The Reckoning: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Folk

Folk Music (and Folk Rock) is first up among our single genre posts. Folk has turned into somewhat of a catch all genres, including bluegrass, reggae and even a bit of light country.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Steven Curtis Chapman - Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass Grows
• Heath McNease - Be Clean Again
• Cindy Morgan - Autumn and Eve: Old Testaments, Volume 1
• Ripp + Rice - Songs We Wrote on Tuesday
• Wild Harbors - Monument

Kind of a diverse grouping. Like I said, it's somewhat of a smorgasboard of a genre, and this proves it. What would a wrap be without a tie. We have one next. Adult Contemporary is first, next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Children's folk rock compilation

PVX is underway. The first quarter is underway and it is time to wrap. There is only one megapost this quarter as it was a very good quarter. Four genre's: Children's Music, Folk Music, Rock Music, and Compilation, had less than five entries, which make our minimum bar for their own post. Let's Get to it.

Compilation Album

• Various Artists - WoW Hits 2019

Children's Music

• JJ Heller - I Dream of You, Volume II

Folk Music/Folk Rock

• Christafari - 99.4.1
• High Street Hymns - High Street Hymns
• Jenny and Tyler - There Will Be A Song (Deluxe)

Rock Music

• The Afters - The Beginning and Everything After
• Emery - Eve
• Marc Martel - Thunderbolt and Lightning
• Needtobreathe - Acoustic (Live), Volume 1

The first quarter 2019 wrap is under way, and we are all single genre from now on. A four way tie awaits us at the 5 bar. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Backmasking Number Nine: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Alternative Folk Metal Remix

The final quarter of #PlatVnyl9 is completed, and by some miracle I have managed to quickly compile the wrap. Hopefully that is a sign that we are climbing into normalcy. The first of two megaposts are here. The four genres in this post are responsible for nine entries total. Let's get to it.

Alternative Rock

• Eisley - I'm Only Dreaming of Days Long Past
• Narrow Skies - Seasons: Acoustic Sessions

Folk Music/Folk Rock

• Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes - Wind Up Bird
• Vocal Few - Grand Pre EP

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• Earth Groans - Rahab 
• Fit For A King - Dark Skies

Remix

• Celldweller - Wish Upon A Blackstar Remix Contest Compilation
• Lexi - Just Listen: The Remixes
• Narrow Skies - Seasons: Remixed

The first of our megaposts is in the bag. The 4th Quarter reveal is underway. Our final megapost is later today. Missed the deadline yesterday, so two today. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Diamond Rain: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Metal Folk Dance

The Second Multi-genre post comprises Hard Rock/Metal, Folk/Folk Rock, and Dance/Synthpop. We won't waste time with more talk. Let's get to it.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - Steadfast Live
• Tyson Motsenbocker - Almira EP

Hard Rock/Metal

• Fleshkiller - Awaken
• Spoken - IX

Dance/Synthpop

• C3 Live - Love So Wild
• Lights - Skin and Earth
• Urban Rescue - City Sessions (Live In Los Angeles)

Only one more multi-genre post to go. Electronic Alternative Is Next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Copernicus Rocks: The 2017 PlatInum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr: Live Folk Rock

Sticking up for a fellow pole here at Night Beat HQ. Not that I'm one of those Polish Pride people, I'm not. I mean most days I would just assume I would be any other ethnicity. (I love it when people think I'm Italian.) Hey, my Dad almost had me convinced that I was a Bosnian Crown Prince. (The official name of the country is Bosnia-HerzeGOVINA) (Caps added for Emphasis, Look at my name in the byline.) But upon further review I figure, since that part of the world is fairly warlike (anyone remember WWI?) even up to the present time, maybe it is not wise to assert Balkan Royal Lineage, no matter how flimsy.

Anyway, while Nicky doesn't really have anything to do with Music, (except that Copernicus Rocks sounds cool), it is a slight comment on some recent happenings in the world. Look it up. Now, on to our behind schedule quarterly wrap.

