Night Beat Rewind: November 2019 - Album Edition

The Second Album Edition of Night Beat Rewind is upon us. Let's not waste any time with formalities. The Seasonal stuff starts it off.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• 116 - The Gift: A Christmas Compilation 5 Emeralds
• All Things New - Joy of Christmas EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Audrey Assad - Peace EP 5 Emeralds
• David and Nicole Binion - Dwell Christmas 4.50 Emeralds
• Lincoln Brewster - A Mostly Acoustic Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Building 429 - A Thrill of Hope EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Caleb and Kelsey - Christmas Worship 5 Emeralds
• Cloverton - Come And Adore EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Quinten Coblentz - Some Songs I Wrote About Christmas EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Fresh Life Worship - Motion EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Future of Forestry - Light Has Come EP 5 Emeralds
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - Incarnation Sing!: The Life of Christ Quintology (Live) EP 5 Emeralds
• TaRanda Green - The Spirit of Christmas (Deluxe Edition) 4.50 Emeralds
• Xay Hill - Million EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Highlands Worship - Shine Heaven's Light: A Christmas EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Mallory Hope - Christmas Is All About You EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Jars of Clay/SHEL - A Family Christmas EP 5 Emeralds
• Jadon Lavik - Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Sandra McCracken - Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• The McCrary Sisters - A Very McCrary Christmas 5 Emeralds
• LEAH McHenry - Ancient Winter 5 Emeralds
• Stephen McWhirter - Come Adore Him EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Shama Mrema - Shama and PD's Christmas EP 3.50 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - The Thrill of Hope Renewed 5 Emeralds
• Ginny Owens - A Midnight Clear EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Matthew Parker - Irwin's Christmas Collection EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - It's Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - Behold EP 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - It's Christmastime EP 5 Emeralds
• Sidewalk Prophets - Merry Christmas To You (Great Big Family Edition) 4.75 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - And On Earth Peace 5 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - Born is the King EP 4.75 Emeralds
• John Thurlow - Christmas Songs 4.75 Emeralds
• John Thurlow - The Story of Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Chris Tomlin - Christmas Songs of Worship EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Dream Christmas Volume 4 4.75 Emeralds
• Visible Worship - A Visible Christmas, Volume 8 4.50 Emeralds

A very good month for Christmas Albums. On to the judged music. We begin with the music that will not make the Platinum Vinyl Awards pool.

Missing The Mark

• 1k phew - What's understood 2 4.25 Emeralds
• Grave Robber - Dry Bones 4.25 Emeralds
• nobigdyl - lowercase tape 3.75 Emeralds
• Rusty Shipp - Liquid Exorcist 3.75 Emeralds
• Selah - Firm Foundation 4.25 Emeralds 
• Theory Hazit - I Love It Down Here 3.25 Emeralds
• Various - Simple Hymns: Songs of Thanksgiving 4.25 Emeralds

Seven albums that miss the mark is quite encouraging. The year is getting off on an even keel. The next are the perfect albums.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Casting Crowns - New York Sessions 5 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection 5 Emeralds
• CTZN Worship - Welcome Home 5 Emeralds
• Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 2 EP 5 Emeralds
• Dear Gravity - The Pilgrimage Series: Arrival EP 5 Emeralds
• Travis Greene - Broken Record 5 Emeralds
• Hammock - Silencia 5 Emeralds
• Andy Hunter - Presence, Volume 4 5 Emeralds
• Donnie McClurkin - A Different Song 5 Emeralds
• RED - The Evening Hate EP 5 Emeralds

Ten to Seven in favor of Pure Platinum is still a good balance. Now we go to the music in the middle which is still Platinum Vinyl eligible.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Bethel Music - Without Words: Genesis 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Bucks - California, Volume 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Noah Cleveland - The Worship Sessions, Volume 1 Ep 4.75 Emeralds
• First Free Music - Live at Letterbox Theater Ep 4.75 Emeralds
• ICF Worship - Fearless (Acoustic Sessions) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Coby James - Happier EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Greg LaFollette - Like Locked Rooms EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Alive and Breathing, Volume 3 EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Chris McClarney - Fill This Place (Live) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - Nothing But A Word (ft Propaganda) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Mission House - Mission House EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Brooke Nichols - Pursue EP 4.75 Emeralds
• NLC Worship - Heart Set Free EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Courtney Ramirez - Amada En Verdad EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Slick Shoes - Broadcasting Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Stillman - Wherever You Are EP 4.75 Emeralds
• What We Do In Secret - Repose 4.75 Emeralds
• Wicked's End - Flood 4.50 Emeralds
• Worship Mob - Venture 12: Do It Again EP 4.75 Emeralds

