 4.75 Emeralds
• Onething Live - Love Makes Us Strong 4.75 Emeralds
• V. Rose - Young Dangerous Heart 4.75 Emeralds
• Scribbling Idiots - Good Morning Mourning 4.50 Emeralds
• Sevin - Purple Heart 4.50 Emeralds
• Jamie Slocum - Safe 4.50 Emeralds 
• Jeremy Vanderloop - No Death 4.50 Emeralds
• Joel Vaughn - Kinetic 4.75 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - Fightback Soundtrack (The Remixes) 4.75 Emeralds
• JJ Weeks Band - As Long As We Can Breathe 4.50 Emeralds     
• Phil Wickham - Children of God 4.75 Emeralds
• Young Oceans - Voices Vol 1 - 4.50 Emeralds  

April is in the bag and we still have half of May to go. Things are looking up here at Night Beat HQ. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.           

Music Video Monday: Running With Giants

Welcome back to Music Video Monday. Here's to trying to get it off on the right day. The less time spent on introductory remarks the better. We begin with a Rawkfist. One of the best exports ever to come from Canada is a Krutch, a Thousand Foot Krutch that is. They are Running With Giants.
Next up we go back to Fearless BND. They put our a lot of videos lately. This is Brighter. 
And finally we may have done this one already, but I want to get this out so I am not going to check. This is I'll Be Alright by Beckah Shae.
See You next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Music Video Monday: Blankets of Night in a Hammock

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday, where we share the best music videos in CCM, and a bunch that skipped their notice. We are going to start off today with one of those bands that get skipped. It almost skipped my notice as well, except I have sources.  Of course sometimes things come in down to the wire and force a rewrite, and a missed deadline. Such is the case this week. Anyway, as to the band. Their name is Hammock, and it is a two piece electronic effort. One of The two members is Marc Byrd. Now Marc is married to Christine Glass and they released an album together under the name of Glassbyrd. He also has ties to The Choir and was part of the Alt/Rock Effort Common Children. So needless to say the bonafides are there. Hammock released Everything and Nothing back on April 1. This video is Blankets of Night from the 2015 Remastered Kenotic.
Next up is Fearless BND, or the Band Formerly Known as Worth Dying For. Sorry for the Prince reference, but I couldn't resist. They have been putting out a lot of singles lately in anticipation of an album, and some videos have come down the pike as well. This is Jump Around.
And finally we go on to Sara Groves and Signal.
That is all for this belated edition of Music Video Monday. We will be on time Next Week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.