Sweet Melodies of The Fallen

I begin with a disclaimer. I have been a fan of Evanescence since they were a bunch of kids out of Little Rock, Arkansas. The first song I remember hearing was Even in Death on Christian Industrial.com internet radio. Then I heard Bring Me to Life and My immortal on the Daredevil soundtrack. Fallen was the only album I have put on pre-order. So while this review is honest, it also is coming from a fanboy.

The Bitter Truth is the fourth studio album from Evanescence and the first in eleven years (the Night Beat had barely got of the ground. I started the blog in July of 2010). It is amazing to realize that I could say that I have been following the Band for my entire career as a blogger. Of course the Night Beat started as a radio show in 1984 when Amy Lee was in her terrible two's. 

The Bitter Truth gets off to a different kind of start with a two song intro. Artifact/The Turn and Broken Pieces Shine could be the best 1-2 punch to open an album ever. I would call Artifact/The turn an EDM song and it begins with a question "Where do we go now?" The answer is up to 11 on the volume. A simple countdown of three, two, one zero into the metal anthem broken pieces shine is the best transition since Tourniquet and Imaginary from Fallen. Survival Hurts, and I don't know if I will be alright, but I have to try is Amy's commentary on the death of her brother. As someone who has experienced the loss of a lived one I understand her completely.

There isn't a bad song on the album, but the album does sound different. Any lack of production can easily be forgiven by me in that this album was put together during a lockdown. I would say it sounds great despite the obstacles. Yeah, Right may be the only Pop Happy song that Amy ever records. That's not to say that her songs are depressing, but the pain that she channels in her songs work healing for the listener. In that way the song works.

Use My Voice is another different song, in that it came out in the middle of the Presidential campaign, that is different. Evanescence has pretty much stayed clear of any political statement. Conservatives like metal too. When the song originally came out I confess I took a hiatus from the band, not wanting to be disappointed. I decided to check it out and am pleasantly surprised. The song and video steer a good middle course and has a patriotic flair. My only wish is that Amy et al doesn't get petty and do cease and desist orders if Republicans use it in 2022. Both sides should be allowed to say you don't speak for me.

I'm a sucker for the epic ballad, see My Immortal or Lost In Paradise for proof. Far from Heaven is Amy at her spine chilling best. It is full of pain and prayer, and may be one of my favorite Ev Worship tunes. I can't see your light anymore, cause I've spent too long in the dark. I am not ashamed to say it's an emotional trainwreck of a song and will leave you in tears. Best song on the album.

You know where this is going.

The Bitter Truth is that this is a 5 Emerald perfect album. Is it multi-platinum like Fallen. It should be, it has that kind of impact, but since Fallen was a debut, I don't know if that lightning can strike twice. Still, it cements Evanescence status as legendary. That's the (not so) Bitter Truth. The revenge of the fallen. until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

There's just something about that name dropping

The 1960's are usually portrayed by "Christians" as being nothing more than a bunch of dope smoking long haired hippie freak Vietnam war protesters. Actually none of that really happened until 1968, so we defined a decade by 2 years. Woodstock occurred in the Summer of 69, but God was at work among them behind the scenes.

The saved hippie freaks turned into Jesus Freaks and gave rise to what has been called the Jesus Music Era. Officially given a twenty year life of 1969-1989, but it probably ended around 1985 with the release of Amy Grant's Unguarded. Of course some say it could have ended in 1977 when the first issue of CCM Magazine came out. I am going to give a date of 1981 when Petra came out with Never Say Die. Still that's 12 years.

A joke about the era was that they took a secular song and put Jesus words to it so they all went "Jesus Jesus Wo Wo Wo." That wasn't true even for evangelistic groups like the Second Chapter of Acts, much less groups like The Choir. Nonetheless a tradition arose that to be considered Christian, you needed to use the name of Jesus at least a million times per three minute song. But like I said, that didn't just exclude modern bands, but all of the Jesus Era as well.

It is my firm belief that song doesn't have to name drop Jesus multiple times to be considered Christian. Being a 80s Radio DJ I was into U2 as much as Petra. It still is the same today. For every "there's something about that name" there is a "Lost in Paradise" that I get blessed by. A Leah McHenry or Celldweller release virtually gushes forth in Bible verses if you listen carefully.

