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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Not Better With Age: The 2016 Dove Awards Nominations

1969 was a momentous year. I turned 3 years old, and everything is momentous to a 3 year old. I don't know what my musical tastes were at the time, but I don't think it was at the top of the adult hit parade. As far as CCM is concerned, I entered the scene in 1977. I didn't know about the Dove Awards until much later.

In 47 years the Doves have remained largely unchanged. Except for adding Rap to the awards they still have nothing harder than Petra on the docket. They need to add a real rock category, as well as adding Metal, and Electronic/Dance if they ever wish to be taken seriously.

This year, due to the abundance of pool entries, we are just finished awarding #PlatVnyl6. The ceremony took place last night, and it had a few glitches. I think we broke Facebook. That is a month or so behind schedule. If a #PlatVnyl6 Dove Match happens I will say it was "a nominee", otherwise it will be "in the pool"

One final note: In last nights Award Ceremony had Awards in Album of The Year, Female Vocalist of The Year, Male Vocalist of The Year, Group of The Year, Metal, Remix, Rock, Electronic, Dance, Instrumental in Song and Album of The Year, and a complete Video Awards. The Doves have none of these. Talk About snubs. On to the comparisons next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Monday, August 15, 2016

The Night Beat Summer Update #3

We are back with our occasional updates from Night Beat HQ. Things are crazy here, and then there is the weather.

PlatVny6 is almost ready for public consumption. The Video and Album Awards are in the bag, fully judged, and I am over halfway through the Song Section. Then there is just a few general field awards to judge before the results are sealed and certified by the cracked law firm of Youppa, Snoopa and Cow. I will let you know the final results, but right now we are looking at late August/early September for the Awards Ceremony.

The Nominations for the 47th Dove Awards are out (yeah, they've been here a bit longer than the Platinum Vinyl Awards, like 40). Just because they are older doesn't mean they are better. I'll be going through the nominations and then I'll take my pot shots make an informed comparison in a series of blog posts.

I think it is time to declare defeat. Music Video Monday is a mess. Now I am not giving up on the series, just giving it a Summer Vacation. It will return in September. That should give me enough time to get through the Doves and Platinum Vinyl Awards and return to a regular schedule. I will keep you posted on that.

Finally, it came to my attention this weekend about the sudden passing of Nelson Chu, aka DJ Official. He was only 39, and he was the DJ for Lecrae and was also associated with The Cross Movement. A rare form of bone marrow cancer took him out. He will be missed.

Sorry for ending on a downer, folks. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Night Beat Rewind: July 2016

Welcome to the July Edition of Rewind. The Fourth Quarter is one third over. Only two months remain and the #PlatVnyl7 eligibility year will be in the bag. Things are really starting to heat up here. As we expect, the big guns have held their releases until this time. Without further ado, July Rewind. We begin with the songs released during the month.

The Singles Scene

  • As We Ascend - Wash Away 4.75 Emeralds
  • Canon - Eagles 4.25 Emeralds
  • Capital Kings - I Can't Quit 4.50 Emeralds
  • Forevermore - Noumina 4.50 Emeralds
  • Lakewood Music - Live In the Wonderful 4.50 Emeralds
  • Skillet - Back From The Dead 4.75 Emeralds
A very good mix, with Skillet the cream of the crop. Don't know what to expect from Canon this time around. On to the albums. We begin with those that will not make the pool.

Missing The Mark

  • Hollis Creek Revival - In The River 3.75 Emeralds
  • J-Giles Son - Hands on The Clock 3.50 Emeralds
  • JSon - Foreign, Volume 1 3.75 Emeralds
  • Paul McIntyre - One Way and The Fruit of The Spirit 3.50 Emeralds
  • Weston Skaggs - Joy and Sorrow Meet 3.50 Emeralds
  • Toarn - Giant Killer 3.75 Emeralds
  • Vineyard Music - God You Are: Live From Southern California 3.75 Emeralds
Perhaps a Skaggs (related to Ricky?) should have tipped me off, but NRT called it Praise and Worship instead of Country and Western. Only disappointment was JSon. I expected a lot more. This next group did not disappoint.

