Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Modern Worship

The end of the line has been reached. Today we announce the big winner for the third quarter pool entries. Modern Worship had seventeen releases. That would almost make for three genres this quarter alone. Let's get right to it.

Modern Worship

• +All Sons and Daughters - All Sons & Daughters
• +Bethel Music - You Make Me Brave (Live)
• Kim Dexter - Reaching
• +elevationworship - Raised to Life [+video]
• +The Ember Days - Live
• +Fellowship Creative - Running to Follow
• +Kristen Gilles - Parker's Mercy Brigade
• +Jesus Culture Live - Unstoppable Love
• Mike Lee - Awakening Hearts
• Onething Live - Sing Your Praises
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Heaven Raining Down
• +Rush Of Fools - Carry Us Now
• Robbie Seay Band - Psalms, Vol. 2 - EP
• Michael W. Smith - Sovereign
• +Summit Worship - Our God Is Unstoppable
• Various Artists - Songs 4 Worship: Worship Classics
• +Phil Wickham - The Ascension (Deluxe)

That finishes off the Third Quarter of 2014. We've got only three months to go. And still I have to get the Finals of the 2013 Awards in the bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Gospel

The penultimate 3rd Quarter Post. Gospel Music (the only Gospel Music allowed at Night Beat HQ. None of that Devil Music here. AKA as Southern Gospel) along with its sister genre Rhythm and Blues. A Very good showing this quarter with a bakers dozen entries (that's 13 for the rest of you). On to the list.

Gospel/R&B

• +Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir - You Alone
• +Chanel Haynes - Trin-i-tee 5:7: According To Chanel
• +RickyDillardVEVO - Amazing
• +Joe Douglass and Spirit of Praise - Redemption
• +James Eichelberger - Capture
• Anthony Evans - Real Life / Real Worship
• +Deitrick Haddon - Deitrick Haddon's LXW (League of Xtraordinary Worshippers) [+digital booklet]
• Sheri Jones- Moffett - Power & Authority
• +The Mississippi Mass Choir - Declaration of Dependence
• +Wess Morgan - Livin'
• +Ann Nesby - Living My Life
• Various Artists - Gotta Have Gospel! Classics
• Anita Wilson - Vintage Worship [+digital booklet]

That does it for Gospel. And in case you haven' figured it out by now, the big winner this quarter was Modern Worship, with a whopping seventeen pool entries. There will be a lot of whittling in that category to make the seven final nominees. You try to explain to Darlene Zschech why she didn't qualify for an award. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Rap

Continuing on with our announcement of the Third Quarter Releases for the 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards. There are only three album genres left. We are on to Rap and Hip Hop. After that there is only Gospel and Modern Worship. Which one is the big winner? Stay tuned.

Rap music was very well represented this time around, with a dozen entries. The genre itself is still in a state of flux, and between the rock influence and the dance influence, it will be interesting to see if there is a split in the genre soon.

Hip Hop/Rap

• +5ive Official  - Ain't Supposed to Be Here
• Headz Up FM Presents - Christian Hip Hop 2014
• +Chad Jones  - Keep Up
• +Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology Pt. 2: Doxology
• +Mali Music - Mali Is...
• Propaganda - Crimson Cord
• Serge - Off Season
• Social Club - Misfits 2
• Tedashii - Below Paradise
• Thi'sl - Fallen King
• D-Tropp - Away from Home
• +Da TRUTH - Heartbeat

I have attempted, when feasible, to include the artists G+ Page as well as the Amazon Links. As I said before, I encourage you to buy through the included links and support the Night Beat while you get some great music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Rock

We have come to the final four. That's good. A lot of good entries here. We will have a tough time judging this one. And that is a good thing, folks. If it's easy to pick the winner, why bother having a contest?

The least of the four, at least entry wise, is rock, which has eleven entries this quarter. A mix of old artists and new, which is always good to see. Let's get to it.

Rock Music

• Being as an Ocean - Name Your Link
• Fight The Fade - Second Horizon
• Hearts Like Lions - These Hands
• Michael James Band - The Anthem of a Desperate Heart
• Jonah 33 - Dead Man Walking 
• Needtobreathe - Rivers In The Wasteland
• Rekoncyle - Against All Odds
• Relentless Flood - The Time Is Now
• Seventh Day Slumber - We Are The Broken
• Sons of Life - We Will Fly
• Michael Sweet - I'm Not Your Suicide

+Rekoncyle  is a band out of New Brunswick. Yeah, I know, don't laugh. I though it was crazy when a Heavy Metal band came out of Kentucky and called itself Bride. And Amy Munn gives the band a FFR edge, which not only is popular, but is better. Guys voices all sound the same these days. You get more variety with FFR bands. A Stryper album and a Michael Sweet Solo Project all in the same eligibility year. SWEET. (Sorry).  There is no link for Jonah 33. Right now it is an iTunes exclusive, and I am an Amazon Affiliate. Rap is next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.