Modern Worship was the winner once again. 21 entrants a triple final. Let's wrap it up.
Modern Worship
- Bethel Music - Without Words: Genesis
- Noah Cleveland - The Nashville Sessions, Volume 1 EP
- CTZN Worship - Welcome Home
- Elim Sound - Send Revival
- Every Nation Music - Seven Verse Nine
- First Free Music - Live at Black Box Theater
- ICF Worship - Fearless (Acoustic Sessions)
- Kalley - Faultlines, Volume 1 EP
- Kalley - Faultlines, Volume 2 EP
- Lifepoint Worship - Heart of Heaven
- Matt Maher - Alive and Breathing, Volume 3 EP
- The Maker and The Instrument - Instrumental Songs of Worship
- Chris McClarney - Fill This Place (Live) EP
- Brooke Nichols - Pursue EP
- One Hope Project - You
- Sovereign Grace Music - The Glorious Christ
- Upperroom - Moments: Design 004 EP
- Various - Simple Hymns: Songs of Worship
- Vive Worship - Resonance (Live)
- Worship Mob - Venture 12: Do It Again EP
- Y+YA - Beyond EP
That finishes off the 1st Quarter Wrap. On to 2020. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Break out the Bubblegum, it's Pop Music Time. This quarter was a good one for the pop tart crowd with a double finals worth of entries (that's 14 for the newbies, and perhaps Iowa Dems can count that high). Sorry, couldn't resist. Let's get to the syrup.
Pop Music
- Jared Anderson - The Whole Landscape EP
- Jeremy Benjamin - WonderLove
- Citizen Way - Love Is A Lion
- Clay Crosse - Freewill Offering EP
- For All Seasons - Side A EP
- Hollyn - Bye, Sad Girl
- Coby James - No trouble EP
- Coby James - Happier EP
- Coby James - Coby James EP
- Chuckie P - Faith Hope and Love
- Reba Rambo - Lady (Released 1976: Digital Debut)
- Courtney Ramirez - Amada en Verdad
- Stillman - Let Go EP
- Stillman - Wherever You Are EP
Those in the know have deduced the winner. Modern Worship Wraps the Wrap with 20 entries. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rap (and its sibling Hip-Hop) were third in the three way tie for third place in the first quarter of 2020. Two genres beat it. And when you have ten entries in a quarter and still aren't the winner, you know it's going to be a great year.
Rap/Hip-Hop
- Beacon Light - Influential EP
- Aaron Bucks - California, Volume 3
- 5ive - White Van EP
- Xay Hill - Million EP
- Manafest - This Is Not the End
- Derek Minor - Nothing But A Word ft Propaganda
- Social Club Misfits - MOOD/DOOM
- Thi'sl - STTAG
- Joey Vantes - The Season EP
- Whosoever South - Backroads and Small Towns
To me Whosoever South and Manafest are at the top of the list, but this is a pretty good mix. The Penultimate Genre is Pop Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We crank up the volume all the way past limits now. Heavy Metal and Hard Rock had a very nice showing with 10 entries this quarter. It's gonna be headbanger heaven this year.
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
- Bloodgood - Trenches of Rock: The Metal Mission of Bloodgood
- The Devil Wears Prada - The Act
- Norma Jean - All Hail
- Nothing Left - Disconnected
- RED - The Evening Hate EP
- Saint - The Calf
- Michael Sweet - 10
- What We Do In Secret - Repose
- Wicked's End - Flood
- The World Will Burn - Nothing as Real as it seems.
This quarter has a bit of an 80's feel to it. Michael Sweet is lead for Stryper, Saint and Bloodgood were also 80's bands and The World Will Burn is a side project of Dale Thompson, lead vocalist for the 80's Metal Band (still active) Bride. Our third and final tie is Rap. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The final set of ties is a three way tie. Gospel, Hard Rock and Rap are tied with ten entries apiece. These are only tied in the third place position however.
Gospel/R&B
- Anthony Brown and Group Therapy - 2nd Wind: Ready
- Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 1 EP
- Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 2 EP
- Travis Green - Broken Record
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Smile (Live)
- Donnie McClurkin - A Different Song
- Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP
- Noel Robinson - I Surrender
- Kanye West - Jesus Is Born (ft Sunday Service Choir)
- Kelly Wright - The Love Train
It still seems strange typing Kanye's name in Gospel, but God does Amazing Things. Next up is Hard Rock. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rock Music is next in our tie, after this is our third and final tie with 10 entries, and that one is a three way tie. Let's Rock.
Rock Music
- The Lead - Burn This Record (30th Anniversary)
- Paradise Now - Supernatural EP
- John Schlitt - Go
- Slick Shoes - Broadcasting Live
- White Collar Sideshow - I Didn't Come Here To Die
- Zach Williams - Rescue Story
Some hard driving Rock and Roll this quarter. Next up is Gospel with 10. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Our Second tie is between Live Album and Rock Music. Both genres had 6 entries apiece. We are just starting. When we finish the numbers get much bigger. Let's get to it. No More Words.
Live Recorded Album
- First Free Music - Live at Black Box Theater
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Smile (Live)
- Chris McClarney - Fill This Place (Live) EP
- Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP
- Slick Shoes - Broadcasting Live
- Vive Worship - Resonance (Live)
Slick Shoes releasing their first Album 16 years and sounding as fresh as ever. Looks like Comeback Album will be making a comeback this year. Rock Music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Instrumental Music is the second genre in our first of three ties this quarter. Let's get to it.
Instrumental Music
- Bethel Music - Without Words: Genesis
- Dear Gravity - Sleep Scenes
- Hammock - Silencia
- Greg La Follette - Like Locked Rooms EP
- The Maker and The Instrument - Instumental Songs of Worship
From one tie to another. Actually, we have three sets of ties one after another. The next grouping has 6 entrants each. Live Album is first. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to the single genre posts of our First Quarter Wrap. Adult Contemporary met the minimum bar of 5 Entries this quarter, as did Instrumental. That begins our first tie.
Adult Contemporary/Inspirational
- Casting Crowns - New York Sessions
- London Gatch - Home EP
- Matt Maher - Allive and Breathing, Volume 2 EP
- Laura Story - I Give Up
- Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Anticipation EP
We are off and running. Instrumental is next. I need the extra time to finish up my Best of's for 2019. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
2020 is here, and it is time for our first wrap of the year. As always we begin with a megapost or megaposts that squeeze all the genres that contributed less than 5 entrants in a quarter. Children's Music and Remix Album had no representation this quarter. This post will cram in Compilation Album, Folk/Folk Rock, Alternative, Dance-Synthpop, and Electronic-Industrial. There are also three ties when we get to the single genre postings. You know how we love ties here at Night Beat HQ. Let's get to it.
Compilation Album
- Various Artists - Simple Hymns: Songs of Worship
Folk/Folk Rock
- The Porter's Gate - Neighbor Songs
Alternative Rock
- Northlander - Forces of Light
Dance-Synthpop
- Color Theory - Lucky Ago
- Scandroid - The Light
Electronic-Industrial
- Dear Gravity - The Pilgrimage Series: Arrival EP
- Hammock - Silencia
- Andy Hunter - Presence, Volume 4
- White Collar Sideshow - I Didn't Come Here To Die
That starts things off with a bang. Single Genre from here on, and we begin with our first tie. Adult Contemporary leads things off. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