Step 2, simply put, is that Christian music cannot be neatly defined, so we shouldn't try to. Instead. We should revel in its blessed diversity. That's step 3. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Cover Me

We are going to try something a bit different at the Night Beat. Usually for Music Video Monday we play the best original music videos by artists. We have had an abundance of good cover songs recently, and some of them have made videos. We want to recognize them just like we do the "original" videos. We begin with Caitie Hurst, a rising star in the Christian Music Industry. This is her cover of Hillsong United's So Will I.

Next up we go to "my band" as I like to Call Them. The Choir has been covering a bunch of mainstream music lately, and in a lot of cases making your forget the original. They are that good at making it their own. This time they redo One Republic's 2013 hit Counting Stars.

Finally we go to my favorite lady, Amy Lee and Evanescence. They recently did a remix of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain.  I gave the original a listen, as I do with all covers, and I hated it. Way to country for my taste. Amy is in her Goth glory in this one for this version made for the Video Game Gear 5. Defiant Metal at its finest.

That does it for this version of Music Video Monday. We will be back with the original videos next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Hunted by the Huntress

Artemis: Daughter of Zeus and Sister of Apollo. The Greek Goddess of Hunting, Wild Nature, The Moon, and Chastity. Patron of Girls and Young Women and Protector of Women in Childbirth. Sounds like a really cool girl.

What's Greek Mythology got to do with a Christian Music blog? Glad you asked. We here at The Night Beat are always in search of what we call Pure Platinum Perfection. Suffice it to say it is the best music to be found. And while we are primarily are a Christian Music Blog, our search doesn't end there. We pull our nominees from "The Fringe", where Christian Artists go beyond "Jesus Jesus Wo Wo Wo" and produce music that truly takes the Cross Over into the mainstream. The Choir, The 77's, Switchfoot, and others. And then there is the GRAC (Generally Regarded as Christian). Groups. Like Creed, U2, and Evanescence belong here. And then there are bands that I call clean secular. They may not be Christian, but you won't sin by listening to them.

Which brings us back to the Goddess of The Hunt, aka Artemis. Lindsey Stirling is an American Rock Violinist with a bit of EDM flair. She is also a dancer. Combining the two has created a bit of a kerfuffle in the stodgy Classical Circles that Violinists usually are in. I first heard about Miss Sterling as she Toured with Evanescence in the Synthesis Tour. Needless to say I was quite impressed. More on Evanescence later.

Artemis is a mostly instrumental work. Of the 12 songs on the album, only 3 have any vocals, unless you count sampled vocals such as "take my breath away" (from Artemis). Let's start with the vocal songs. The weakest is number 3, the Upside with Ellie King. It's a pretty good EDM number, but nothing special. Tied for Favorite is Foreverglow by Lindsey, and Love Goes On And On (ft Vocals by Amy Lee). Foreverglow is ostensibly about a Star, but listening to it got me thinking "Would You Know You're Made of Light If You Were Not Born Into The Dark". We are Born Again into a Dark World from Above and are exhorted to "Shine Among Them Like Stars In The Sky" (Philippians 2:15 NIV). 

Immediately following Lindsey's Heavenly vocals on this song we move straight to a duel. What more can be said about Amy Lee of Evanescence. Her vocals can melt your heart and send chills up your spine and all she is singing is "Oh". The duel is really can Lindsey hit a note high enough on her violin that Amy Can't reach on her voice. The answer is simple: NO.

It doesn't matter that the subject is Love after Death, the result is stunning: "There is darkness ever waiting, I can feel it in the air. So I call upon my angels, are you still there".

On to the instrumentals. I think I shall highlight the bookends. The Album opens with Underground, which begins very melancholy and then kicks it up into high gear. You really can't stop dancing to it until the other end 



It ends with Aurora again, the Northern Lights. Light in the Darkness is a theme. It is well received by this Christian. It is full of hope, and closes a Perfect album quite perfecly.

Atemis is a godsend (sorry, couldn't resist) to the EDM/Instrumental/Rock world. I have been listening on repeat to this since I discovered it. I really do have to get to other music. It is addictive though. Needless to say she helps close out #PVX with a 5 Emerald Rating. On to other music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Hard Rock

We are in the home stretch with only three genre's remaining. Since Alternative we have met the final bar of 7 entries, and by the end of the wrap we will almost triple that amount. Hard Rock has 10 entries this quarter. The Loud Stuff represents.

