The Best of 2014: Widows and orphans

I'm calling this the widows and orphans post. Not in the writing style, but close. These are the entries that have only a single representative from their genre. This year those entries were from Jazz, Folk, Dance, Adult Contemporary, Pop, and Electronic. If they were all in one genre they would have tied with alternative for 6 entries.

They say when life hands you lemons, you make Lemonade . +Charlie Peacock  makes a really cool glass of the stuff, as in cool jazz. This is, based on the samples I have listened to, a purely instrumental album. We may have enough for Jazz, but I am not sure we have enough instrumental albums to warrant that category this year. If we do it will definitely be among them.

Jazz was usually mixed in with Folk Music, as is reggae and a lot of "ethnic" music. Some pure folk came out this year via one of the Fallen, as in Jennifer Knapp. However, as much as I would have wanted it to be so, her album, Set me free [+digital booklet] ,  while perfect, wasn't one of the best of 2014. A folk/worship album which tilted more toward folk was, however. +For the Fatherless  For the Fatherless . With songs such as unfailing father, not of the night, and what this love is for, it is really difficult to not get drawn in. We were.

If you are looking for a Dancing Queen, you really need look no further than +Beckah Shae . She is surely the hands down Champion . While others may dabble in Dance from time to time, she has consistently made the dance floor her home. Even when she does scripture snacks it's hard not to bust a move.

For the Electronic representative, you have to go across the pond, or the sound, as in +Salt Of The Sound . Actually the pond works as well, as these two Stockholm transplants are actually Brits by nature. They actually put out two album releases Journeys and Meditations, Vol. 1 . The Second, which is also instrumental, is the one which is a best of.

The Adult Contemporary representative on the list was +lindsaymccaul with One More Step [+digital booklet] . Actually it is the title cut that brought me to tears. Sheer emotional manipulation is what it is. And it works. Who says guys don't have feelings.

Though McCaul strays into pop here and there, the pop rep has been dancing queen from time to time lately. She's a real Plumb. The Deluxe Edition of Need You Now (Deluxe Edition) is one of the Best Albums of The Year. The only problem with this artist? I don't think I can hold my breath until March 31. That's when Exhale comes out.

That finishes the widows and orphans post, as well as our recap of the Best of 2014. We now return to our drive to five, as well as our regularly scheduled business. Until next time, 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.

Pilgrims Progress

A High School Girl Friend of mine (Yes, two words. We never were an item. There was a slim possibility of that, but I didn't have an answer to a very pointed question from her. That is another story, one I will not bore you with). Anyway, this friend posted on Facebook that she was looking for a clarinet for one of her kids who was taking lessons. Now that got me thinking, despite not playing anything but a tonette as a kid (though I do own a Harmonica, which I can play badly), Clarinets are fine, but what about useful instruments like a cello, violin, or harp.

Lest you think I've gone completely off my rocker, such was the family life of Annie, Alex, Benjamin, Camille, Gretchen, Jeremiah, Bill and Robin Wolaver, known collectively as the Annie Moses Band. Bill and Robin are the parents of this family band, as well as the Composer/Arrangers. Collectively they are:

• Annie (Lead Vocals, Violin)
• Alex (Lead Vocals, Viola)
• Benjamin (Cello)
• Camille (Harp, Keyboard, Vocals)
• Gretchen (Violin, Mandolin, Guitar, Vocals)
• Jeremiah (Guitar)

Bill adds a mean Piano to the mix and Robin also fills in for vocals from time to time, but that is about it. Fill it out with a few session players on stuff like drums and you've got the hottest band of players this side of Mannheim Steamroller or Trans Siberian Orchestra. They officially designate themselves as Chamber-Pop. You can get all of AMB's material on Amazon and help support The Night Beat at the same time by clicking here

I mention those two bands purposefully, as AMB rose to fame on the basis of Christmas Music. The older kids all went to Juilliard, and the younger ones are all pre-admitted I am sure. I have a pet peeve about starting Christmas too early, and that is really acting up this time as Jeremy Camp released a Christmas Album IN SEPTEMBER! However, just so you know what I'm talking about, here is a link to a post which contains an AMB Christmas Song.

I love this album. Now close friends know that I have a wide range of musical tastes (except for Country and Southern Gospel, I detest those, though there are exceptions. Folk, Bluegrass, and Southern Rock tend to blur the boundaries enough to tame my gag reflex.). There are really no bad songs on this album, and I am giving it a just short of perfection 4.75 Emeralds, not on any flaw, because it is almost perfect. I just wish they had cut loose on a few more songs. Since AOL Music is streaming it this week, it has been on repeat constantly. (Except when I have been listening to As I Lay Dying, Holly Starr and others. The Night Beat Must Go on).

I'm going to finish up with a few live videos of AMB Songs. First up is the "title song" Poor Wayfaring Pilgrim

Next up is a little more haunting. And Alex on lead vocal with Road Well Traveled (A Cautionary Tale).

And finally, an all instrumental jam session, with Blarney Pilgrim.I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. Writing while listening to the music makes it all the better. Tomorrow we will be going a different way altogether, as Flashback Friday will be going to Alternative Trio PFR. But perhaps not, as what can be more of an Alternative sound in CCM than Annie Moses Band. Remember to order through amazon by clicking on the link. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.