We begin our wrap with some multi-genre posts, where we handle the genres that had less than the threshold of 5 entries. This first one is a little tricky. Even though we have a category called Folk Rock, this is Live Album, Folk/Folk Rock, and Rock. It is the first of three multi genre posts. Let's get to it.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Ellie Holcomb - Red Sea Road

Live Recorded Album

• Daniel Bashta - My Resurrection (Live)
• Aaron Shusht - Love Made A Way (Live)

Rock Music

• As We Ascend - Farewell to Midnight
• Flatfoot 56 - Odd Boat
• K.I.D.S. - Side A

We are finally under way for our 2nd Quarter Wrap. Good it starts before the 3rd Quarter is finished. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

MVM Special Edition: #PlatVnyl7 Folk Video Nominees

We are trying to pull ourselves up out of a hole here at Night Beat HQ. One of the best ways to do that is to get going on the Platinum Vinyl Awards. This year (we are behind schedule) is #PlatVnyl7. We always use the Music Video Monday format to announce the Video Awards Nominees. Since we have narrowed a few of the categories to the final 5 nominees, I think it is high time to begin the announcement process.

We begin with Folk/Folk Rock Video of The Year. The nominees for #PlatVnly7 are Signal by Sara Groves; Beloved One by Jenny and Tyler; The Dream Alive by Vocal Few; What Do You See? by Mr and Mrs Something; and Band of Gold by The Grey Havens. Here is the video playlist.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We will try to keep this up daily. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

#PlatVnyl6 The Nominations Begin: Folk/Folk Rock Video of The Year

We are about to get underway. I am going to go about things a little differently for #PlatVnyl6 and we shall see how things pan out.

The Nominees for Folk/Folk Rock Video of The Year for #PlatVnyl6 are: Little Bird by Misty Edwards; Neosho by +Jennifer Knapp ; Not Enough by +The Vespers ; Psychosocial by +brooke fraser and Yahweh by The Brilliance. 

Here is the playlist.

Next Up is Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Video of The Year. Like I said, we are underway. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Mistletunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Folk/Folk Rock

We continue with our announcement of the #PlatVnyl7 or 2016 1st Quarter Pool Entrants. Our second single genre post is Folk and Folk Rock, called by some Singer/Songwriter, which is tremendously confusing, since it can be any genre. At least the ubiquitous "girl with guitar" was somewhat more descriptive.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sara Groves - Floodplain
• Jenny & Tyler - Of This I'm Sure
• Andrew Peterson - The Burning Edge Of Dawn
• Mr. and Mrs. Something - Setting Sail
• Vocal Few - The Dream Alive - EP

There are the standard artists here, with Sara Groves, who put out a perfect album, and Andrew Peterson, among the leaders. The Dream Alive and Mr. and Mrs. Something are among the new crop. Or at least new to me. Gospel is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Folk Compilation

We continue with the announcements of the 4th Quarter Pool Entries for #PlatVnyl6. This is the second of three multiple genre posts. Our first post comprised Children's Music, Electronic-Industrial, Remix, and Instrumental. This time we shall only have two, Compilation and Folk Music. Let's get to it.

Compilation of The Year

• Soar (Spirit-Empowered Worship)
• #THEBRIDGE, Volume 1
• We Will Stand (Live)
• WOW Hits 2016 (Deluxe Edition)

Needless to say these are all multiple artist or various artists, so we only give the title.

Folk Music/Folk Rock

• Justin McRoberts - Everything Has Changed EP
• Trevor Morgan - Roots
• Pen Pals - Gold EP

That does it for this edition. We still have one more multiple genre post before we go to the single genre. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Polar Vortex Polka Redux: The 2015 2nd Quarter - Folk Music

Welcome back to our announcement of the 2nd Quarter of 2015 Pool Eligible Entries. We are moving through the field in brisk order. We now come upon Folk Music, and its harder edged sibling, Folk Rock. Here we go

Folk/Folk Rock

• The Brilliance - Brother
• Copperlilly - Copperlilly
• The Grey Havens - Fire and Stone
• Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - Medicine
• I Am They - I Am They
• The Vespers - Sisters and Brothers

Again, purely coincidentally based on Alphabetical order, The Vespers is the last one mentioned and it is also a Perfect Album. But once again it is well earned. Hard to believe but this is only the third album by The Vespers. They have been cranking out excellence like they've been around for decades. Rock Music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Righteous Babe Set Free

The Platinum Vinyl Awards is celebrating it's fifth birthday, and as we move into that season and collect entries for #PlatVnyl6 we have come full circle, and with a somewhat bittersweet remembrance.

Christendom in general and the Christian Music Industry in specific has had a really tough time violating Romans 14:4. For the Biblically Uninformed that verse reads "Who are you that judge another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand". Whole ministries have been founded on the basis that they alone would decide who was a Christian and who was not (the late Walter Martin and his ilk). As such I have always had a very prized place in my music heart for the K.O.O.K.s (that's Kicked Out Of the Kingdom). It goes at least to Leslie Phillips, at least in m recent memory. However Evanescence was the one who got the last laugh on the industry, and so in the inaugural Platinum Vinyl Award I created the Fallen Award, which honored the K.O.O.K.s in Christian Music.

