Merely Ordinary

If you've been following the Night Beat for any length of time you have most likely picked up a rant or two about my dissatisfaction with the state of Modern Worship Music. Most of that seems to be centered around the hillsongification of the genre (Yes, I just made that up. But maybe I could get it to trend). While Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia is the most successful and has spawned a legion of imitators, that is both a blessing and a curse. Most of the music in the genre sounds pretty much the same.

That being said, there is a new breed of Worship Music arising. While Australia still is King, the city is Melbourne and Planetshakers. Then there is Northern Ireland and Rend Collective (Current Album excepted. A little slip. No need to panic yet). Here in the States we have Daniel Bashta and Kari Jobe that have a flair for the dramatic, or should I say orchestratic.

At least until now, at least for Jobe. Majestic was a 5 Emerald Hit and cleaned up at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. There was the Obligatory Deluxe Album. They should have done the instrumental album, but instead went acoustic with Majestic Revisited. Bad Move.

The songs are meaningful, but part of the magic that made majestic live up to its title was the soaring orchestration. In my opinion it makes Kari sing better. Without the challenge of trying to sing above the soar, she gets very quiet, and that is a shame. The songs are the same, just more ordinary.

I never thought I would say this, but I am giving Majestic Revisited by Kari Jobe a quite ordinary score of 3.75 Emeralds. A Platinum Vinyl Awards without Kari Jobe. Maybe she cans still be a presenter. Oh well, until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Modern Worship

This is it folks, the final post for the third quarter wrap. We had a whopping 18 entries for this one folks. Of course, this is the winner almost every quarter. Personally, I think that it is a bloated category that could be pared down quite a bit, but everyone wants to make a worship album. Let's get with it.

Modern Worship

• Daniel Bashta - For Every Curse
• Canyon Worship - Canyon
• Elim Sound - Elim 100
• Mia Feldes - Ashes
• House of Peace - Into The Great Unknown
• Jesus Culture - This Is Jesus Culture
• Derek Johnson - Real Love
• Chris McClarney - Everything and Nothing Less (Live)
• Matt McCoy - Alive and Free
• John Mark and Sarah McMillan - You Are The Avalanche
• Andy Needham Band - Love Is The Song
• Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus
• Northwest Collective - Rejoice: Live From Seattle
• Onething Live - Shout Your Name
• Planetshakers - Outback Worship Sessions
• Matt Redman - Unbroken Praise
• Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Kingdom Come
• Various - Top 25 Modern Worship Songs

That does it for the third quarter, and we are now one month into the Final Quarter. It's almost time for #PlatVnyl6. Wow. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Modern Worship

Moving On to Modern Worship. And there's only one Hillsong Entrant. I guess it is possible to have a best of Modern Worship not dominated by the Australian Megachurch.

Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

Like I said, this is Modern Worship. Now for anyone not clear on the concept, basically it is worship music with a rock beat. Now I have a problem with most modern worship music, but it's not the same problem that most have. Sure, there is the standard gripe that Hillsong Church seems to dominate the genre, but my biggest gripe is it's too tame. I Prefer Skillet and Worth Dying For. Let's crank this up to 25. Who do we think we are, the Talley Trio?

Modern Worship

• Jeff Anderson - A Thousand Tongues
• Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
• The Ember Days - Emergency
• My Epic - Broken Voice
• Hillsong Live - God Is Able (Live)
• Leeland - The Great Awakening
• Planetshakers - Nothing Is Impossible
• Pocket Full of Rocks - Let it Rain: The Best of Pocket Full of Rocks
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Twenty Three
• Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons
• Jeremy Riddle - Furious
• Vineyard Worship UK - My Soul Yearns 

Scroll down to the bottom of the Darlene Zschech review for my bonus on C.C.R. Now while The Ember Days doesn't exactly crank thinks up as high as I would like, no one can doubt that they set themselves apart with an Alternative/Trance Sound. They definitely are the Anti-Hillsong. There is still more to come, so stay with me. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Alternative

Moving on with the Fourth Quarter Nominations. For those new on the scene, the year of eligibility for the Platinum Vinyl Awards is October 1-September 30. So the fourth quarter is the summer months of July, August and September, hence "heating it up".

2011 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

We come to the Alternative Rock genre. Again, the genre was well represented, with ten entries this quarter alone. Let's get to it.

Alternative Rock

• Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
• DecembeRadio - Southern Attic Sessions
• Divided by Friday - Prove It
• Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth
• Kiros - Outlaws & Prodigals
• Mikeschair - A Beautiful Life
• Rush of Fools - We Once Were
• Sidewalk Prophets - These Simple Truths (Deluxe Edition)
• Southbound Fearing - Southbound Fearing
• Switchfoot - Vice Verses (5)

There are a few multiple entrants here. Daniel Bashta is here and in Modern Worship, and Switchfoot is here and in Rock. We'll keep things going, hopefully one a day, and get through the genre based nominations in a week. As Always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.