Music Video Monday: Christmas Week Edition

We continue with out Christmas Parade here at Music Video Monday. There are some favorites that will always be in our Christmas Mix. Denver and The Mile High Orchestra is one of those bands that quickly become part of your Holiday Must Plays. This is Frosty The Blues Man.
Christmas also isn't complete without The Little Drummer Boy. We will let you experience it via Joel and Luke Smallbone, aka For King and Country.
And Finally, we're gonna slow it down, Jazz Style, with Planetshakers church in Australia. This is All Glory, It's Christmas.
 
The Parade Continues next week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

The Penultimate Post this quarter is Pop Music, which has fourteen Entries, which means, if you are paying attention, that once again Modern Worship is the big winner.

Pop Music

• Francesca Battistelli - Own It
• Coyote Choir - Volume 1
• The Gray Havens - She Waits
• Jessica Johnson Garcia - JJ+Garcia
• Influence Music - Mistakes EP (ft Melody Noel)
• Carmen Justice - Quarter Life Crisis
• For King and Country - Burn The Ships
• Love and The Outcome - These Are The Days (Deluxe)
• TobyMac - The Elements
• Sarah Reeves - Easy Never Needed You
• 7eventh Time Down - Brand New Day EP
• Holly Starr - Human (Deluxe)
• Tenth Avenue North - The Things We've Been Afraid To Say EP
• Josh Wilson - Don't Look Back EP

Two finals worth of entrants in Just the first quarter. And still it isn't the big winner. Modern Worship is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Not Dead Yet

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, on this next to the last Monday of Summer, at least unofficially. We begin with our monthly release by For King and Country. Can we get an Amen.
Next up we have a new entrant into the EDM Scene. DJ em-D is up with Spencer Kane. It's time to Turn The Light On.
Finally we have a video by Ledger (as in Jen Ledger, drummer for Skillet). This is Not Dead Yet. I think the girl has some definite anger management issues.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: God Only Knows

Welcome to another edition of Music Video Monday. July is just about over, and with it the first third of the final quarter of #PlatVnyl9. Let's get right to it.

We begin with a little wrap or Rap. This is Aaron Cole. He's Down Like That.
We continue with some Pop and Shelly E Johnson. She's Home.
And we finish off with For King and Country. They are continuing their trend of a song and video a month to kick off their new album. This is God Only Knows.
Sometimes I feel we could say that about Music Video Monday, but we wont. Until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Music Video Monday: Pioneers

Welcome back to Music Video Monday. We usually share the latest Music Videos, but this Summer we are going back to the 80's and sharing some of the Classic Christian Videos, some of which got banned by MTV back when the letters meant Music Television. These are the Pioneers of Christian Music.

We begin with something new. For King and Country is on a roll, releasing a song a month until the new album. The first one up, done with their wives is appropriately called Pioneers. We begin with it this week.

On to the classics. One of the Pioneers of Christian Music is "Uncle Randy" aka Randy Stonehill. Randy is one of the original Jesus Music Era artist and was blessed with a "Slightly Unhinged" sense of humor. Definitely not PC. Of course that made him an instant hit with the youth. This is Love Beyond Reason.
Finally, we go with another artist who had an unhinged sense of humor. Steve Taylor. Get in the Lifeboat.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Californians On Ice

Welcome Back to the long forsaken Music Video Monday. Can you believe it was March the last time we were together in this format (March 12 to be exact). We are back, hopefully for good. Let's start the videos.

First up we have For King and Country (Joel and Luke Smallbone, brothers of Rebecca St. James).  This is the music video for Joy. 
Next up we go Metal. The Lamb and The Lion are not yet playing together, but we seem to be in the Millennial Reign. From their new album The Great Divide, this is Break The Tide.
Finally June began with a somewhat surprise release by Alternative Pioneers The Choir. There has been so much discussion about the 25th Anniversary of Kissers and Killers and the 30th Anniversary of Chase The Kangaroo. With so much on the table it is easy to miss the new release of Bloodshot. This is the lyric video for Californians on Ice (an unmitigated disaster). I think they have been taking lessons from Steve Taylor in sarcasm.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, which should be next Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: February 2017

The Groundhog was wrong. Things are heating up here at Night Beat HQ, and it's not all due to the Spring weather. We begin our monthly roundup with the Songs released during the month, or as we call it here

The Singles Scene

• Cody Carnes - The Cross Has The Final Word 4.50 Emeralds
• Hands - New Heaven 4.75 Emeralds
• Hands - New Earth 5 Emeralds 
• Carmen Justice - Flaming Arrows (David Thulin Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - Run The Race 4.75 Emeralds

Now onto the albums. We begin with those releases which will not make the cut into the #PlatVnyl8 Pool. A small nitpick. I come up from the Vinyl era. Back in the day we had these things called 45s, which contained 2 songs, one on each side. They were the singles. That is what Hands has released, a single and a B-Side. You need at least 3 songs to make an EP, which is how they market it.

