Seeds of Healing

Amorphous - Having no definite form, pattern or structure. 

That's what the dictionary says about the title of the latest album by Icon For Hire. If that is true, perhaps Ariel is referring to chaotic emotions, but since the entire album is about these emotions, that is in itself a pattern.  

Bursting onto the rock scene in 2011 with Scripted, they immediately came into focus here at Night Beat HQ as we are quite the fans of King Midas (aka Brandon Ebel of Tooth and Nail Records). Things were rocky for the band partly due to the distribution deal with EMI which ended in 2013. A number of bands decided to strike out on their own in the ensuing chaos over licensing.

Amorphous builds on the previous two releases (You Can't Kill Us, Still Can't Kill Us) in that all 3 albums are a heavy dose of emotional therapy at a fraction of the cost of a psychiatrist. Keep Breathing, Don't Lose Focus, Your alive, not a diagnosis. While I haven't been put into a nice box by the mental health profession, the medical community made a mess of my childhood, but thank you Jesus for his healing power at age 10. 

I would describe the album as Metal, with a heavy dose of rap thrown in for good measure (especially panic attack which channels NF to a T). Speaking of Mental Health, Hazmat Suit Wednesdays seems like a wonderful idea in these times. Of course no Icon album would be complete without a spine chilling Ariel Ballad. This one is Backround sad, which I think comes in degrees, especially on milestone days like birthdays, anniversaries and the like. 

The album ends on an up note, Warrior. (The actual end is Only Be A Story, another haunting ballad. It's a somber, not depressing, wrap, putting our life on earth in perspective. It actually complements warrior). Warrior is the embodiment of the phrase "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." We are what we've overcome.

Amorphous is one of those rare albums that puts you through the emotional wash, spin cycle and wringer. When you emerge, however, you will have discovered a pattern to your emotions, and you will not be Amorphous. The first PERFECT 5 EMERALD rating of the year, due mainly to the fact that I am behind schedule for the year. Here's to making progress. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Your Therapy Awaits

Welcome Back. It's been a while since we had a Music Video Monday (It has been over a month). We will give you a little therapy to help with your withdrawal symptoms. We Begin with Sarah Reeves. She has also had to deal with the loss of Music Video Mondays and isn't ashamed to confess that it made her Anxious.

The Loss also affected Ariel Bloomer of Icon For Hire, though she didn't seem to take things as well as Sarah. I guess she's more into Gestalt Therapy. She started wrecking the therapists office. Not cool. Sometimes you need to let it all hang out so you don't feel Hollow.

I think that the best Therapy is rooted in Identity. And nowhere is identity more important than in Christianity. Religion (Christendumb) tells us "We Are Sinners Saved By Grace". You either are a Sinner or You Have Been Saved By Grace. You cannot be both or Jesus Death meant absolutely nothing. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord you aren't a Sinner, You are a Saint. I'll let Planetboom explain it.

That does it for this long awaited therapy session. We are in a really intense period right now, so we will do our best to continue this into a trend. Until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Frankly, My Dear....You Can't Kill Us

There's a double reference to the title, and I will get to that shortly. One of the drawbacks to being a small time operation is that you miss things, even those things you though you were watching carefully for.

What I was waiting for was the new release by Icon For Hire, the first since their breakup with Tooth and Nail Records. Now if you've been with us for any length of time, you have probably heard me express admiration for the label, and calling founder Brandon Ebel Midas or The Kingmaker. Now his penchant for finding gems among the unsigned masses and creating stars is one thing, but that drive sometimes drives the stars away in frustration. They want to be coddled a bit more. And they go indie again. And sometimes they strike gold, but toward the end they more likely than not will come back to a label for security. It's a rough world out there.