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• Amongst The Giants - Obscene
• Evanescence - Synthesis Live
• Fight The Fury - Still Breathing EP
• Innerwish - Inner Strength
• Innerwish - Silent Faces
• Leah - The Quest 
• Memphis May Fire - Broken
• P.O.D. - Circles
• Righteous Vendetta - Reignite: The Fire Inside
• Silent Planet - When The End Began

The Innerwish albums are re-releases from 2004 and 2006. The Ladies are well represented with Celtic Metalist Leah and Amy Lee represented. And we even have a return from P.O.D., a legend of sorts. Pop is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Live Recorded Album

No more ties, no more ties. We finish with our last group of ties with Live Recorded Album. They also had 9 entrants this quarter, which is enough to represent the genre in the final. We still have three more quarters to go, however.

Live Recorded Album

• 3C Live - Good To Me (Live)
• Christ Fellowship Worship - What Love Looks Like (Live)
• Covenant Worship - Covenant Worship (Live)
• Evanescence - Synthesis Live
• Sean Feucht - Wild 
• Hillsong Young and Free - III (Live at Hillsong Conference)
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Heart. Passion. Pursuit: Live at Passion City Church
• Needtobreathe - Acoustic (Live), Volume 1
• Planetshakers - Heaven on Earth

Of this quite excellent list my personal favorite is Synthesis Live by Evanescence. The DVD recorded at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut is simply amazing. Amy is Gorgeous (as always) and is the true director of the orchestra. Everything revolves around her as it should. The best DVD of 2018. Hard Rock is next. Until then I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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.

Music Video Monday: The Breakup Song

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. Happy Summer everyone. The weather is heating up, and so is the music. The bands are ready for the action. This is Seventh Day Slumber saying Bring it on.

Next up we have one of my all-time favorite bands, Evanescence. From the orchestra accompanied Synthesis tour, this is Hi-Lo featuring Lindsay Stirling. Emeralds always look better in a setting of Stirling Silver.

I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair. Sorry, musical flashback. Well the South Pacific song is about a relationship breakup. Our final video is from Francesca Battistelli, and a different kind of Breakup Song.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am awaiting your reply.

Falling Rocks: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Rock

Rock Music is next as we count up the Pool Releases for the First Quarter of 2018. From now on we exceed the "Finals" every time.

Rock Music

• Ashes Remain - Let The Light In
• Boiling Point - Take Courage
• Carrollton - Everything or Nothing
• Emery - Revival: Emery Classics Re-Imagined
• Evanescence - Synthesis
• New Morrow - Ride On
• Skillet - Feel Invincible Remix
• Skillet - Unleashed Beyond

Metal is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply

The Night Beat 10 Best Albums of 2017

We are really flying here at Night Beat HQ. I am pretty much on top of things. We should have our December Rewind up by the end of the year. Our look at the We Love Christian Music Awards should be done by then as well. And we are moving ahead with #PlatVnyl8. While I still think I will need additional judges for this one (and possibly beyond), things are looking good right now.

One of the final things for the year is Our list of The Top 10 Albums of 2017. And I have narrowed it down to 10. Let's get to it.

1. In Rivers, Light City Music: The Top Album of The Year is a Worship Album unlike any other, and from Canada. Vertical Worship is very rare these days, most worship is Praise by another name. This album is only available from Apple Music and iTunes. While they are the biggest and the best, it seems like the Music World is against these people.
2. Synthesis, Evanescence: Under most circumstances an album like this wouldn't make the list (and not for the reason you think). No, the reason I wouldn't have this on the list is, for the most part, it is a best of album. The reason it is on the list is that they haven't just re-recorded these songs, they have redone them completely with a live orchestra. It's the best thing going since RED.
3. Gone, RED: Yes, that is a good lead-in. The Pioneer and Still King of Orchestral Rock. Whether Thrashing with Step Inside, The Violence, Rocking with the title cut, or slowing it down with a Ballad like Hold On, the saying is true, RED always catches the eye. The Best RED Ever? I still think that's Innocence and Instinct. This may be number 2 for now.
4. Sheep Among Wolves, Project 86: You would think that a band with the aim of never making two albums the same would wind up making a misstep and you would get a clunker or two. Not this band. There is a bit of room to breathe on this one (a few ballads). The wolves will never know what hit them.
5. Starlight, Bethel Music. Bethel Church takes its show on the road for a live tour with friends. If you can't find a copy of In Rivers, this is a more than acceptable alternative if you are seeking Vertical Worship.
6. The Never Again, Lara Landon: The Way Unplugged Should Be. Lara is one of those artists that "could sing the phone book" (yes, I know, they went the way of the pay phone). Worship with minor accompaniment. The only problem. It's only seven cuts.
7. Benediction (Live), The City Harmonic: Sometimes Things End Well. The City Harmonic was one of the most innovative Worship Bands to grace the scene (and Surprisingly enough, this is another Canadian Band (Both Light City and The City Harmonic are from Ontario. Something is going on North of The Border).
8. Every Mile Mattered, Nichole Nordeman: We love artists with a few miles under their belt. We like it even more when the miles do not change you. Nichole has stayed true to her pop roots and even worked in a little EDM here and there. From someone who has been there from the first. Thank You.
9. Lifer, Mercy Me: Happy Dance. Enough Said. I can only imagine may have brought them fame, but they have had to weather "Friendly Fire" as they have been more blatant in the message of Grace. It was always there though. Best songs: Grace Got You and Best News Ever.
10. One Way Conversations, Hollyn: One of the best new artists. Her Sophomore release has no slump. No musical style is beyond her ability (Rap, Dance, Gospel, it's all here and done to perfection.)