Missing The Mark

• Cristabelle Braden - Hope Springs 3.75 Emeralds
• East Hill Worship - Yesterday, Today, Forever 3.75 Emeralds
• Dan Ferrari - Unrepeatable 3.75 Emeralds
• Taelor Gray - In The Way Of Me 3.75 Emeralds
• Kat & Jared - Kat & Jared EP 3.75 Emeralds
• KRUM - Blue Eyed Devil 3.50 Emeralds
• Nobigdyl. - Canopy 3.50 Emeralds
• Royal Ruckus - The Summer of The Cicadias 3.75 Emeralds

KRUM is the artist formerly known as Playdough, but even a name change doesn't change my opinion of the music. And Kat & Jared? Must be a Flyleaf curse, but the only success from the former band seems to be Lacey. Maybe that's the way it is supposed to be. Now on to the albums from which nothing bad can be found.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Acceptance - Colliding By Design 5 Emeralds
• Eisley - I'm Only Dreaming 5 Emeralds
• Anthony Evans - Back To Life 5 Emeralds
• Fearless BND - We Are Fearless 5 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Priceless: The Movie 5 Emeralds
• Hollyn - One Way Conversations 5 Emeralds

6 Perfect 5's, and each one from 5 different genres (Alternative, Gospel, Modern Worship, and Hip Hop, and Instrumental). It's good to spread it around.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Archroyal - Anchor EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Bethany (Dillon) Barnard - A Better Word 4.50 Emeralds
• Death Therapy - The Storm Before The Calm 4.75 Emeralds
• Tim Drisdelle - Depths EP 4.75 Emeralds
• David Dunn - Yellow Balloons 4.75 Emeralds
• Hearts Like Lions - If I Never Speak Again 4.50 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young And Free - Youth Revival Acoustic 4.50 Emeralds
• Hope Chapel - Hear My Cry 4.50 Emeralds
• Kari Jobe - The Garden 4.75 Emeralds
• Steven Malcolm - Steven Malcolm 4.75 Emeralds
• Passion - Worthy of Your Name (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Jetty Rae - Can't Curse The Free 4.75 Emeralds 
• Relient K - Truly, Madly, Deeply EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - Through It All (Kaleo Worship) 4.50 Emeralds
• CeCe Winans - Let Them Fall In Love 4.50 Emeralds
• Ayiesha Woods - The Runway Project EP 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for February. Death Therapy threw me for a while. It was the weirdest metal band I ever heard until it finally dawned on me "It's not metal, it is industrial".   Once the adjustment was made the album was near perfect. Genres are important. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.    

Night Beat Rewind: November 2016

There is quite a lot to be thankful for this November, as we had a full slate of releases. Of course, most of them are Christmas Music, which are not eligible for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Considering the amount of these releases it is also something to be thankful for. We begin with the aforementioned Christmas Music.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Jason Bare - Night Of Wonder 4.75 Emeralds
• Cristabelle Braden - All Is Bright EP 4.25 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Into The Silent Night (Extended) EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Garrels - The Light Came Down 4.50 Emeralds
• Justin C. Gilbert - The Holiday Sessions 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Unto Us 4.50 Emeralds
• LEAH - Christmas Time Is Here 4.75 Emeralds
• Marc Martel - The Silent Night EP 4.50 Emeralds
• We Are Messengers - God With Us 4.25 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Christmas Falling (Single) 4.25 Emeralds
• Newsong - The Best Christmas Ever 4.50 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - The Thrill of Hope 5 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - Waiting For The Dawn 5 Emeralds
• Temple Veil - Gift of Christmas (Single) 4.25 Emeralds
• Vocal Few - Snowdrift EP 4.25 Emeralds

That is a whole bunch of Christmas Releases. Now onto the regular stuff. Even in November there is a bit of non-holiday releases. We begin with the songs, or 

The Singles Scene

• King Stevian - Ripcord 3.50 Emeralds
• The Waiting Kind - Heartbeat 4.75 Emeralds

Moving On Without Comment. To the albums. We begin with those that will not be considered for #PlatVnyl8.