Which brings us to You Can't Kill Us, which was released last November (I told you I missed things. It was November 25 to be exact). It's an interesting album, and I almost panned it thanks to Amazon. Now I love Amazon, The Night Beat is an Amazon Affiliate, but I think they're shell-shocked with the Music Department. I was almost driven away by their "Explicit" Tag, but getting the opportunity to listen to complete songs on YouTube convinced me that Amazon was overreacting. The hoopla centered on the song "Under The Knife" which is about cutting. It's a powerful song. There are two "problem" lines in the song, as I try to channel Amazon. "You knew the deal, nobody gives a damn" (earth to Amazon, Have You Ever Heard of Gone With The Wind. That was in 1939). And the other line contains an euphemism for Manure that has an S, an H, an I, and a T in it, in that order. Explicit? Puh-leeze. Here's the thing. There's a reason for the explicit label, and it was to protect "The Children" from shocking and obscene language. What really happened, however, was that human nature took over and the "rebellious" kids sought out anything that had the label and wouldn't listen to anything else. Still, where "F-bombs", "N-Words", and many other obscenities fill the music landscape. This? No. Not even close. Here's the lyric video, you be the judge.

On to my actual review. Like I said previously, it is an interesting album. The title would seem to imply a rebellious, angry Icon, but I don't get that vibe. It's not as skillet-esque as the debut, and a little poppy, but they are stretching their wings. 

One thing in abundance are the REL Ballads. Honestly, Ariel has one of the most beautiful ballad voices in Rock. In a lot of ways she would be perfect in a Worship setting. My favorites are War and the before mentioned Under The Knife, with Here We Are and Happy Hurts next. 

When all is said and done, I am giving You Can't Kill Us a near perfect score of 4.75 Emeralds. They are definitely stronger for the struggle. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Music Video Monday: Supposed To Be

Welcome back to another edition of Music Video Monday, where we share the best we find in Contemporary Christian Music/The Fringe Music Videos out there. And we put extra emphasis on best we can find. Sometimes we don't discover things as quickly as we should. And when we do, we sometimes miss the deadline, as is the case this week. Still, Music Video Monday on Tuesday is better than waiting til next week.

Everybody is screaming and marching for Justice. Well we've got your justice, as in +Carmen Justice. Her debut single in the Dance/Synthpop genre is Flaming Arrows. She's not running from her ghosts.

Flaming arrows thankfully are still unheard of in our streets. But bricks and other projectiles are, especially among Democrat Party affiliated groups. TobyMac takes on the issue in the music video for Love Broke Thru. A very powerful video.
Finally, one of the minuses of being a small time operator is the fact that sometimes you miss things. Like the independent release of Icon For Hire's third album, entitled You Can't Kill Us. The album came out in November, and I missed it, just discovering it a few days ago. I will give you my review as soon as possible. This is Supposed to Be.
That does it for a hastily cobbled together edition of Music Video Monday on a Tuesday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Fast Forward to Forever Giveaway

It's finally here. The first giveaway of the year. We operate on a shoestring here at Night Beat HQ, so we have to work at restocking the prize closet. We finally have done so, and I have got some real doozies for you, if I do say so myself. We have four winners from #PlatVnyl5 including the Album of The Year. Let's take a look at the Prizes.

The rom-com line is "You Had Me at Hello". In the music world that translates into "Discovered by Kirk Franklin". The Pure Platinum emanating from the Gospel Genre doesn't come from Wall Street but The Walls Group. A family band consisting of four siblings Darrell, Rhea, Paco, and Ahjah (That's Brother, Sister, Brother, Sister, in descending order of age). Their sophomore release is called Fast Forward, though you wont want to do that to their album. They open with the question "If I talk about Jesus, can I get some love on the radio" Give it a listen and you will be screaming out YES, YES, YES.

Scandinavia has been doing its best to contribute to the Christian Music scene for quite a while, at least since Jerusalem began to Rock out in Sweden in 1975. Yeah, I know, Evie, but I'm trying to forget that. Lately we have a lot of Scandinavian Influence with David and Jonathan Thulin, Blindside, and Even Icon For Hire. Yeah, a whole lot more than ABBA came from there. Icon For Hire is a domestic band, but lead singer Ariel (pronounced R-E-L) was born in Sweden. Icon For Hire started as an independent rock band from Decatur,  Illinois before being discovered by Midas (aka

Brandon Ebel of Tooth and Nail Records). Their Scripted debut had overtones of Skillet and other bands and took the rock world by storm.They played warped tour. And their self titled sophomore release won best Rock Album. They took an even harder louder turn this time around and it paid off big time.