Pure Platinum Perfection

  • K Gautier - The Prevailing 5 Emeralds
  • House of Heroes - Colors 5 Emeralds
  • Beckah Shae - Mighty 5 Emeralds
  • Adam Young - Miracle In The Andes 5 Emeralds
House of Heroes returns with a perfect album after four years. Beckah Shae continues her mastery of all things music with a doo-wop album and Adam Young continues bringing us Motion Picture Soundtracks that should have been. Kody Gautier is primed to make big waves in Electronica with his debut.

Semi Precious Metal

  • Blanca - Not Backing Down EP 4.25 Emeralds
  • Bread of Stone - Hold The Light 4.75 Emeralds
  • Fedel - The Brave 4.75 Emeralds
  • Forevermore - Integral 4.75 Emeralds
  • GAWVI - Lost In Hue EP 4.75 Emeralds
  • Group 1 Crew - Power 4.50 Emeralds
  • Highlands Worship - Here I Surrender 4.75 Emeralds
  • Hillsong United - Of Dirt and Grace: Live From The Land 4.75 Emeralds
  • Spencer Kane - Kane 4.50 Emeralds
  • Katy Kinard - God of Fireflies 4.50 Emeralds
  • Leeland - Invisible 4.75 Emeralds
  • Derek Minor - 1014 (EP) 4.50 Emeralds
  • Needtobreathe - Hardlove 4.50 Emeralds
  • Relient K - Air For Free 4.75 Emeralds
  • Silent Planet - Everything Was Sound 4.75 Emeralds
  • Switchfoot - Where The Light Shines Through 4.75 Emeralds
  • Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Champion 4.75 Emeralds
  • Vertical Church Band - Frontiers 4.50 Emeralds
  • Vineyard UK - Fearless 4.50 Emeralds
  • Juliana Zobrist - Shatterproof 4.75 Emeralds
A few comments for the month. Julianna Zobrist is on her third album, yet to The Night Beat she is a new artist and one to watch for. It is good to see Relient K back in the saddle. It is only three years, but it seems longer. They have a slightly different sound than I expected, though not as different as the now Pop Group 1 Crew. Almost Ironic to have the album called Power. It could have used a bit more. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.             

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

The Night Beat Summer Update #2

It is time for another Summer Update here at The Night Beat. In our first update we laid out six things that we were planning on rolling out in the Summer.
  • June Edition of Rewind - DONE
  • Third Quarter Wrap - DONE
  • We Love Christian Music Awards Wrap - DONE
  • Legends of CCM Series Continuation - Still More to Do. Will get to it eventually.
  • Platinum Vinyl Awards #PlatVnyl6  - Judging Is complete for the video portion. Work is progressing on the other portions. The verdict is still unsure as to a final award date. We'll Keep You Posted.
  • Various News and Reviews - Still to come, though I have got back to Music Video Monday.
We will soon have our July Rewind up, and I think we can eventually get back to the Legends series. Though I am really feeling some reviews coming up, maybe as early as next week. We are getting busy here, and sometimes things interfere with each other. It will all be sorted out, so keep it locked here. Until next time, stay cool. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Music Video Monday: Ceasefire

We may be on an erratic schedule, but we keep plugging away. Welcome back to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, and I mean all new. These videos are really fresh.

We begin with one of my favorites, the +Annie Moses Band . Now I know that Annie Wolaver is the lead by virtue of her first name (I Mean, there had to be an Annie fronting The Annie Moses Band, didn't there?) but personally I have always liked Gretchen the best. And now they recognize it. From American Rhapsody, which is nominated for #PlatVnyl6 Pop Album of The Year, this is Where You've Always Been, which proves to me Gretchen should split lead some times.

Next up is the return of Kevin Max. He released an album with such little fanfare that it totally slipped in under my radar. The title of the album, out in April, was Playing Games With The Shadow, this is Girl With The Tiger Eyes.
Finally, we close with our teased video, from +for KING & COUNTRY . The video is called Ceasefire, and it is being tied in with the upcoming remake of Ben Hur. Now this is one of those movies that I think I am going to make an effort to see even at Full Matinee Pricing. I loved the original, and the original story is written by a soldier. The novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ came out in 1880. By that time Lew was already a Lawyer, Soldier in the Mexican and Civil Wars, where he became a general, presided over the trial of Henry Wirz of the infamous Andersonville Prison, and territorial Governor of New Mexico. Then he just pens the most influential Christian Book of The 19th Century. Based on this video, I think I'll check out the movie. Ceasefire.
Well that does it for this week. We shall return next week with another rotation of Music Videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.