Missing The Mark

• Changing Pointe Church - You Remain 3.75 Emeralds
• Lisa Mitts - Where I Belong 3.50 Emeralds
• Tommy Saint - Tommy Saint 3.75 Emeralds
• Skrip - Exposition 3.75 Emeralds

Most of these releases are good, but just not award worthy. Lisa Mitts however the verdict is still out on. Maybe her vocals will grow on me (or improve). But right now think nails and chalkboard. Not so with the next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Future of Forestry - Awakened to The Sound 5 Emeralds
• Wolves at The Gate - Types and Shadows 5 Emeralds   

Yes I know, what about the others. In order to not repeat myself I am leaving this section to the non Christmas Releases. There are also 3 Perfect 5's in the Christmas Section. Our final grouping is for those in between, or as we like to call them here

Semi-Precious Metals

• Canon - Loose Canon, Volume 3 4.50 Emeralds
• Chapel Band - The Gathering 4.75 Emeralds
• Death Requisite - Revisitation 4.75 Emeralds
• Tim Drisdelle -Heights, Part 1 4.75 Emeralds
• Summer Floyd - Ray of Light 4.50 Emeralds
• Meleana - White Walls 4.50 Emeralds
• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa 4.75 Emeralds
• The Museum - Reclaimed EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Ginny Owens - Love Be The Loudest 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Quillala - Split The Sky 4.75 Emeralds
• S.O. - These Things Take Time EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Hits Deep Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Micah Tyler - Different EP 4.75 Emeralds        

Music Video Monday: Ceasefire

We may be on an erratic schedule, but we keep plugging away. Welcome back to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, and I mean all new. These videos are really fresh.

We begin with one of my favorites, the +Annie Moses Band . Now I know that Annie Wolaver is the lead by virtue of her first name (I Mean, there had to be an Annie fronting The Annie Moses Band, didn't there?) but personally I have always liked Gretchen the best. And now they recognize it. From American Rhapsody, which is nominated for #PlatVnyl6 Pop Album of The Year, this is Where You've Always Been, which proves to me Gretchen should split lead some times.

Next up is the return of Kevin Max. He released an album with such little fanfare that it totally slipped in under my radar. The title of the album, out in April, was Playing Games With The Shadow, this is Girl With The Tiger Eyes.
Finally, we close with our teased video, from +for KING & COUNTRY . The video is called Ceasefire, and it is being tied in with the upcoming remake of Ben Hur. Now this is one of those movies that I think I am going to make an effort to see even at Full Matinee Pricing. I loved the original, and the original story is written by a soldier. The novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ came out in 1880. By that time Lew was already a Lawyer, Soldier in the Mexican and Civil Wars, where he became a general, presided over the trial of Henry Wirz of the infamous Andersonville Prison, and territorial Governor of New Mexico. Then he just pens the most influential Christian Book of The 19th Century. Based on this video, I think I'll check out the movie. Ceasefire.
Well that does it for this week. We shall return next week with another rotation of Music Videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Crowing Over The Doves

Well it is that time again. The Dove Awards have been handed out and the bands and artists are glowing in the shine off the hardware. Or something like that. Of course it is nothing like the glory they get from winning a Platinum Vinyl Award, but it's better than nothing.

In my line of work as the President, Founder and leader of the WENC Night Beat, it is my responsibility to make predictions as to who I think will win the awards. To try to improve the Award Process, of course. Anyways, I would like to remind you that statistically speaking, a coin flip is 50%, so if I get near to that, I don't have to hang up my Carnac the Magnificent hat.

We begin with the Album Awards. I made 3 Picks which I explained, and another 5 Quick Picks with no explanation. I cleared a wide berth for Worship Album, picking 3: Bethel Music, Chris Tomlin and Passion Conference. There were only five nominees, I had to hit, right? Wrong. They went with Hillsong No Other Name. 

I did better with Pop/Contemporary Album, picking For King and Country, and the Dove Committee went for it as well. I will give myself points if I thought the industry would pick a choice other than mine, but then they went for my choice. I said Red should win for Rock Album and that the industry was pulling for Disciple, but the GMA's went for Red as well. That's 2 for 3. 