Nothing is harder than Metal, and for those of us in a certain age group Metal Means Melodic Metal, none of that thrash growls for us. Harmonies rule. And when it comes to Heavy Metal Harmony, there is only one name on the top - STRYPER. The album that propelled them to the top of the list was called To Hell With The Devil. The title alone sent shivers down the spine of Christian College Administrators. It was a stand alone album for almost three decades. Until 2013, when No More Hell To Pay came out. It was a fitting completion to the first album and I thought of it that way. But they upped their game once again and are going for the Trilogy. Fallen comes out this Fall (no pun intended).  As to the title, I almost want to say "from your mouth to God's ear". The last Christian album entitled Fallen went multi-platinum and shot its Artists to Rock Stardom. Of course they also got kicked out of the kingdom for their promotional efforts. One out of two ain't bad, though. NMHTP picked up the Platinum Vinyl Award for Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album of The Year.

And now we come to the big release. Album of The Year. This year the award went to the Modern Worship genre, which was a big surprise. Some albums just wont be denied, however. Majestic (Live) by Kari Jobe was one of those albums. It is one of the rare worship albums that make you feel like you've been transported directly to the throne. The song and video for Forever really moves you. It cleaned up at the Awards. Modern Worship Song, Video, and Album, and Album of The Year among others. As opposed to the other albums in the sweepstakes, the winner here will get the Deluxe Edition, which includes several videos, including Forever.

I have gone on long, but this is the best Sweepstakes I have put together, and it is fitting for the 5 year Anniversary of The Platinum Vinyl Awards. Just Enter below. You Wont be disappointed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swing Season: The 2014 1rst Quarter - Rock

Well here we are, the penultimate (that means next to last, folks) 1rst Quarter Rollout Post of 2014. Rock Music had the second largest pool of entries, and would be even larger if we hadn't split off Alternative and Metal, and possibly Industrial as well.

The Grammy Awards took place Sunday, and, since they have always short shrifted the CCM groups, I really won't make too much hay of it until I check out the results. Don't worry, I'll have plenty of snark if I feel that it is warranted. On to the Rock and Roll.

• Baptized , Daughtry
• Behold , My Epic
• Engine of a Million Plots , Five Iron Frenzy
• Headswell , Sainthood Reps
• Icon for Hire , Icon For Hire
• Love & History: The Best Of Downhere , Downhere
• Made In Canada: The 1998 - 2010 Collection, Thousand Foot Krutch
• Proof Of Life [+digital booklet] , Scott Stapp
• Recollection , Superchick
• Rebuild , The Letter Black

There are three best of collections amidst the entries, and they will most likely be weeded out at the end, since we don't have a best of category. They are still among must haves in any collection. Personally, among the rest, I would say that The Letter Black is the early leader, followed by Icon for Hire.

Only Modern Worship is left, and that will be next. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

I Don't Want Your Sugar and Spice

Now, we throw away the script. Two Summers ago we here at Night Beat were drawn in by the Siren Song of a Rock And Roll Mermaid. Ariel (Pronounced R-E-L), the Pink Haired Lead Vocalist of Decatur, Illinois based Icon For Hire. One of the Top Tier FFR Bands out there, Icon For Hire's major label Debut rocketed to fan favorite by copying Skillet, not a bad thing to do.

For their encore they threw away the script, gained some new fans, and lost some old ones. Since I have been a fan from the start count me among the "old" , but not among the lost.

Listening to Icon for Hire (self-titled) is an either love it or hate it matter. The haters say that IFH went pop to gain a bigger fan base. Actually they went rapcore. Yes, the subtitle could be Ariel Raps. And the rapcore that they chose to emulate was Earthsuit. Check out Kaleidoscope Superior and then this album. See if you catch the similarities. Hint: It's in the abrupt cold start of the rap segments, which echo Paul Meany.

