Siberian Siren: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - The Megapost

We have come to the end of the first quarter for #PlatVnyl8. Things are really moving fast. It was a pretty lightweight quarter this year, which was propped up by a heavy number of Christmas Releases. As is our custom here at The Night Beat, we begin by grouping the genres that had less than 5 entrants in a quarter into a single or multiple posts. There were 7 such groupings and we will put them into two megaposts. Let us begin.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Rend Collective - Campfire II: Simplicity

Gospel/R&B

• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa

Alternative

• Tenth Avenue North - Followers 

Live Recorded Album

• Hillsong -Let There Be Light (Live)
• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa
• Toby Mac - Hits Deep Live

And so it begins. Only one comment here in introduction to this quarter's "cutesy" title. I don't mean siren as in police, but in female singers who lured mariners to their destruction with their enchanting voices. So this quarter is dedicated to Natalya Rose Piette, Georgia Napolitano, Lisa LaVie, Autumn Guzzardi, and Kayla Reeves. They are the lovely "sirens" of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. What voices. But no, I don't expect they are leading anyone down to perdition. One more thing. Since VaShawn Mitchell appears twice in this post alone, I have put the regular album link on Gospel and the Deluxe one on Live. One more megapost to go. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Sonic Awakening: 3rd Qtr 2012 Nominees - Children's Folk Rap

We begin the process, as we do each quarter, of revealing, by category or genre, those releases that I believe are worthy of going into the Platinum Vinyl Award Pool. Some of the genres aren't as prolific as others, and, as is the case, we combine them into one post. We begin with one such post. This time we will combine the Children's Music, Folk/Folk Rock, and Rap/Hip-Hop genres, which, this quarter, had 2, 1, and 3 entrants, respectively.

Children's Music

• Martha's Trouble - A Little Heart Like You
• Various - Faith, Hope and Lullabies: Sing Me to Sleep

Not much here. Martha's Trouble made the inaugural Platinum Vinyl Awards in Folk/Folk Rock and other categories for Anchor Tattoo. This is a different direction from them.

Folk/Folk Rock

• The Vespers - The Fourth Wall

While there weren't any real entries to pick from, one is all it takes, and this one was a doozy. This one should go far this year. Not predicting Barton Hollow style success, but it should do well.

Rap/Hip Hop

• KJ-52 - Dangerous
• Manafest - Fighter
• Trip Lee - The Good Life

Three solid releases from three established artists. I was only a little disappointed that there wasn't a solid new artist in this category. One more quarter to find one. By the way, check out my review of The Fourth Wall by clicking on the link. And don't forget to Like The Nightbeat on Facebook. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Beats: PVA 2011 2nd Qtr Nominees - Alternative Folk Rap

No, that's not a new genre, though it does sound intriguing. It's just that there weren't enough entries in either of the three categories this time around to justify its own post, so I am combining the categories.

And the 2nd Qtr 2011 Best Rap Album Nominees are:

• Deitrick Haddon - Church on the Moon
• Canton Jones - Dominionaire
• Lecrae - Rehab: Overdose

Lecrae is the only true rap artist considered this time around. Haddon and Jones are multi category nominees, but particularly suited to Gospel.

And the 2nd Qtr 2011 Best Alternative Album Nominees are:

• Caedmon's Call - Raising up the Dead
• Tenth Avenue North - Inside and In Between

The release of a physical CD by Caedmon's Call this quarter allowed for a re-classification as Alternative and Pop, and not Folk. Tenth Avenue North is here on its own merits.

And the 2nd Qtr 2011 Best Folk/Folk Rock Album Nominees are:

• The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
• Martha's Trouble - Anchor Tattoo

Martha's Trouble is another multi-genre nominee, being also nominated as Pop. The early talk has The Civil Wars Barton Hollow being the front runner by a large margin. They are the prohibitive favorite.

That concludes the announcement of the 2nd Qtr 2011 entrants. See You with the 3rd Qtr in July.