For the quick picks I went with Kierra Sheard for Contemporary Gospel; Charles Jenkins for Traditional Gospel; Philips Craig and Dean for Inspirational; Colton Dixon for Rock/Contemporary; and Lecrae for Rap Album. I only lost out on Gospel. The other three were correct. Final album total 5 for 8 or 62%.

I made four picks for Song awards. For worship song I went with Forever by Kari Jobe but really thought popular opinion went with Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli. The Dove went to Matt Maher. Go Figure. I thought How Can It Be by Lauren Daigle should win but the Dove would Go to For King and Country. The Dove went to Daigle for Pop/Contemporary Song. I had a bad hunch that the Dove for Rock Song would go to Skillet for Good To Be Alive, from an album honored in #PlatVnyl4 two years ago. I was right. I picked NF or Rapture Ruckus for Rap Song. The Dove went to Lecrae. 2 for 4 on Song, Overall we were at 7 for 12 or 58%. Still ahead of the coin flip.

The third part went to the General Field. I made a pick for Artist of The Year, New Artist of The Year, and Song of The Year. For Song of The Year, while I thought that the Dove's would go to Casting Crowns for Thrive, I said that I would pick How Can It Be by Lauren Daigle. And that is the song that won. I love it when the big boys agree with me.

For New Artist of The Year, I Picked Lauren Daigle. I love her powerful, deep voice. So did the Dove Committee. 2 for 2.

I really thought it would be the ladies year so I said either Kari Jobe or Francesca Battistelli for Artist of The Year. The Dove went to Lecrae. Must be a war on women thing. Ending there we would be 9 for 15 or 60%. and 2/3 here or 67%. But I also, on a lark, picked for Short Form Video to illustrate absurdity by being absurd. While I have a Video of The Year Award, I also have ones for individual music genres. Trying to do one without the other is crazy. Anyway I picked Dreams by Kings Kaleidoscope and they picked You Can't Stop Me by Andy Mineo. Including this loss gives me 9 for 16, still over a coin flip at 56%. I guess I can keep at this. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Without You

Welcome once again to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. We have three great videos for you today and for one of them I would issue a mandatory hanky alert. First up we have electronic master Andy Hunter and his best vocalist Beth Bullock collaborating once more in perfect Harmony.

Harmony drops Tomorrow, so this is a bit of a scoop for us.  Now for the next video don't say I didn't warn you. Grab your hanky. This is a tear-jerker of a video from For King and Country. 

Finally we crank things up with Colossus which helps us to exorcise our demons.

That concludes this edition of Music Video Monday. We will return next week with an all new batch of videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: It's What We Crave

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled Music Video Monday. We're loaded for bear here at MVM so let's get right to it. We're going to go with Audio Adrenaline once again to kick things off. This is Kings and Queens.

Staying with the royalty things, sometimes there is no better motivation for things than doing them For King and Country. This is Hope is What We Crave.

Simon and Garfunkel may have wanted to be an Island, but Michael Gungor said, who needs a stinking Island. I Am Mountain.

Finally, we conclude with Ghost Ship, to spread a little Halloween Joy, and, Mediator.

That concludes this regularly scheduled Music Video Monday. This weeks weekend edition will contain videos from Paramore, The Almost and others. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl3 - Video of The Year

A category having its debut this year, Video of The Year honors the Music Video, once responsible for launching two cable networks (VH1 and MTV), now it is the red headed stepchild of the industry.

Judging in this category skews heavily to the visual element. The song could be simply average, yet when combined with the video it becomes unforgettable. Of course, both parts could be equally strong. A weak video and a strong song would not be considered, however.

Due to the visual element, the nominees for the video categories were reduced from the usual seven to five.

• Black Heart Hearse, White Collar Sideshow
• Carry You, Close Your Eyes
• Poison and Wine (The Civil Wars Cover), Satellites and Sirens
• The Proof Of Your Love, For King and Country
• Timing is Everything, Lights

Each of the nominated videos is a striking visual image in itself. From the Flashdance inspired Timing is Everything where Lights proves the truism that "something red always draws the eye" to the dystopian nightmare that is "The Proof of Your Love". In retrospect, perhaps Valerie (Lights) should have drenched herself with water (a la Jennifer Beals), because the judges went with the St. James Gang instead of her (For King and Country is Joel and Luke Smallbone, brothers to Rebecca St. James). Also on to the next round was a tale of Life, Love and Death that would impress even Evanescence. Carry You by Close Your Eyes.