I didn't say getting down to 10 was easy. There were a lot of good albums that didn't make the cut. I won't give you all the 5 Emerald Albums released (There Would Be 53 others). I will only go with those left after the first round of cuts. Without Rank, the Honorable Mention.

• Beatitudes, Stu G and Friends
• Colliding By Design, Acceptance
• Here (Live), Red Rocks Worship
• In Prayer, Salt of The Sound
• Projections, Landry Cantrell
• Rise, Danny Gokey
• The Rush and The Roar, We Are Leo
• Skin and Earth, Lights
• Suddenly (or The Nuclear Sunburst of The Truth Revealed), Young Oceans
• Unleashed Beyond, Skillet
• Untraveled Roads: A Live Album, Thousand Foot Krutch

2017 has been a really good year, and I have every reason to believe that 2018 will be just as good, if not better. I encourage you to respond via comments, Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus as to what you think. Until next year, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Perfect Imperfection

I am a sucker for strings. It is my humble opinion that the addition of strings and other orchestral instruments can greatly improve any genre of music (look what it has done for the Boston Symphony Orchestra). I mean the jury is still out on Orchestral Polka, but we're talking about something that is an abomination of nature, not music.

Orchestration adds power to Rock (Red and Skillet anyone). Not power in volume, that is accomplished by simply turning up the amp. No I'm talking scale. Orchestration makes things Majestic (all apologies to Kari Jobe). Not all bands can be majestic. Strings will make no improvement to Southern Gospel. And a Pop band with Strings and Orchestration will just be silly. You can't really dance to it.

Just Like the aforementioned Red and Skillet, EVANESCENCE was born for this type of remake. The songs (Lost In Paradise, My Heart is Broken, Lithium, Imaginary), are majestic on their own, Orchestras pump up the majesty one hundred fold. And Amy Lee. Even without strings her voice sends shivers up your spine. Deceptively delicate, when the music crescendos  so does her voice above it all, as if daring the music to try to drown her out.

Synthesis is technically a best-of album, but there are two new originals in the mix, so we have a studio and compilation in one. I have tried to stay away from Best of albums, since you can cherry pick the best, it is kind of unfair. I usually stick with the multiple-artist variety, since the different artists allow for varied talent and better judging. The Album begins with Overture, the only instrumental track, which lasts only a minute, but sets the tone, this is not your average Evanescence album, as if one exists.

Full disclosure: I have been a fan from before Fallen, when Christian Industrial Radio on the web played Even In Death. Evanescence is AMY LEE. Her voice is what makes it special. You know those "would you listen to this artist sing the phone book" Hypothetical Questions, she tops the list. Worst Songs: NONE Favorites: ALL. I will attempt a few highlights.

