The 10 Best Albums of 2016

We are at that time of the year again, when we do our best to go through all the releases that have come across our desk in the past 12 months and highlight ten of them. Not an easy task in any circumstances. However, there are a few helps. They have to be a Perfect 5 Emerald release. That is only a bit of a help since I had over 50 of those. But I did it. Not surprisingly, we are a bit Rock Centric. Personally we all love a countdown, so let's do it. From the Bottom:

• #10 - Life Screams, Lacey Sturm - While not the news that a lot of people wanted to hear (We All Want Lacey Back in Flyleaf, a DC Talk Reunion and Peace On Earth), we have to face the fact that Lacey is not going back. Not after a solo debut like this. The Pain oozes from each song. Never before could you get such free therapy this side of an Evanescence album.
• #9 - Exhale, Thousand Foot Krutch - Trevor and Company are Back. Not that they ever went away, but they somehow mellowed out. They found the 11 on the amplifier this time, as this is a RAWKFEST from beginning to end.
• #8 - American Prodigal, Crowder - We very briefly touch the Modern Worship genre, though this is firmly in the Rock section. If you are going to have a breakup, this is the way to do it (see #7 below). Here the namesake of the former David Crowder Band.
• #7 - Galaxies, The Digital Age - The Crowder Band, minus Crowder. While David went Rock, the band went Electronic, an inspired choice. This time the songs are interspersed with some of the Apollo Space Program conversations, which seem quite timely in light of John Glenn's death.
• #6 - Types and Shadows, Wolves at The Gate - I Prophecy Big Success for this album (sorry, inside lingo on the title, which refers to the Symbols of The Old Testament (Passover or The Tabernacle, for example) which found their substance in Christ.
• #5 - Long Live The Rebels, Disciple - My second favorite Southern Rockers (Third Day is #1) return with their hardest ever. That's not to say that there aren't some great ballads on this album, Just listen to God Is With Us.
  
• #4 - Worship Journal (Live), Fred Hammond - Let The Church Say YEAH. Fred Hammond has always been a favorite of mine, and this time he decides to explore the Modern Worship genre and to inject a bit of Gospel Funk into it. And believe me, it needs it.
• #3 - Therapy Session, NF - Remember what I said about Evanescence and Lacey being a Musical Therapy Session, well everyone has their favorite therapist I guess. However, in this case it almost feels like anger management. NF has grown with each release, and this is perfect.
• #2 - Ghost Ship, Theocracy - Matt Smith and company are quickly becoming my second favorite metal act next to Stryper, and that is High Praise. Smith can scream up there with Sweet, the lyrics are full of message, and best of all this is a band that isn't afraid of long instrumental sections. Who said a theocracy was a bad thing?
  
• #1 - One Sided War, Michael Sweet - Personally, I think Michael wants to see our heads explode as we split hairs between this and Fallen by Stryper, the band he leads in Headbanging Excellence. Our only salvation is that Stryper and One Sided War fall in different calendar years. Borrowing players from Evanescence, Whitesnake, and others he has crafted a much harder sound than with Stryper. Don't ever go Country, Michael, it's a step down.

That gets out my Top 10 of 2016. Now I will look on the competition and see who they liked, and if we agree. I had over 50 to pick from, so I will give them some leeway. If they were on that list, I'll give them a pass. Until next time, order from the links and support The Night Beat. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

   

A Perfect Scale: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter - Live Recorded Album

The last of the Beastly Trio is Live Recorded Album. I know that it is not technically a music genre, but it deserves a space of its own. And since it has its own award, it is appropriate that I do a quarterly check up. Let's get to it.

Live Recorded Album

• Fred Hammond - Worship Journal (Live)
• Hillsong United - Of Dirt and Grace: Live From The land
• Donnie McClurkin - The Journey (Live)
• The Neverclaim - Encounter: A Live Worship Experience
• Planetshakers - Overflow Live
• Candy West - Candy West Live

That concludes our beastly trio. Up next is our final three way tie, our heavenly sevens group. The first up in that grouping is Adult Contemporary/Inspirational. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Psychosocial

Welcome to our Thanksgiving Week edition of Music Video Monday. Due to the magic of scheduling I should be able to create a full week of posts. We begin with our video tour. Things are slowing down, but it looks like I can avoid the Christmas Videos until next week, which is the plan.