Speaking of Meany, one could say Icon For Hire has taken a meaner streak. While they may have added some pop sensibilities, there is no Sugar and Spice.

"Sorry about your parents, they sound like mean people, your daddy sounds like a jerk" (from Sorry About Your Parents)

"Our culture does nothing for me. The American Dream mainstream just bores me." (from Pop Culture)

"You can bury my body in the backyard, when you're not looking I will dig myself up." (from Rock and Roll Thugs)

You get the idea. Far from being a depressed and angry album, like Evanescence it taps into darker emotions and still conveys hope and healing.

"I'll be the mess, you be the medicine. I'll play the mess, you play the medicine. Why don't you fix me. I can't help myself" (from Fix me)

The sound of Icon for Hire is totally unlike Amy and Evanescence, however. Still, Ariel's voice on the ballads is Heavenly. She should do more of them.

I'm hooked. I liked the debut, Scripted , but this time they pulled out all the stops. Perfect 5's come in many forms. This one is a simply addictive album that there is no immunity for. I'm not a critic or cynic. 5 Emeralds. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: October 2013

October is finally in the bag, release wise. It's time to do the monthly rewind. We begin the Platinum Vinyl Award Eligibility year with a doozy. Talk about candy store. There were a whopping eight Perfect 5's. One was a push from last year. Since the album was announced in the previous year but finally ceased to be vaporware in October. And then there was the Christmas releases, which aren't eligible for an award but have to be counted. There will be no links at first for this post, for obvious reasons.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Paul Baloche - Christmas Worship 3.75 Emeralds
• Dave Barnes - A December to Remember 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Butler - Merry Christmas To You 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Into the Silent Night 4.75 Emeralds
• Brandon Heath - Christmas Is Here 4.50 Emeralds
• North Point Music - North Point Christmas: Let There Be Light 3.75 Emeralds
• Phillips, Craig and Dean - Hope For All The World 4.50 Emeralds
• The Robertsons - Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Marvin Sapp - Christmas Card 4.75 Emeralds

 Though I'm not a fan of Country, the Duck Dynasty group had me smiling. It's hard to top a duck call version of Deck The Halls. On to the releases which

Missed The Mark

• Keith Elgin - Our Hope Live 3.75 Emeralds
• The Exchange - The Exchange 3.75 Emeralds
• The Fold - Morning Past 3.75 Emeralds
• Natalie Grant - Hurricane (Deluxe) 3.75 Emeralds
• Gurl Code - Gurl Code 3.75 Emeralds
• City Harbor - Come However You Are 3.75 Emeralds
• One:nine - North Flew South For The Winter 3.50 Emeralds
• Lynda Randle - Ageless Hymns 3.50 Emeralds
• Sivion - Group Therapy 3.50 Emeralds
• Austin Stone - King of Love 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Holy Hip Hop, Volume 17 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Jam The Hype, Volume 1 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Just As I Am 3.50 Emeralds
• Michelle Williams -Do You Know 3.75 Emeralds

Most of these albums just missed being pool eligible, so they are not bad albums. We move from the not in to those albums which are deemed to be 

Pure Platinum

• All The Bright Lights - The Wind and the Waves 5 Emeralds
• Anberlin - Devotion Vital Special Edition 5 Emeralds
• Beautiful Eulogy - Instruments of Mercy 5 Emeralds
• Downhere - Love & History: The Best of Downhere 5 Emeralds
• Icon For Hire - Icon For Hire 5 Emeralds
• Robbie Seay Band - Psalms EP, Volume 1 5 Emeralds
• Martin Smith - God's Great Dance Floor, Step 2 5 Emeralds
• Aaron Sprinkle - Water and Guns 5 Emeralds 

All The Bright Lights is the holdover. Anberlin is a special edition including a live second disc, and Downhere is a best of, which won't make the finals, because we don't have a best of Category. 