• Secret Door (Lost Whispers) - Don't let the 2016 Release Date fool you. This is an album of Forgotten Tunes, B-Sides That weren't good enough for Fallen (You know, that 7x+ Platinum Album). The executive who thought that shouldn't be allowed near another artist in his or her life. Simply Haunting. It has only gotten better.
• Imaginary (Fallen) - One of My Two biggest Faves from the "debut" (the other being Tourniquet (which precedes it and makes a two-song rock opera megasong). The techno addition make it great for the dance floor, which can't be said of many Evanescence songs. The orchestra makes this one soar.
• Lacrymosa (The Open Door) - I Can't Change Who I Am. This is probably the most soaring song on the album. It builds to a blow you away end.
• Lost In Paradise (Evanescence) - Song of The Year anyone? I never thought that this song could get more majestic than it already was. The Original was 2012's Song Of The Year. The strings lift Amy as she sings "Run Away, Run Away. One Day We We Won't Feel This Pain Anymore." The bridge reaches a crescendo only to have a delicate crash lead into Your Star.
• Imperfection (Synthesis) - The song that caused this album to have an EXPLICIT label, because of 1 use of the F-Bomb (highly appropriate in context of the song). "Don't you dare surrender, don't leave me here without you, cause I could never replace your perfect imperfection." FYI surrender=suicide. Who needs a psychiatrist when you've got Amy Lee.

The World does not contain the amount of Emeralds that this album deserve. Fortunately for us I can only give 5 Emeralds.  While it is unlike the others, in one way it is alike. You cannot improve perfection. Get Synthesis. You will not be disappointed. Until Next time, I am  Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Speak To Me

Welcome Back to Music Video Monday. We have been on an irregular schedule these days, but we are slowly getting regular. The best way to do these things is one day at a time.

We begin with a Lyric Video from Ashes Remain. They will be kicking off #PlatVnyl9 with the release of Let The Night In on October 27. This is RISE.
You RISE in the Morning, when there is Lights. Val is back with Skin and Earth, and she  took the Kevin Max route by combining a Graphic Novel with an Album in a concept album. I have been posting the videos as I find them. This is New Fears. Skin and Earth dropped last Friday. Go get it.
And finally, our favorite goth girl is back.  Amy Lee (aka Evanescence) is coming out of retirement once again. While the band will be back for a best of String sessions entitled Synthesis this November, Amy has been busy on her own. The video is Speak To Me, and it is the end title sequence song for the movie Voice From The Stone. Now the Movie was back in April, and it was the end of the movie, but if anyone left the theater while Amy was singing, I just don't want to know you. You just have no music appreciation. Check it out.
That's the end of this edition of Music Video Monday. One step at a time. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Like A Flyleaf To Honey

When Life Hands You Lemons...Life Screams . Who cares about Lemonade?

We at Night Beat HQ are overjoyed when an artist makes a comeback. Usually. If the change is too abrupt in musical styles, sometimes you wish they stayed retired. No problem this time.

Musically speaking, I fell in love with Lacey Sturm (then Lacey Moseley) along with most guys, when she was lead singer of Flyleaf. That such a powerful voice could exist in such a small package was amazing in itself. And to see Flyleaf live was something entirely. (I never saw them Live, Live, but I did catch them via the Internet at one of the Rock The River concerts done by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association). When you get to hear her testimony and see how it compares with the woman before you who is so full of Love and Joy, you really know that Jesus is real. When Lacey left Flyleaf in 2012 a lot of us felt the band was over. While we were wrong and Kristen May has done an admirable job at lead (though she is no Lacey), it feels different.

Flyleaf fans rejoice, Lacey is back, and I mean BACK. I love everything about Life Screams , even the cover, with Lacey emerging from the Raven. (Is she saying "Nevermore" to a Flyleaf reunion?). Only thing is the Platinum look is going to take a while for me. I wish the brunettes would stay that way.

On to the music. Lacey has gone solo with a sound sure to please her old Flyleaf Sounds. No Addie Camp misfire here (Now A Benjamin Gate Reunion, that would be great). And to those who are disappointed with her ballad heavy lineup, all I can say is GET OVER IT. The girl has a voice for ballads, like my favorite Amy Lee. Both ladies can chill the spine and make you feel the hurt and pain of the lyrics. Who needs a psychologist when you've got these too. The Night Beat Prescribes the following, in order vanity, rot, you're not alone, feels like forever, and Life Screams .

There is one major surprise on the album, and it happens to be a live cover, that is so good you might want to call the Police. Not the cops but the 70's English Rock Band The Police with Sting. The Song is Roxanne, and I checked out both Lacey and Sting and I've got to go with Lacey. It comes out a Rescue Song which should be snapped up by Teen Challenge or another Christian Youth Ministry. It is simply oozing with Pain, and that is a compliment. I Let You Make the Comparison. First we go with The Police, and Sting's High Voice.
And now the Life Screams version with Lacey, complete with Thrash Growls, which Sting did not do at the time.