November is finally in the Bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6 The Nominations Begin: Modern Worship Video of The Year

We continue with our nomination announcements for #PlatVnyl6. As is usual since the format got gelled into its present form, we begin with the Video of The Year Award Nominations. The third group of nominees in this grouping is that of Modern Worship Video of The Year. The Nominees are: Ever Be by Kalley Heiligenthal and +Bethel Music; Good, Good Father by +Zealand Worship ;Lead Me by +Young Oceans ; Leave Me Astounded by +Planetshakers and Let It Be Jesus by +Christy Nockels 

The playlist follows.

That does it for this genre. Next up is Gospel/R&B Video of The Year. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6 v. #WLCMA4 - The Album Awards, Part Two

Welcome back to our picks for the 4th We Love Christian Music Awards, as well as commentary on how it stacks up against the Platinum Vinyl Awards, more specifically, the current awards year, which is #PlatVnyl6. This is the third post, so check out the introduction and the first three groups of nominees by clicking on the appropriate links.

The next two groups of nominees are competing for one award in the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Let me explain. The Encounter Award (Worship Album of The Year) and The Chorus Award (Church Based Worship Album of The Year) are both competing for the Modern Worship Album of The Year at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. And I think it will stay that way for a while. It's the sound, not the location, that makes the difference for me.

The Encounter Award nominees are:

• Aaron Gillespie - Grace Through The Wandering 4.50 Emeralds
• Amanda Cook - Brave New World 4.50 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Saints and Sinners 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Redman - Unbroken Praise 4.75 Emeralds

The Chorus Award nominees are:

• Bethel Music - We Will Not Be Shaken 4.75 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Walls 4.50 Emeralds 
• Jesus Culture - Unstoppable Love #PVA5 (2014 Release)
• Passion - Even So Come 4.75 Emeralds
• Vertical Church Band - Church Songs 4.75 Emeralds

I Don't know why NRT dropped the ball on this one by putting a 2014 album for best of 2015. Other than that we don't have too many problems. I wasn't that impressed with Gillespie and Cook in the first grouping and Gateway worship in the second, but other than that the choices were very good. As I said, however, I have combined all the Modern Worship Music into one award. The Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6. I have six, which is 1 short of a full bracket without busting it open. They are:

• Bethel Music - Without Words: Synesthesia 5 EMERALDS
• The Katina's - Sunday Set 5 EMERALDS
• Planetshakers - #LETSGO 5 EMERALDS
• Planetshakers - This Is Our Time 5 EMERALDS
• Soulfire Revolution - Afterglow 5 EMERALDS
• Young Oceans - I Must Find You 5 EMERALDS

A much better grouping. There probably will be an expansion of the categories beyond seven to accommodate a few more worthy nominees, but there will be no ties.

The Hype Award corresponds to our Rap/Hip Hop Album of The Year, and personally I would say, don't believe the hype. Let's get right to the nominees.

• Alex Faith & Dre Murray - Southern Lights: Overexposed MTM
• Andy Mineo - Uncomfortable 4.75 Emeralds
• JGivens - Fly Exam MTM
• KB - Tomorrow We Live 4.50 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Death Before Love 4.50 Emeralds

It's an OK bracket, but you notice those two MTM's. That means I consider them to have Missed The Mark and awarded them a score under 4 Emeralds. That means they don't get into the nominee pool, and KB and Tosh would be a stretch in the pool at 4.50. Here our the Automatic Qualifiers for #PlatVnyl6

• Eshon Burgundy - The Fear of God 5 EMERALDS
• Flame - Forward 5 EMERALDS
• KJ-52 - Mental 5 EMERALDS
• LA Symphony - You Still On Earth? 5 EMERALDS
• Derek Minor - Empire 5 EMERALDS
• Skrip - Renegades Never Die 5 EMERALDS
• TobyMac - This Is Not A Test 5 EMERALDS
• Whosoever South - Come On In 5 EMERALDS

This one was a category buster. 8 Perfect 5's in one year. And others may get snubbed if I don't go higher. 

