Night Beat Rewind: October 2018

We are underway for #PVX or Platinum Vinyl 10. I can hardly believe that it has been almost a decade that I have been doing this. My first post was July 8, 2010, so we have a few months for the big celebration. The Platinum Vinyl Awards, however, got backdated, so we could have a non-calendar eligibility year like all the other awards. We begin this time of year with the Christmas Music, which, thankfully, is not eligible. 

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Hannah Kerr - Christmas Eve in Bethlehem 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - The Advent of Christmas 5 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Emmanuel (Hope of Heaven) ft Seth Condrey (Single) 4.50 Emeralds
• Ivan Parker - Christmas Dreams 4.75 Emeralds
• David Phelps - It Must Be Christmas 4.25 Emeralds
• Mark Schultz - Mark Schultz Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - A Motown Gospel Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Ce Ce Winans - Somethings Happening: A Christmas Album 4.75 Emeralds
• Darlene Zschech - The Table: A Christmas Worship Gathering 4.75 Emeralds

A very good mix, and, since there is no award for this genre, there is no bias. I usually like Mr. Phelps Christmas music, but it seemed so pedestrian this time around. We move on to the songs released during the month.

The Singles Scene

• AT4G - Retribution 5 Emeralds
• Antarctic Wastelands - Farthest Dreams 5 Emeralds
• Steven Curtis Chapman - Remember to Remember 5 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Making History 4.75 Emeralds
• Crusoe - Go And Get It ft. Zayde Wolf 4.75 Emeralds
• da Foo - One In A Million 4.50 Emeralds
• Keitron Fountain - Be In Your Presence 4.25 Emeralds
• G12 Worship (fka Soulfire Revolution) - All Things New 5 Emeralds
• London Gatch - New Stories ft Brandon Lake 4.75 Emeralds
• Travis Green - See The Light ft Jekalyn Carr 4.75 Emeralds
• Hammock - Universalis 5 Emeralds
• Caleb Hammon - Great I Am 4.50 Emeralds
• Spenser Kane - Wavy (ft Jor'dan Armstrong) 4.75 Emeralds
• DJ Kirk - Fighting Through It 5 Emeralds
• Tasha Layton - Love Lifting Me 4.75 Emeralds
• LEAH - Lion Arises 5 Emeralds
• TobyMac - The Elements 5 Emeralds
• Rachael Nemiroff - Heart of Stone 4.75 Emeralds
• Matthew Parker - Breathe 4.75 Emeralds
• Scott Ralley - Fan My Flame 4.50 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - For Those Who Wander 5 Emeralds
• 7eventh Time Down - Help Me 4.75 Emeralds
• One Sonic Society - Love Song ft Elle Limebear 4.75 Emeralds
• Switchfoot - Native Tongue 4.75 Emeralds
• Kenneth Thomas and Goshen Sai - Soaked [FSOE] 4.75 Emeralds
• Veridia - Cheshire Smile 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy James Whitaker - Feelings (Instrumental) 4.75 Emeralds

Platinum Vinyl 10 is getting off to a good start. On to the albums. We begin with those albums that do not make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• Dillon Chase - Joyful Loser 4.25 Emeralds
• Ben and Noelle Kilgore - A Resting Place EP 4.25 Emeralds

Two albums miss the mark. I must be getting soft. Now to those albums which surpass all expectations.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Evanescence - Synthesis Live (CD/DVD) 5 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Burn The Ships 5 Emeralds
• LEAH - The Quest 5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - The Elements 5 Emeralds
• Marc Martel - Thunderbolt and Lightning 5 Emeralds
• Twenty One Pilots - Trench 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Heaven on Earth 5 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - Human (Deluxe Edition) 5 Emeralds
• Various - WoW Hits 2019 5 Emeralds
• Veridia - The Beast You Feed 5 Emeralds

10 to 2. Definitely a sign of softening standards. I plead the holidays. Canadian Celtic Metal Mistress LEAH, Twenty One Pilots, and Mark Martel (Queen Covers) all make a strong Fringe showing. So does Veridia, with a duet with Amy Lee of Evanescence.

Semi-Precious Metals

• Anthem Lights - Worship 4.75 Emeralds
• Francesca Battistelli - Own It 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauen Bea - Wildflower 4.50 Emeralds
• Lisa Page Brooks - My Life EP 4.75 Emeralds
• CRC Music - Greater Than All, Part 1 EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - The Other Side EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Covenant Worship - Covenant Worship (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Michael Farren - Fighting For Us 4.50 Emeralds
• Fight The Fury - 
• GAWVI - Panorama 4.75 Emeralds
• Christon Gray - Clear The Heir 4.75 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - She Waits 4.75 Emeralds
• Influence Music - Mistakes EP ft Melody Noel 4.75 Emeralds
• Iron Bell Music - Glory To Glory 4.75 Emeralds
• Jenny and Tyler - There Will Be A Song (Deluxe) 4.50 Emeralds
• Carmen Justice - Quarter Life Crisis EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Lovelite - Apocalypse Hymnal 4.75 Emeralds
• Matthew Parker - Daydreamer 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Heaven on Earth, Part Three 4.75 Emeralds
• Psalm - Deathproof 4.75 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Easy Never Needed You 4.75 Emeralds
• Gerry Skrillz - Hundred Proof EP 4.75 Emeralds
• J Steph - Glory: The Remixes 4.50 Emeralds
• Tenth Avenue North - The Things We've Been Afraid To Say EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Tomlin - Holy Roar 4.75 Emeralds

That does it. October is in the bag. Platinum Vinyl 10 is under way. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Hungry Beasts and Ghosts, Oh My.

Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Yes, I know that's mathematically impossible, but we're dealing with emotions here. And sometimes the rawer the emotion, the better. Especially when we're dealing with Music.

The Beast You Feed by VERIDIA is chock full of raw emotion. You will be pulled in so many directions with this album and be left bawling at the end. Just fair warning so you can get your tissues ready. If I need them, you'll need them.

For an album featuring so much raw on your sleeve emotion it is somewhat ironic that it's opening that the opening track is Numb, featuring a bridge like this

And life is perfect Drown out the sanity It’s really perfect When I can’t feel a thing

You will feel. Whether its anger (Savage), regrets (Ghosts) or hope (I Won't Stay Down), you will relate. Remember what I said about the whole being greater than the individual parts. None of the songs, save for the final cut, really stand out on their own, but they are part of a journey, a theme, that draws you in, wrings you out, and leaves you primed for the finale. Yes, it's manipulative, but in a good way. It's therapy. Kind of Like an Evanescence Album.

Which brings us to our final song I'll never be ready. Written by lead singer Deena Jakoub (Veridia) with backing vocals and piano by the immortal Amy Lee. I agree totally with Amy, this song, this collaboration, was totally orchestrated by God himself. I want you to experience this. I know I must have been a sight in the donut shop listening and sniffling.

I think you know where this is going. 5 Emeralds on the strength of the final cut. Certain albums are therapy, and cost a whole lot less than a psychiatrist. Evanescence has been my therapist for a long time, and I think Dr. Deena might be a referral from time to time. Get this album, and some tissues. Until next time I am (sniffle) Awaiting Your Reply.