Finally we go to those releases in the middle, or ones we deem

Semi-Precious Metal

• Bride - Incorruptible 4.50 Emeralds
• Canon - Mad Haven 4.50 Emeralds
• Steven Curtis Chapman - The Glorious Unfolding 4.50 Emeralds
• Family Force 5 - Reanimated 4.75 Emeralds
• Flame - Royal Flush 4.50 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Women of Faith Presents: Gateway Worship 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - We Are Young and Free 4.50 Emeralds
• Dustin Kensrue - The Water & The Blood 4.75 Emeralds
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Made In Canada: The 1998-2010 Collection 4.50 Emeralds
• Bryan Popin - You Can Make It 4.50 Emeralds
• Press Play - #LITO 4.75 Emeralds
• Righteous Vendetta - The Fire Inside 4.75 Emeralds
• Royal Tailor - Royal Tailor 4.50 Emeralds
• Sainthood Reps - Headswell 4.50 Emeralds
• Laura Story - God of Every Story 4.50 Emeralds
• Superchick RE:Collections 4.50 Emeralds
• Jon Thurlow - Stand In Awe 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Tomlin - Burning Lights: Deluxe Tour Edition 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - My Hope: Songs Inspired By The Message and Mission of Billy Graham 4.50 Emeralds
• Vertical Church - The Rock Won't Move 4.50 Emeralds
• WARR Acres - Hope Will Rise 4.75 Emeralds
• Wolves at the Gate - Back To School 4.50 Emeralds 

That finishes off the month of October. Things are getting off to a roaring start here in the 5th Platinum Vinyl Award Eligibility Year. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Ariel in Wonderland

No, this isn't the title of a Tim Burton Disney Mashup, or worse. A few videos have recently come down the Night Beat Pike, allowing me, briefly, a respite in the Christmas Parade. I do appreciate that. Despite the fact that it is much easier, It is a challenge nonetheless.

One of my favorite bands these days is the Annie Moses Band. Who would have thought that piano, violin, cello and harp would grab the interest of a headbanger like me. They do. It is just the way my complicated mind works. This is the music video for Blush, from Pilgrims and Prodigals.

Just one comment on the video. I understand it completely, though I would rather be a sheriff like Wyatt Earp or Marshall Dillon than an Knight. Gallantry, though, I understand. Like I said, it's how my complicated mind works.

Speaking of a complicated mind, or maybe I should say Demented. Hence the Tim Burton reference. Ariel is the lead singer of Icon for Hire. They recently made a music video for their single, "Off With Her Head", which the Queen of Hearts says quite frequently in Alice in Wonderland. Watch the video and find out why I thought of this.

Such a beautiful girl, and such a demented mind. If not her, then at least the one responsible for the video. I hope you enjoyed this brief respite. Until tomorrow, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

P.S. - Commentary is part of the job here at The Night Beat, and I couldn't let this pass. Though I don't know a word of Spanish, my cheapskateness in refusing to shell out 40 bucks for cable means that my DTV is limited to Univision, the only over the air signal it regularly picks up. So when my twitter trends said that Jenni Rivera's plane was missing and presumed crashed, I admit I knew exactly who they were talking about. She was only 43, and that is too young for anyone to die, whatever the reason. We at the Night Beat give our condolences to all.

Music Video Monday: Beautiful Ashes

Welcome to Music Video Monday, where we share the best Christian Music Videos on the web. Since we started this segment we have mainly centered on music which made the nominations of this years edition of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. That is slowly coming to an end, but we still have a few more posts to go.

Todays edition is a continuation of last weeks. Rock was a very big category this year and we split off the Hard Rock and Metal, but we still have a full slate for this week.

We're going to start off with a bit of Southern Rock. A little bit of Rock, A little bit spiritual, and all Third Day. It's hard to get more southern than Georgia. This is Lift up Your Voice from Move.

New Artist nominee Icon For Hire exhorts us all to get up and Make A Move. This Ariel is not your typical Disney Princess, not by a long shot.