When the smoke cleared, however, Walt Disney carried the day. Well, Pixar at least. Satellites and Sirens made an album of cover songs and then created a music video for each of them. They were all good, some silly, and a few notable. Among the latter category was a cover of The Civil Wars Poison and Wine. They used a montage of images from Pixar's UP, and it is a real tear-jerker.

Yes, the judges wept. If you don't while watching, then perhaps you need a hearse for your black heart. Just a few more to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Nominations Begin: Alternative Video of The Year

We always try to mix things up at the WENC Night Beat, and what better time then at Award Season. The third Platinum Vinyl Award is almost upon us, and the nominations are in. This year we begin the Music Video Awards, and there are genre based awards for Alternative, Pop, Dance/Synthpop, Electronic/Industrial, Hip-Hop/Rap, Hard Rock/Metal, and Rock, as well as General Field Video Awards in Video by a Male Artist, Video by a Female Artist, Video by a New Artist, and Video of The Year.

I would really like to encourage an audience vote this year, and this is one of the best ways I can figure on doing it. I am going to check on the possibilities of using +SoundCloud as a possibility of bringing in Song of The Year participation. I would suggest using the comments as your vote.

We begin with Alternative Video of The Year. By alternative, we mean Alternative Rock, not some strange new way of shooting video. There are only Five nominees per category, if we can make it, not the usual seven we try for. Here we go, in no particular order of odds. (Actually, I was trying to go alphabetical by song).

And the nominations for Alternative Video of The Year for the 3rd Platinum Vinyl Award are:

Daylight by Run, Kid, Run.



Find Me by Anchor and Braille


My Name is Eustace by Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra

The Proof of Your Love by For King and Country

Summer Forgets Me by Deas Vail

That gets things started here on the Blog. The Awards, as well as the nominations, will have a multiple pronged announcement. I am currently going through them all on Facebook, Google + and soon, on Twitter as well. Along with right here for Video announcement and voting and the complete list on the nomination page. Let the voting begin, and, as always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Baby Boy

Welcome once again to Music Video Monday, where we scan the web for the best music videos out there and share them with you. January is upon us and Christmas is over, yet we begin our weekly tour with a Lyric Video with Christmas Overtones. The Christmas Prequel comes courtesy of For King and Country, also known as Joel and Luke Smallbone, brothers of Rebecca St. James. This is Baby Boy.

Andrew Peterson releases a Music Video which is a must see for anyone who has a son. This is You'll Find Your Way.


Another lyric video for our listening and reading pleasure. This is new Techno/Dance group Capital Kings and We Belong as One (feat. Toby Mac).

And we shall close out our musical journey with a teaser. Bombs Away.

As I close every week, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Run and Don't Stop

It's Monday, and that means that it is time for Music Video Monday, where we at The Night Beat Share the Best Christian and GRAC Music Videos out there. Before we begin today, I wish to give a shout out to all my friends on Triberr for bearing with me as the Platinum Vinyl Awards commenced. You all helped make it a big success. I guess I should also give a shout out to the google blogger team for fixing the scheduled post issue in time. Never mind last years marathon posting, even this could have been a disaster.

We're going to start out with a fresh video. Bryce Avery (aka The Rocket Summer), is coming out with a new album tomorrow entitled Life Will Write The Words. As a matter of full disclosure The WENC Night beat is an Amazon Associate, and if you click the highlighted link above and purchase the CD or downloads, a portion of the sale will come back to help The Night Beat. Thank You for your support. Here is the music video for Run and Don't Stop.

One More fresh video, though shorter. Write This Down releases Lost Weekend tomorrow, and this is the album teaser, just like in the movies.

You can listen to Lost Weekend in its entirety this week on AOL Music

Now onto the regularly scheduled videos. First up is Eisley, which recently released the Deep Space EP, which will be considered for a Platinum Vinyl Award next year. This is a live performance of Deep Space.

For King and Country is next. This is Joel & Luke Smallbone, RS James Brothers. This is the music video of Missing.

Sarah Macintosh came out with Current in March, and Oh what an album. Perfection. These are live studio videos. I would love to share them all, but I will chose Damaged.

And finally, we close it out with Sidewalk Prophets. This is the Video of the Title Cut of their new album, Live Like That.

That concludes this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.