The first award went to a Folk Rock Legend, the original Knappster. +Jennifer Knapp pretty much created modern Folk Rock, and the babe from Kansas grabbed a entire generation of Rockers who thought that RSJ could be a tad too tame. She burned bright for a while and then, burned out by the industry, she retired at the top of her act. She returned in 2010 after a 9 year hiatus with Letting Go (2010). Though the album was initially embraced and promoted by the CCM industry, like Fallen before it, soon information "leaked out" that Knapp announced she had come out of the closet. The only thing the industry didn't do was burn her at the stake. Musically however, there really wasn't that much difference between Letting Go and her "Christian Work". Letting go won (actually Split) the Folk Album award.

The gorgeous Kansan returns now with Set me free [+digital booklet] . Now 40 (my how time flies), this could be her best work yet. It is almost pure Folk, but she does Rock out on Remedy and Why Wait, which show she's still the Top Dog. There is also a song called What Might Have Been, which is probably the most beautiful song on the album. Actually the album most resembles Kansas, her debut. She is coming back home, and let me welcome her with 5 Emeralds. This Righteous Babe (her label, love it) has set the Folk Bar for #PlatVnyl6. 

The Knappster is also an author. She has written her story, appropriately titled Facing the Music: My Story . I would label it a must read. Until next time at the Night Beat Candy Store, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bad Moon Rising: The 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Jazzy Folk Children

The 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards pool is finally closed, and what a way to end it. We had a slew of entries this time around. Yes that is a highly technical term. 

As always we begin the quarterly wrap by combining the lesser represented genres into a single post. Some of them were Jazz (a new genre), Children's Music, and Folk Music. So without further ado:

Jazz Music

• Hamilton Hardin - Just Wanna Say

Children's Music

• Vineyard UK - Great Big God 5

Folk/Folk Rock

• Lexi Elisha - Rope
• For The Fatherless - For The Fatherless
• Heath McNease  - Fort Wayne (Songs Inspired by the movie)
• Tim Neufeld - The Joy (f/The Glory Boys)

We have kicked things off. This was a big quarter with a lot of releases, and we build up to the big genre. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Folk Music

We begin with the single genre posts as we wrap up the Third Quarter of 2014. For those of you who have followed this blog for a while, you know that it is our practice to build up the posts to the one which got the most entries. We begin with the one that just cleared the bar. Folk Music and Folk Rock got 5 entries this quarter, giving it its own blog post.

Folk Music/Folk Rock

• All Sons and Daughters - All Sons & Daughters
• Carolina Story - Chapter Two
• Chris and Gileah - Chris & Gileah
• Kristen Gilles - Parker's Mercy Brigade
• JJ Heller - I Dream of You

Now ASAD and Heller are multiple genre nominees, so that sort of skews things a bit, but when you release music that's hard to peg, those things happen. Alternative is next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Polar Vortex Polka: The 2014 2nd Quarter - Electronic Folk Children

I decided to have a little fun announcing the pool entries for the Winter. I really hated this past Winter and am really happy that Spring is here. So I have combined strong dislikes. Next to Country and Southern Gospel, it is a toss up, but the Polka has to be the worst form of music known to mankind. I'm Polish so I know of what I speak. I would consign all three to the pit if I ruled the world, and the world would be greatly improved just by that move.

As always, we begin by combining the orphan genres. Those that don't have enough entries to merit a post of their own. Dance-Synthpop had no entries.

Children's Music

• Shout Praises Kids - We Belong To Jesus

Folk/Folk Rock

• David Ian - Valentine's Day
• Charlie Peacock - Lemonade
• Papa San - One Blood

Electronic-Industrial

• Satellites and Sirens - One Noise

That is it for this post. I know some of you are saying. There is no Folk Music here, just Jazz and Reggae. Folk is my catch all genre where I put Jazz, Reggae, a lot of ethnic sounds except for Gospel, plus folk. At least until I get enough entries to create a genre all its own on a consistent basis.

Chicks, Chicken, Pickin and grinnin

Sometimes I am amazed by the low attendance at some Christian Concerts. I mean, what do you have to do to get the seats filled? Small Intimate venue with table seating? Check. Free Food? Check. College Credit? Check. Great Music? Check.

Did I mention the concert was FREE! Oh, and the band happens to be fronted by two beautiful girls with great legs (Yes, totally chauvinistic remark from a Guy, deal with it). Check out the picture and tell me I'm wrong. 