We move on to the Ammunition Ministry and its band Worth Dying For and their post-apocalyptic concept video for Destroy from Love Riot. Personally, I consider this opening song and the next, entitled Savior, to be a single unit, thematically speaking.

We move on to Switchfoot, one of the hottest acts out there today, with a video from their latest release Vice Verses. This is Dark Horses.

And finally, if a good Christian rocker doesn't listen to Evanescence, at least they aren't forbidden from hearing her nearest imitation. This is the band named after its lead singer, Rebecca Denee Krueger. Doesn't ring a bell? I left out one part of her name. Lord of The Rings readers know it. Eowyn. This is Beautiful Ashes.

Wow, what a way to go out. I still have one more PVA related post, that of Song of The Year, and we shall see how things go with that. Until next time, as always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Rock

We finally come to the end of the genre based nominees for this quarter with Rock. Again, we were well represented. Eleven entries for this one too.

Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

Like I Said, nearly a dozen entries. This is good. Even though it makes my job a lot more difficult, I like it when the genre's are well represented.

Rock

• Ashes Remain - What I've Become
• Downhere - On the Altar of Love
• For King and Country - For King and Country EP (D)
• Icon For Hire - Scripted
• Manic Drive - Epic
• Maylene & The Sons of Disaster - IV
• Needtobreathe - The Reckoning
• Rapture Ruckus - Open Your Eyes
• Rush of Fools - We Once Were
• Switchfoot - Vice Verses (5)
• Heather Williams - This Time Around (5)

We had Two Perfect 5's this time around with Switchfoot and Heather Williams. Now that things are finished it's time to put every entry in the pool and start whittling them down. I know I am only in my second year but I'm already thinking of mixing things up, maybe making up a fan survey to see who you think makes the grade. But that can wait. Please feel free to make your thoughts known in the comments. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: August 2011

We are here at the Penultimate Edition of Night Beat Rewind for the 2011 Platinum Vinyl Awards. In case anyone is unclear on the word, that means next-to-last. Now remember my eligibility year is October 1-September 30, smack in the middle of the Grammy's (September 1, 2010-September 30,2011) and the Doves (November 1, 2010 -October 31, 2011).

Since I've been picking up new readers through Triberr and other sources, I think it's time to review my Emerald Rating System. As regards to regular music listening anything worth listening to on a regular basis will be scored 3 Emeralds or Higher. Now with regards to the Platinum Vinyl Awards, the bar is set slightly higher. PVA inclusion begins with 4 Emeralds, anything lower than that will not be considered (If you use a star rating, The numbers stay the same). At the end of the Year of Eligibility the entries in each genre will be cut down to get to a "Final Round" which, in a perfect world, would be Seven Nominees, but it will be how it will. Last year some categories only had Two nominees for the entire year. The Basics are as follows.

• 5 Emeralds - In to the final round. (There will never be 7 5 Emerald albums in a year in any given category, trust me on this one).
• 4.75 Emeralds - Great chance of making the final 7
• 4.50 Emeralds - A Very Good Chance of Making the Finals
• 4.25 Emeralds - Do You Believe in Miracles?
• 4 Emeralds - The Lowest bar of inclusion in the original mix, but let's not get too giddy about your chances.
• 3.75 to 3 Emeralds - These aren't Platinum, but Bronze Silver and Gold are still nice metals.
• 2.75 Emeralds or Lower - Break out the Gong and the Shepherds Crook.

As always, we start with the ones that didn't make it and progress to the ones that did make the initial mix.

• Blaze - Exposed 3.75 Emeralds
• Patrick Ryan Clark - Where Would I Be 3.75 Emeralds
• Bethany Dillon - Beautiful: The Hits Collection 3.75 Emeralds
• Stellar Kart - A Whole New World EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Lindsay McCaul - If it Leads Me Back 3.75 Emeralds
• Brother's McClurg - Alive 3.75 Emeralds
• Sandi Patty - The Best of Sandi Patty 3.5 Emeralds
• Sainthood Reps - Monoculture 3.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Shust - This is What We Believe 3.75 Emeralds

Yes I know it seems like a copout with all the 3.75's (and no complaints from the Sandi lovers out there). My opinion is that these just missed. Still not so sure on Stellar Kart. I know they're doing Disney Covers here but this might be a parody album. On to the best for the month of August.