I think you know which one is better. I am giving Life Screams a Perfect 5 Emerald Rating only because that is as high as I go. You have got to get this album. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

New Year, New #NightBeatniks

2016 (aka #PlatVnyl7) is underway. As is customary things take a little while to get up to speed after the Christmas Music Rush. Fine with us, as it gives us time to get our end of year posts and 1rst Quarter wrap finished. For those of you who are new here who are asking "First Quarter 2016 Wrap? But This is The First Quarter of 2016." Maybe on your calendar, but we are operating here on the Platinum Vinyl Award Calendar.  That calendar began on October 1 of 2015 and will continue until September 30 of this year.

Back in College in the Mid 1980's I was a Disc Jockey or DJ. We played Vinyl Records on Turntables. The 45 (a vinyl disc about the size of a CD that had 2 songs on it, one on each side) was slowly disappearing and the 33 or Album would soon be replaced by the CD. An uninformed person once said that the 8 Track Tape Replaced the Vinyl Album. No. I was there. The 8 track was a blip on the Musical Timeline. While the Cassette Tape and the 8-Track Were Prone to the same malady ("eating of the tapes"), the cassette could simply, in most cases, be rewound into the casing and played without effort many more times. The 8-Track, however, no. Probably because of the "eating malady" the Cassette never replaced the 33RPM Vinyl but coexisted alongside it. It did have the benefit of portability however,especially after the introduction of the Sony Walkman in 1980. By the end of the Decade the CD was on its way to prominence. It had portability with the size of a 45, and Durability, and could not be eaten. It still has not been overtaken. What about the mp3, you ask. Yes it has portability, but it can be accidentally or otherwise deleted. The CD is permanent.

Musically speaking the 80's were the Golden Age of Music, Christian or Otherwise. There was this little group out of Ireland released an album entitled Boy in 1980. You might have heard of them. U2 anyone? Bono and several other members of the band are Born Again Christians so the band was among the first Crossover acts to become popular in the Christian College Radio crowd. And that really began a crossover trend both ways. We gave the mainstream the likes of Amy Grant and Switchfoot, and you gave us U2, Evanescence and Creed. U2 and Creed managed to stay in the good graces of CCM throughout their careers, and Evanescence got kicked out of the kingdom for swearing during an interview. Still, both Creed and Evanescence managed to latch on to the "Hillsong Effect". By that I mean that they have birthed a horde of imitators, much like Hillsong Church created a horde of "Zschechies" with all these blonde female worship leaders adopting the dress and hairstyle of Darlene Zschech. Modern Worship itself as a genre is still trying to break free from a Hillsong Sound where they all sound alike. Creed gave us Jeremy Camp and Kutless, among others, and Evanescence gave us Eowyn to start.

Oh, one final thing. My radio show in college was called The Night Beat. When looking for a nickname for my fans I coined Night Beatniks. Now the stereotypical Beatnik loved Poetry and Jazz. Now I like my poetry classical (Iambic Pentameter and Rhyme) but I would be very happy in a Jazz Club. As we move into the year and the nominations for #PlatVnyl6 are announced you shouldn't be surprised if you see a few artists that most folks wouldn't consider "Christian". We honor a lot of good music that a Christian (and anyone else) should like. Stay tuned. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

What is Christian Contemporary Music?

Don't ask me. Shocked you with that answer, didn't I. Despite the fact that I have been involved with Christian Music in some fashion for 40 years, I have no problem with admitting that I don't have a clue, and the truth is, neither does anyone else.

As a person who rates and makes criticism on the Christian Music Industry, let me tell you that of the three most useless descriptions on iTunes, two of them belong to Christian Music. They are CCM and Christian/Gospel. They appear so frequently that they give absolutely no clue as to how an artist or band will sound. Unless you're in the know, you wont. The other useless label is that of Singer/Songwriter. You would think that the title would scream folk music, you know the ubiquitous "Girl with Guitar" (Think early Amy Grant), but the title really could be placed on anyone. If Michael Sweet, lead singer of Stryper, writes his own songs, isn't he a singer/songwriter as well? Bands tend to get excluded from the label, however. (Now if we had Girl with Guitar and Glockenspiel, that changes everything).

