The Frozen Chosen: Alternative

We move from Gospel to Alternative. This always seems to be a well represented genre, though it also happens to have a lot of double category listings, since it is a subgenre of Rock.

Alternative

• Todd Agnew - How to be Loved
• Anberlin - Dancing Between the Fibers of Time
• Matt Brouwer - Til The Sunrise
• Eisley - Deep Space
• For King and Country - Crave
• The Fray - Scars and Stories
• Jeremy Horn - Sound of the Broken
• Kiros - Lay Your Weapons Down
• Sarah Macintosh - Current
• Kevin Max - The Fiefdom of Angels, Side One
• Pioneer - Pioneer
• Ruth - Payola
• Sidewalk Prophets - Live Like That
• Sons - Keep Quiet

There were a lot of good entries this quarter, and Kevin Max was one that snuck by me until the very last minute. Good thing I didn't have this post out yet. I will have to update the rewind posts though.

Next tin the Frozen Chosen is Pop, another very well represented genre. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: February 2012

Due to the time it took to get the PVA Nominations out this year this edition of Night Beat Rewind is about two weeks late. Lucky for me this week is a slow one.

Before I get on with my ratings, I want to make an announcement regarding keeping the night beat going. Due to actions by Google many months ago, the amazon affiliate widget that I previously used was disabled. I have found a minor workaround. I am inserting Amazon text links manually into my posts, and unless I specify otherwise, a link will lead to Amazon where you can buy and support The Night Beat at the same time. I would prefer image links, but manually inserting them doesn't allow the text to seamlessly wrap around the image. If any tech savvy reader knows a way to get that to happen, please contact me.

Since I am picking up new readers all the time, I will go over the basics once again. This is a quick hits column for those releases that I was not able to get a full preview for. Of course if I did have a full review, it will be linked and pointed out. We begin, as always, with releases which were:

Off The Mark

And by mark I mean the 4 Emerald Mark which allows entry into the annual pool from which the Platinum Vinyl Awards are picked. Of course, while they wouldn't make the awards pool, you shouldn't be ashamed of anything with 3 Emeralds or above.

• Christ for the Nations - 37 3.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong United - Live In Miami : Welcome to The Aftermath 3.75 Emeralds
• Mission Six - Heaven Down To Earth 3.75 Emeralds
• Carson Parks - All You Gotta Do Is Love 3.75 Emeralds
• Izzi Ray - Izzi Ray 3.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - 30 Favorite Celtic Hymns 3.75 Emeralds

Now as I said before, a lot of these albums are good, but not spectacular. Some of them, especially the Modern Worship entries, sounded flat, like they were mailing it in. For worship, I think that qualifies as some sort of sin.

Now of course next up would be my listing of Perfect Platinum albums, those that got the coveted 5 Emerald Rating, except there weren't any in February. Maybe I was picky, but there was always just one thing that prevented me from saying "perfect". A lot just fell short, so we move on to those releases considered:

Semi-Precious Metal

These were the releases from 4-5 Emeralds, not including 5 of course. Of course the links, unless otherwise specified will go to Amazon, where you can buy. For the first list, I only included the Download Page.

• Advocate - Trial And Error 4.50 Emeralds
• Vanessa Bell Armstrong - Timeless 4.25 Emeralds
• Audrey Assad - Heart 4.75 Emeralds
• Beware the Neverending - The Next Level 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Brouwer - Til The Sunrise 4.5 Emeralds
• Cornerstone Church Worship - The Heart Revolution 4.5 Emeralds
• Eisley - Deep Space EP 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Crave 4.5 Emeralds
• The Fray - Scars & Stories 4.5 Emeralds
• Aaron Gillespie - Echo Your Song EP 4.5 Emeralds
• I The Breather - Truth and Purpose 4.5 Emeralds
• Json - Growing Pains 4.5 Emeralds
• Kiros - Lay Your Weapons Down 4.75 Emeralds
• Kutless - Believer 4.75 Emeralds
• Nine Lashes - World We View 4.75 Emeralds
• Samestate - The Alignment 4.5 Emeralds
• Sent By Ravens - Mean What You Say 4.75 Emeralds
• Isaac Simpson and Divine Providence - The Process 4.5 Emeralds
• The Rubyz - Unchanging 4 Emeralds
• Sixteen Cities - Love is Making A Way 4.50 Emeralds
• Sons - Keep Quiet 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Awaken My Soul : Songs of Redemption 4.5 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Maranatha Music: How Great Is Our God 4 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Mission Worship: Come People of the Risen King 4 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Worship Together: 25 Favorite Worship Songs 4.25 Emeralds
• Jaci Velasquez - Diamond 4.5 Emeralds
• Vineyard Music - I Love Your Presence (Live From Phoenix) 4.5 Emeralds
• Worth Dying For -Live Riot 4.75 Emeralds

That was a lot of work. I miss the widget. In the case of Eisley, Kiros and Jaci Velasquez, clicking on the name goes to my full review of the CD. All other links go to Amazon, where I hope you will buy through the link and support The Night Beat. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Lay Your Weapons Down

The Sixties, musically speaking, were framed by The British Invasion. Christian Music in the 21st Century is in the midst of its own International Invasion. This time it isn't the Union Jack making its audio footprint, it's the Maple Leaf.