Phoebe (l) and Callie (r) Cryar of the Vespers

The Band in question is The Vespers. A Folk Rock band out of Nashville, Tennessee. If you've not heard of them before, don't feel bad. I "discovered" the band back last April with the release of The Fourth Wall . It was the first I heard of them, but in fact it was their Second Album. The debut was called Tell Your Mama, and was released back in 2010. They are a brother/sister act, so to speak. The Sisters, who do all the vocals, are Callie and Phoebe Cryar, aged 22 and 20 respectively. They are the Children of 80's CCM Rock Star Morgan Cryar. The brothers are Bruno and Taylor Jones, 21 and 23 respectively. They are a talented bunch.

• Callie Cryar: Guitar, Ukelele, Banjo, Electric Bass
• Phoebe Cryar: Banjo, Guitar, some ukulele, occasional mandolin and accordion
• Bruno Jones: Guitars and other stringed instruments (mostly upright bass)
• Taylor Jones: Drums and Mandolin

The Davis Auditorium at Nichols College was set up with tables seating 7. There were maybe 9 of them. I think there may have only been about 20 or so actually there. The concert began with the band's only cover tune, Grinnin In Your Face by Son House. That really set the tone for a high energy banjo picking night, made for dancing (the only invitation was ignored.

The Short concert (about an hour give or take) consisted mostly of songs from The Fourth Wall (in addition to Grinnin', Better Now, Flower Flower, Got No Friends and Will You Love Me were featured). Two new songs from an upcoming third album were played plus Tell your Mama and Pick a fight from the debut. The concert closed with Close My Eyes, one of their hardest songs ever. I'll close with it too. Rarely does a concert come close to some of the energy on an album due to Murphy's Law. This time Murphy was nowhere to be found. Until next time, Tell Your Mama, or anyone else you know, that I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: The One That Got Away

Welcome back to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. We're trying something different this time around, as we share videos from the 4th Platinum Vinyl Awards Eligibility Year. Instead of doing random videos, we are progressing by genre. We may have to backtrack if something pops up, but I think we won't have to, it being September.

We begin with a legend in the making. The Civil Wars are already multiple award winners, and it looks like they're going to mine Platinum once again, at least in the Folk Genre. We shall see about the others. This is the only Music Video from their Self Titled possible swan song (They have Lyric Videos). They truly are The One That Got Away.
Next up is a double nominee. Yancy (not Nancy) already has a nominated album in Children's Music this year. She strayed into Folk and Modern Worship Territory with her album Roots for the Journey. I think it was more folk than Modern Worship, so I classified it there. This is Safe.
Finally, we conclude with one of the Folk Queens of Christian Music. JJ Heller is really a staple in the Platinum Vinyl Awards lineup. She could be this awards version of Amy Grant, though I believe she merits it. I kind of give all one girl and guitar people to folk, though she could be classified as pop. This is the video for Who You Are.
That concludes this edition of Music Video Monday. Next week we will settle down for a while in Adult Contemporary. Scroll down a little further and enter the giveaway. (One of the artists featured here has an album in the mix. It appeals to both North and South). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Falling Notes: The 2013 First Quarter - Gospel Folk

The lost categories. Back in December of 2012, when these posts were originally posted, there were no entries for Children's Music, Folk Music, and Gospel. Then came the lost entry debacle. A whole closet's worth of entries were found and everything had to be re-tabulated.

At the end of the 1rst Quarter, before the closet of entries were discovered, there were no entries in Children's Music, Folk/Folk Rock, and Gospel. Now that the re-tabulation is complete, there are still no entries for Children's Music. This post will cover the four releases for folk and gospel.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Warren Barfield - Redbird
• Shelly Moore - Unravelling
• Charlie Peacock - No Mans Land

The biggest WOW came from Shelly Moore. This was perfect folk music. Charlie Peacock is a classic. You really have to hear his music.

Gospel/R&B

• Freddy Washington - The Jesus Record

This has got to be one of the longest layovers between a single (Jesus) and the album it will appear on. Still It was worth the wait.

The other categories will be updated with their additions. Click to access Rock, Modern Worship, Dance/Rap/Pop, and Alternative. I May have missed a few others, so stay tuned. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your reply.

The Groundhog Blues: Winter 2013 Releases - Pops Folk Gospel

Welcome to the release announcement of the eligibility pool for the Platinum Vinyl Awards from the Winter of 2013 (That's January-March folks). Due to the random distribution of entries, some categories may be missed or have very few entries in each quarter. This quarter was no exception, as there were no Children's Music Entries and very few for Folk, Gospel, Pop and Rock. As is my custom here, I will attempt to combine posts as best I can to make things satisfying.