Finishing with my picks. I'll go with Christy Nockels for the Encounter Award and Bethel Music for The Chorus Award. For Rap and The Hype Award, I'll pick Andy Mineo. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: April 2015

I'm beginning to think that I might actually do this. The rush to get #PlatVnyl5 under way, plus an abundance of current releases has combined to create a bit of a backlog. Fortunately things don't stay that way for long. The 2nd Quarter releases are in the bag, and we have already put out the March Edition of rewind. Now we are about to do the April edition of rewind and it is still May.

Web begin with a few songs released during the month of April, or as we like to call it:

The Singles Scene

• Big Dismal - Know You 4.50 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - Compass (David Thulin Remix) 5 Emeralds

We move on to the Albums. Of Course we begin with those which did not make the #PlatVnyl6 Pool.

Missing The Mark

• Alex Faith & Dre Murray - Southern Lights: Overexposed 3.75 Emeralds
• Amy Grant - Be Still and Know: Hymns And Faith 3.75 Emeralds
• Steve Green - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection 3.75 Emeralds
• New Hope Christian College - New Hope Christian College 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Little Boy Soundtrack 

Officially, all of these releases are very good, just missing the #PlatVnyl6 pool by a hair. Unofficially, however, very rarely has a nominee gotten in with a 4.50 Emerald score. Usually the minimum bar is 4.75 Emeralds, sometimes it has been all Perfect.

Next is the Perfect ones. Or as we call it here:

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Children 18:3 - Come In 5 Emeralds
• Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are (Instrumental) 5 Emeralds
• Rapture Ruckus - Invader (Deluxe Edition) 5 Emeralds

With only three Perfect Albums this month, I hopefully see the Candy Store as having reduced hours at the very least.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Chris August - The Maker 4.50 Emeralds
• Daniel Bashta - For Every Curse 4.75 Emeralds
• Beacon Light - Open Eyes 4.75 Emeralds
• Dan Bremnes - Where The Light Is EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Canyon Worship - Canyon 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be 4.75 Emeralds
• Lexi Elisha - Drowning in Love  4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Guerra - Little Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Jesus Culture - This Is Jesus Culture (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Johnson - Real Love 4.50 Emeralds
• KB - Tomorrow We Live 4.50 Emeralds
• Dustin Kensrue - Carry the Fire 4.75 Emeralds
• Kutless - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Kutless 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt McCoy - Alive and Free 4.50 Emeralds
• Sandra McCracken - Psalms 4.75 Emeralds
• Needtobreathe - Live From The Woods 4.75 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• People of The Earth - We Are People of the Earth 4.75 Emeralds
• Shane and Shane - The Worship Initiative 4.50 Emeralds
• The Showers - The Showers Family Group 4.50 Emeralds
• Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Kingdom Come 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - New & #1 Radio Hits of 2015 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Top 25 Modern Worship Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Matthew West - Live Forever 4.75 Emeralds

Caught up. On to the May edition. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Sonic Awakening: 3rd Qtr Nominees - Modern Worship

Continuing with the announcement of the Spring Releases which crossed the initial bar to qualify for the pool of entries eligible for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. This of course only means they get to be judged, but if you don't make the pool, you can't win.

We move on to the Modern Worship genre. No one who is remotely knowledgeable about Christian Music should be surprised that this pool is an extremely large one. It seems these days that just about every Church has produced a worship album, and those that haven't yet are probably in the studio as I write. Most are good, and some are great. It is my job to weed out the great from the good.

Modern Worship

• Bluetree - Kingdom
• Delirious - The Cutting Edge Years
• Deluge - Swell
• Desperation Band - Center of it All
• Maranatha - Top 25 Praise Series Classics
• Christy Nockels - Into The Glorious
• Planetshakers - Heal Our Land
• Travis Ryan - Fearless
• Stuart Townend - The Ultimate Collection
• Phil Wickham - Singalong 2

All of these albums were above par, rising above the typical Hillsong Copy. The live album by Phil Wickham is also outstanding in the audience participation, though his voice did crack on the high notes a few to many times.

Three down, eleven to go. Stay with me as the results are revealed. Also stay with me tomorrow as we have a special Flashback Friday as I review the 30th Anniversary Re-Issue of More Power To Ya. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.