• Ashes Remain - What I've Become 4.5 Emeralds
• Braille - Native Lungs 4.5 Emeralds
• Steven Curtis Chapman - Re:Creation 4 Emeralds
• Dorinda Clark-Cole - I Survived 4.75 Emeralds
• Committed - Committed 4.25 Emeralds
• DecembeRadio - The Southern Attic Sessions 4.25 Emeralds
• Denver & The Mile High Orchestra - Groovy 5 Emeralds
• Divided by Friday - Prove It EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Downhere - On the Altar of Love 4.5 Emeralds
• The Ember Days - Emergency 4.75 Emeralds
• Southbound Fearing - Southbound Fearing 4.5 Emeralds
• Shaun Groves - Third World Symphony 4.5 Emeralds
• Deitrick Haddon - Anthology 4.25 Emeralds
• Icon For Hire - Scripted 4.5 Emeralds
• Jai - Culture Shock 4.5 Emeralds
• Forever Jones - Get Ready (Deluxe Edition) **
• Mat Kearney - Young Love 4 Emeralds
• Donald Lawrence - YRM: Your Righteous Mind 4.5 Emeralds
• Mikeschair - A Beautiful Life 4 Emeralds
• Geoff Moore - Saying Grace 4.5 Emeralds
• Matt Papa - This Changes Everything 4.25 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Nothing Is Impossible 4 Emeralds
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Twenty Three 4.25 Emeralds
• V.Rose - V.Rose 4 Emeralds
• Selah - Hope for the Broken World 4.25 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - Destiny 5 Emeralds
• Veggie Tales (feat Moriah Peters) - Songs for a Princess 4.5 Emeralds
• Warr Acres - Warr Acres 4.5 Emeralds
• Your Chance to Die - Suscitatio Somnus 4.25 Emeralds

** Forever Jones is being passed along at the same rating as the original album Last Year.

Links in this post go to my original review. In the case of Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, scroll down to the bottom of the linked post, which is for Darlene Zschech.

Am I glad I finally got everything fixed. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Ariel is Gonna Burn This Theatre Down

Icon For Hire is the latest addition to the Lineup at Tooth & Nail Records.  I have been tracking the debut release for this band since it was originally announced that they were being signed by Tooth & Nail. Regular readers of this blog (I know you're out there, the stats tell me. Just wish you were brave enough to follow) know that I affectionately call T&N Founder Brandon Ebel King Midas because he has a habit of finding the talent out there.

It's Sprinkling Gold in Decatur

That's Gold as in the Midas Touch, not exactly record sales. Sprinkle is Producer Extraordinaire Aaron Sprinkle. If you're not familiar with his work, "Where in the World Have You Been." A very brief resume includes.

• FM Static - My Brain Says Stop but My Heart Says Go (2011 PVA entrant)
• Aaron Gillespie - Anthem Song (2011 PVA entrant)
• Hyland - Weights and Measures (2011 PVA entrant)
• Ivoryline - Vessels (2010 PVA Winner Best Alternative Album)
• The Museum - Let Love Win (2010 PVA entrant)
• Poema - Sing it Now (2010 PVA Winner Best Pop Album)
• Sent By Ravens - Our Graceful Words
• Swimming With Dolphins - Water Colours (2011 PVA Entrant)
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome to the Masquerade (Pre PVA)*

*note: Welcome to the Masquerade came out September 8, 2009. This blog started in July of 2010. However, if it existed it would have made the PVA's. The Live Concert Album by TFK Live at the Masquerade is a 2011 nominee.

I think you get the idea with the list. Sprinkle is a great producer. I don't usually look at a producer credit until after I decide if I like the Album, so it is pretty spooky how many of these albums have his fingerprints all over them.