Seriously though, the name now is applied to everything except Rock, Metal and Rap, and that is a shame. There are so many descriptive terms than CCM. And Christian/Gospel? Is it Urban Gospel?, Southern Gospel?, Just somebody who happens to be Christian and plays music? I think the 40th Anniversary of Christian Contemporary Music is the right time to retire the label. Instead of "Moving Beyond Genre" we should be moving towards them. Embrace labels such as Folk, Folk Rock, Dance, EDM, Industrial, Alternative, Rap, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal and many many more. We can finally ditch silly categories such as Pop/Contemporary at the Dove Awards. Maybe then we can get on to tackling the serious problems that plague the industry, like the recurring purges and witch hunts that happen every time someone gets caught in a "major sin". Newsflash, we all sin. We are to "Restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted." We are not supposed to remove all trace of them from shelves and pretend they never existed, which is putting it mildly.

And while I'm at it, maybe we can retire the old "We're not a Christian Band, we're a band whose members happen to be Christians" argument. The past 40 years have showed the industry that people are happy enough to have "clean" music. They don't need to have Jesus name uttered every other line. So bands like U2, Evanescence and others could be very happy with their Christian Audiences. We've been blessed by the Music, why can't the industry recognize them properly?

That's my rant for today. I'll try not to have one a day. I've got a lot to do otherwise. Picking winners for my sweepstakes, getting the 4th Quarter Out. Starting Judging, and commenting on the recently completed Dove Awards. But still, it needed to be said. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Drive To Five: Revenge of The Fallen

Welcome back to our look back at the Platinum Vinyl Awards first four years as we move on toward #PlatVnyl5 this Spring (yes, fellow Northeastern Chums, it will arrive). When last we were on this topic we had just begun our discussion of #PlatVnyl3, which had taken place in the Spring of 2013 for the 2011-12 year releases. Today we will be discussing the Comebacks as well as the artists that broke up during the eligibility year.

We grew each year in the Comeback of The Year award and this year was no exception. Third Year, Three Comebacks. But Boy oh Boy what comebacks they were. 

We would Kiss the lead singer of the first comeback, but she's already taken. That would be Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer. You may recall that their claim to fame was the single Kiss Me. Well it was a long time between kisses, as their album Lost In Transition came out an entire decade after Divine Discontent. A lot of reviewers panned it, and it wasn't really their best work, but it made the pool with a near perfect 4.75 Emeralds. It did not get an Alternative Album of The Year nomination, though.

Our second comeback artist was from the sub-genre known as Ska. No, it wasn't the Supertones, they would make their bid for comeback platinum in #PlatVnyl4. This was for Motor City Ska's The Insyderz.They always played second fiddle to the Supertones (no, there are no fiddles in ska bands, that's only for the Annie Moses Band). The Sinners Songbook also received a nomination for Best Rock Album.

The final nominee for the award was also the biggest by far. I mean, how many bands strike multiple platinum on their debut? How many redefine their genre and spawn their own sub-genre? How many get to watch the entire industry rush to copy your sound, while at the same time try to exclude you from it? And by industry, I mean CCM. The band of course, is Evanescence. I always found it funny that a band named after the rapture couldn't be accepted by the CCM industry, but such was the case. The self titled third studio album (there is a Live Album in the Mix) was Perfect Platinum, and boy did it shine. It took Comeback of the Year, The Night Beat DJ's Choice Award, Song of The Year and Album of The Year. It also was honorarily given the Night Beat Fallen Award, an award that they were personally responsible for creating, as the band getting Kicked Out of The Kingdom after the release of their debut album Fallen was the impetus for the award. It was nominated for a few more awards that it did not win. Since then, they are on hiatus. Touring takes a lot out of you. They have not broken up, however.

One band did break up after getting their award (the ingratitude!). That was Abel The Band. Their release Make It Right was nominated for Album of The Year, the Song Fire Walk with Me was nominated for Song of The Year. They were also nominated for Alternative Album and Alternative Song of The Year, which they won. I would say that they were the victims of "The Night Beat Curse", sort of like the SI Cover Jinx. Except I don't believe in curses. 

When next we return we shall discuss the Inaugural Video of The Year Awards. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

We Are The Brave

Deena Jakoub. Remember that name. I predict you'll being hearing a lot about her in the future. Right along with Amy Lee, Lacey Sturm, Sarah Anthony and Dawn Michele. That's Evanescence, Flyleaf, The Letter Black and Fireflight for the rest of you.