Today we will reveal the eligible releases for Folk Music, Gospel, and Pop Music.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Steven Curtis Chapman - Deep Roots
• JJ Heller - Loved (Deluxe Version)

Heller is almost perpetual in this category, though she has strayed into pop territory from time to time. Deep roots may surprise some SCC  fans, as he is a AC staple. Deep roots is Folk with a few Country forays. Not enough to get my gag reflex going, though.

Gospel/R&B

• Kurt Carr - Bless This House
• Canton Jones - CJ Talks
• William Murphy - God Chaser 
• The Wardlaw Brothers - God's Been There

CJ Talks, despite the title, is not spoken word. It is a live album from the Dominionaire tour. Finally, we come to Pop Music. This genre is usually well represented, but it was a little light this time around.

Pop Music

• Carman - Anthems of a Champion 
• Jason Castro - Only A Mountain
• Mags - Mismatched
• Marc Martel - The Prelude
• Britt Nicole - Gold
• Plumb - Need You Now 
• Julia Sharpe - Rescued
• Tal and Acacia - Black and White  

Two things of note here. This Britt Nicole release is not the same as the Gold EP. That release is a dance remix (several of them) of the song Gold. Plum is a little hard to classify this time around. She went more pop than dance, and is a bit more alternative, like at the start. She is a multiple qualifier.

Children's Music Box

• Yancy - Jesus Music Box

That concludes these genres. More will be coming. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Warm Tones: The 2012 4th Quarter - Inspirational Folk

The Fourth Quarter of 2012 is now completed, at least as the Platinum Vinyl Awards are concerned. We are now beginning the eligibility period for the 4th Platinum Vinyl Awards, and already there are some promising entries. More on that later. For now, we will concern ourselves with the late entries for this years awards.

The Fourth Quarter is always a bittersweet period. While I begin the year saying that entries with a 4 Emerald Rating will be considered for a Platinum Vinyl Award, by the 2nd quarter it is effectively a 4.5 Emerald Rating which is the minimum bar, and by the end of the third to the end in all reality you need a 4.75 Emerald Rating to make it to the judging. I know that seems unfair, but such is the case. We are trying to get the best in the awards, and sometimes we need to make adjustments on the fly.

Now, on to the fourth quarter. There were no new entrants this time around from Children's Music. The field for this award is set at three entrants, to be revealed at a later time.

There was one entry for the Folk/Folk Rock category, and that was Light for the Lost Boy by Andrew Peterson. That brings the total entrants for this category at four. I will also reveal these entrants at a later time.

That brings us to the only genre which had a couple of entrants worth speaking of. That would be Adult Contemporary and Inspirational. Three entries made the cut this quarter, at least initially.

• Heather Headley - Only One in the World
• Cheri Keaggy - So I Can Tell
• Matthew West - Into the Light

The Fourth Quarter rollout begins. There are plenty more to announce, and yet only a few of these pool entries will make it to the final round. Stay with us here at the Night Beat as the 3rd Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards begins to pick up steam. Until our next post, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Frozen Chosen: Inspired Folk Children

We have reached the half-way mark for the 2012 Platinum Vinyl Awards. When you start in October, this is six months in. This was a good quarter for Modern Worship, Alternative and Rock, not so good for Children's Music or Dance.

Children's Music

• Yancy - Little Praise Party: Happy Day Every Day

Folk/Folk Rock Music

• All Sons and Daughters - Season One

This one needs a brief explanation. If you know anything about the duo, you are already saying "what about Reason to Sing, Vol 2". Yes, I know. I dropped it from contention. Before you go about whining, let me explain. Since Brokenness Aside, Volume 1 and Reason to Sing Volume 2 are part of Season One (a Combined New Release), it makes little sense to have them both. The Full Release is therefore the only one being considered.

Inspirational Music

• Calvin Jones and Teresa Scanlon - Dueling Pianos: White Water Chopped Sticks - City of Peace
• Parachute Band: Matins Vespers
• Phillips, Craig and Dean - Breathe In
• Michael W. Smith - Decades of Worship
• Various Artists - Seasons of Hope
• Various Artists - Seasons of Joy
• Various Artists - Seasons of Reflection

That gets things started. Please feel free to comment. Good choices, you think I missed one, or someone was snubbed. All comments are welcome. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.