Our first video comes from +brooke fraser. This is Psychosocial, from her latest release Brutal Romantic. 

Up next we have +Ginny Owens one of the best voices in Pop Music. This is No Borders. It's about love, not illegal immigration. 
Finally, we have a video Gospel legend Fred Hammond. This is I Will Trust.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Enjoy the turkey, be thankful, and I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Gospel

The Gospel genre is next. Despite the seasonal slowdown, Gospel hit the ground running. There were four entries this quarter. That's half the final total already. This will be a good year.

One of this quarters nominees garnered the coveted 5 Emerald rating. That album was Arise by William McDowell. It's also a 2 CD 23 Track live album (its subtitle is The Live Worship experience) so that's a double bonus. It's extremely rare to have a live album get the 5 full Emeralds. There is always something that seems to distract from the experience. There wasn't here.

Of the final three nominees this quarter we have one Compilation album Gospel's Best Praise. This was also a 2CD set. But instead of one artist, this one had lots, including Vashawn Mitchell, Forever Jones, Ricky Dillard and Kierra Sheard. It received 4.5 Emeralds back in October.

Speaking of Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, she had an album all to herself among the entrants. Free received a 4.25 Emerald Rating. The final album to make it in this category was the new release by Micah Stampley One Voice. Micah's One Voice received 4.25 Emeralds.

That does it for Gospel (for now). January already has releases from Kirk Franklin, Myron Butler and Fred Hammond to look forward to. We at The Night Beat are on the case. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Five

We come to the half-way mark on our look back on the 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, as determined by CCM Magazine back in 2001. Once I pulled this book out of storage I thought it would be appropriate to revisit the list on The Night Beat and see how the list holds up to modern scrutiny.

The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music, 2001

• 60 - Pages of Life, Chapters I & II, Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ, Verity, 1998
• 59 - Soulfully, Andrae Crouch & The Disciples, Light, 1972
• 58 - Rick Elias and The Confessions, Rick Elias and The Confessions, Alarma/Frontline, 1988
• 57 - Kingdom Seekers, Twila Paris, Star Song, 1985
• 56 - Erace, The Gotee Brothers, Gotee, 1996
• 55 - Ten Songs By Adam Again, Adam Again, Broken, 1988
• 54 - Take 6, Take Six, Reprise, 1988
• 53 - Circle Slide, The Choir, Myrrh, 1990
• 52 - Faith Hope Love by Kings X, Kings X, Atlantic, 1990
• 51 - Everlasting Love, CeCe Winans, PMG, 1998

Fifty Songs Down, Fifty to go. So far this has been fun. I hope I am stoking some serious music discussions as Festival Season gets underway. Don't get into any fisticuffs, but a good exchange of ideas is good for all.

I wont say much this time around, but I will say that I don't think any Best Album List of any kind would have any kind of standing if it didn't have an album by Fred Hammond on it. Same with Kirk Franklin or at least one of the Winans. Gospel Music (not the Southern Variety) has been shaped by these artists, and if you are serious about the subject, you would acknowledge that. To CCM Magazines Credit, they do. Same with Andrae Crouch. I am every bit the typical white guy when it comes to music, except for my strong aversion to all things Country and Southern Gospel, and even I remember hearing Andrae Crouch and The Disciples growing up. Good Call there.

What the Winans or Andrae Crouch were to Gospel, The Choir are to the Christian Alternative scene. From their beginnings as Youth Choir with Voices in Shadows(1985) and Shades of Gray(1986) to their current release Burning Like the Midnight Sun (2010). The Choir has defined what alternative is. Current faves like Anberlin owe a lot to Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty. And not just alternative music but Christian Music in general owes a lot to these two. Where would the Modern Worship industry be today if it weren't for songs like God of Wonders. While the song had been redone by many artists over the years, the original writers were: Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong (sorry folks, the answer was not Paul Baloche. Thanks for Playing). Stay with me, and as alway, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Related Posts:

• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Two
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Three
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Four
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Six
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Seven
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Eight
• The Greatest Christian Albums Ever?, Part Nine
• The 10 Greatest Christian Albums Ever?