Welcome to the World of Female Fronted Rock and Roll, which is one of the fastest growing areas of Christian Music, and believe me, that is a very good thing, and not just from the eye candy point of view. Face it, the male fronted bands are getting kind of predictable and all sort of sound the same, and that's the truth.

Truth, from the latin Veritas. From Nashville, Tennessee we bring you Veridia, which is a variation on Veritas. It means truth seeker. And the truth these days that the girls can rock better than the guys. They have deeper resonant voices (a side effect from the hair metal days), and a wider range. They can hit the high notes without their voice cracking. And they're gorgeous. Sorry guys, I know, the truth hurts.

As anyone knows, the Truth and I are Inseparable. And that's one of the reasons I love this band. More than just the music is the message. The album is chock full of message. We Are The Brave is about facing fear. Disconnected is about the power of words. Furious Love is for the girls who feel they have to remake themselves in a guys image or never have love. The last song is Mystery of The Invisible is about being lost in God. My favorite though, is track four. Mechanical Planet is written from the P.O.V. of Regret, and has this awesome bridge.

The truth is I work day and night to keep the gears grinding in your mind.

To keep you from knowing you are worth more than gold.
Not some assembly line rusted shell of a person that I try to remote control.

I never want you to believe that when you're down on your knees
that someone is actually listening
If you were undistracted for even a moment I  lose my hold
and you would notice that you have never been alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
On This Mechanical Planet.

Like I said. Powerful words. I encourage you to listen for yourself, courtesy of The Night Beat, HM Magazine and Soundcloud.
And since I want you to get this album, I want you to go to iTunes. It's got an exclusive right now, so I won't get a penny from the sale. I'm giving Inseparable 4.75 Emeralds. I'd give it a perfect 5, but it is a debut and an EP, and I want more. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Runaways are always walking in the dark

"What makes your heart break, you've been dying to let it go.
But you keep holding on to what makes your heart beat
so desperate to find what is real. Longing to feel again."

I have a love/hate relationship with certain artists and albums. I love the fact that they do much more than entertain, that they seem to reach down into your soul and speak to how you're feeling, and become an agent of healing. On the other hand, you hate them for being able to penetrate your defenses. You would think that would mean you would never listen to them again, but the healing wins out, and you listen again and again. I am convinced more than ever that Amy Lee knew what was in my heart long before I did. That's +Evanescence for the rest of you.

Runaways is such an album. The latest release from Dream Records artist Sumerlin. It's their first full length album after two EP's, and what a release it is. I think that Dream Records has something to do with it. They are vying with +Tooth & Nail Records and +Brandon Ebel for The Kingmakers of Christian Music, and with Sumerlin, The Thulin Brothers (Jonathan and David), Press Play, Satellites and Sirens, and Silverline. their making quite the claim to the throne.

Some albums put a love song on the album as its ballad. This song is one great lost love song (from a guys perspective).

1. Heartbeat
2. Walking In The Dark
3. Home With You
4. Breaking Out
5. Counterfeit
6. You Always Were
7. As I Am 
8. Speak Up, Speak Out
9. War
10. Voices
11. More Than A Memory.

Breaking out was the first song to get its hooks into me

"If only gravity couldn't keep me down
so I could go to any new place to a new life
but these eyes have seen enough, and these hands
are broken I can not feel you.
It's my fault I gave my heart away with the key. 
I Thought she'd be the one to stay here. Don't leave me astray."

WOW. The tears had to be stifled on that one. How about this for power.

"Is it possible to live life without a heart?
To live your life like a ghost walking in the dark.
I've longed for something new to ease the pain
I've made and built up inside. And leave the past behind."

Powerful rock, touching ballads (Home With You, You Always Were, More Than A Memory). Unlike in TV, the game of Love doesn't always end right. The guy doesn't always get the girl.

"Can I be caught in the moment you or am I just a picture on your wall
I say over and over again this can't be the end of us, this can't be the end of more than a memory, more than a memory."

 Yeah, I know, he's a stalker that can't take no for an answer. It's certainly not that easy to pigeonhole. Healing never is. Get Runaways . It grew to 5 Emeralds. If you've ever had a relationship not work out, you'll get it. Keep the Kleenex handy. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.