And Now We Add Scripted to Sprinkle's list of hits. Currently, I would go with the mp3 download of the album. It's only $5.99 for the 30 min download vs $10.92 for the CD

An "Unscripted" Success Story

The album starts out with Overture (at $0.99 for 30 Seconds at Amazon, this is Pure Profit), which leads into the Intro cut Theatre. If you are reminded of Skillet here, you're not alone. Skillet, The Letter Black, Evanescence/Barlow Girl (Leaning to Amy Lee for The Grey and  Barlow Girl on Only A Memory). Pieces and Theatre have a very Skillet like feel.

Make A Move is sure to be a crowd favorite, along with its accompanying music video. Please check out my related post Chicks Who Rock for the video, along with videos by Eowyn and Fireflight.

And then there's Off With Her Head. It's a cheery little altar call song. NOT. Even though I think it could be used with a concert altar call, there is very little resemblance between this and Just as I am.

Verse I


I'm lucky if I ever see the light of day again

my sin is choking me, my crude built walls are closing in

This cell is filled with claw marks easing me, their teasing me, they told me so I didn't know the fall would be this easy



Pre-chorus

How long until I find the strength to stand

I wait for mercy in your bleeding hand

I know they'll come with what I'm owed-guilty as charged

My enemies belittle me reminding me the penalty of all my deeds despite my pleas is death



Chorus:

Don't let go 'cause I don't wanna be this, I don't wanna be this

Death is mine I know

Don't let go, don't let go

Save your own 'cause I don't wanna be this, I don't wanna be this

Death is mine I know

Don't let go, don't let go, savior



Verse II

Your way to life has only showed me what a fool I am

It serves the purpose of confirming I remain condemned

And I will ever linger on the edge

Unless you hear me

(Lyrics courtesy of Ariel and http://www.musictory.com/music/Icon+For+Hire)

In Short, this is more honest. Much more real. I am getting addicted to this album. It helps when it clocks in at just 30 minutes. You keep hitting repeat.

Pink can be strong. Just ask Ariel. I am giving Scripted by Icon For Hire 4.5 Emeralds. It's not a perfect album, and someone could say that it reminds them too much of other artists. To that I would say, it's a DEBUT. If you're going to make an impact, sometimes you need to copy your mentors. You can work on a signature style later. While Jars of Clay came out with their signature out of the gate, Petra didn't sound like Petra until about the fourth album. And if you're going to copy anyone, Evanescence, Skillet, Barlow girl and The Letter Black aren't bad role models. Make A Move and The Grey right now lead for a possible song of the year entry.

That's it for now. August started out slow but things are ending with a bang. For the best in Christian Music, stay locked to the Night Beat. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Chicks Who Rock

Yeah, Yeah, So I'm not P.C. The fact is that some of the best music out there in CCM comes from Female Fronted bands. Get used to it guy's, you've lost the war.

Make A Move and "Hire" this Band

We'll Start with Ariel, lead singer for Icon For Hire. I haven't seen a singer pull off pink hair since the Days of the Benjamin Gate. (We Miss You Adrienne). Here they are in their official music video for Make A Move

Ashes Can Be Beautiful

Moving on from Icon For Hire, we will go with a few more established acts. If your tastes are a little harder than your standard rock fare, might I suggest Eowyn. She's been getting better with each album, and now, with Beautiful Ashes, she has gone into full scale Evanescence mode. While Eowyn is firmly in the Kingdom, Beautiful Ashes is her Fallen. I see great things coming for her. Anyway, here is the video for Beautiful Ashes

Wait No More

Well I started with a Redhead, and Went to a raven-haired beauty, so I'll finish with a blonde. And who better to end with than Dawn Michelle, the lead singer of the Platinum Vinyl Award Winning Fireflight. We conclude todays post with the Video for the title track For Those Who Wait

This has been a different kind of post. I am still trying things out here at the night beat. I hope you enjoyed some hard rocking tunes, and a bit of eye candy as well. Until next time. I am Awaiting Your Reply