As I have recounted in a previous post Canada has made a mark on the CCM Market here in the States. We have Lights, FM Static, Thousand Foot Krutch and Hawk Nelson from Ontario, Blessed By a Broken Heart from Quebec (Montreal), and more coming all the time.

Now it's time to add Calgary, Alberta based Kiros to the list. Maybe its time to heed the warning and Lay Your Weapons Down. I first came to hear of them through their Outlaws and Prodigals EP, and possibly so have many of their current fans. They are not a new band, however. This is their third full length album and four EP's, and play a melodic alternative not unlike Ivoryline. In fact Outlaws and Prodigals is my favorite ballad, and Unshaken, with its Ivoryline like sound is my favorite rock song on the album.

"Surrender Saves us All", as in surrender to God, is the theme, and musically speaking as well, the theme fits. This radio friendly alt-rock band is destined to take over the charts. It's been growing on me as I've listened again and again. I am going to give a final rating on this to 4.75 Emeralds.

As a special audio treat, here is Unshaken, their first single from the album. Sorry, even though it is from Youtube, it is audio only.


Don't get sold out by Good Intentions, Lay Your Weapons Down and Rock out To Kiros. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

February New Release Preview

Due to the miracle of scheduling, i.e. that music releases happen on a Tuesday, February gives everyone a free week, since the first Tuesday of the month is the 7th. That being said I am going to take the opportunity to give a mention to releases that will be occuring this month that I am anticipating will make a mark in the PVA judging.

While most of the industry will be looking at Diamonds by Jaci Velasquez on the 7th, I will be following Horace Greeley's advice to "Go West Young Man" and casting the night beats attention to California. Modesto, California to be precise, where Worth Dying For, the youth group worship band of Ammunition Ministry. Love Riot, which came out last February. This is the "live version" of that album, and based on my initial listen, is just as good as the studio version.

Kiros, a Canadian Rock-Alternative Act, at least in my opinion, follows up its debut EP with Lay Your Weapons Down. I was impressed by these guys when they came to Massachusetts as part of the Music With a Mission tour. AOL Music says they sound like Chevelle. Since I gave Chevelle's latest Five Emeralds, I am anticipating listening to this.

A runner up in The Inaugural Platinum Vinyl Awards for Best New Artist, Audrey Assad returns with Heart on Valentine's Day, which this year falls on a Tuesday. If her sophomore release is as good as her debut, then we may be looking at the Winner in Pop in 2012.

The month closes with a bang, provided by Portland, Oregon rockers Kutless. Jon Micah Sumrall and company return with Believer, the band's first release in three years (2009 Worship Project It is Well) and the first non-worship project since To Know that You're Alive in 2008. Though delays can be announced at any time prior to the official release, for the time being this is a great way to end a month.

There are a lot more releases this month, I've just picked a few highlights. Rest assured your intrepid blogger will be tracking them all. Until next time I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

Moving on with the Fourth Quarter Nominations. For those new on the scene, the year of eligibility for the Platinum Vinyl Awards is October 1-September 30. So the fourth quarter is the summer months of July, August and September, hence "heating it up".

2011 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

We come to the Alternative Rock genre. Again, the genre was well represented, with ten entries this quarter alone. Let's get to it.

Alternative Rock

• Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
• DecembeRadio - Southern Attic Sessions
• Divided by Friday - Prove It
• Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth
• Kiros - Outlaws & Prodigals
• Mikeschair - A Beautiful Life
• Rush of Fools - We Once Were
• Sidewalk Prophets - These Simple Truths (Deluxe Edition)
• Southbound Fearing - Southbound Fearing
• Switchfoot - Vice Verses (5)

There are a few multiple entrants here. Daniel Bashta is here and in Modern Worship, and Switchfoot is here and in Rock. We'll keep things going, hopefully one a day, and get through the genre based nominations in a week. As Always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Mission To Massachusetts: Part One

MWAM: Shrewsbury Edition

Wow. What a Night. The Music With A Mission Tour Rolled Through Central Massachusetts Last Night. For CCM fans of all stripes, this was an event not to be missed, and I would have you know, right up until Friday afternoon, I thought I would have to miss it, but everything worked out in the end. In my Quick Post written just before I left I just used the promotional poster and listed all the bands for the tour. Chasen, Manafest, and according to my ticket at least, B. Reith wasn't at this stop. That's not to say it wasn't a rocking night. The lineup for the night (in order of appearance) was Samestate, Kiros, Superchick, Hyland, Benjah, Mikeschair, Fireflight, and Hawk Nelson. For those playing the International Game, That's USA 6 Canada 2. That would be a cool score for a hockey game. (More on the hockey reference later). If things look a little fuzzy or red, I apologize in advance. I think I got the auto-focus figured out, but concert light wreak havoc with lighting sensors.

One of the bands on this tour, Fireflight, was at this same Venue (Liberty Churches, Shrewsbury, MA) Last October as Part of the For those Who Wait Tour. That was a penny-ante production compared to MWAM. MWAM Was full of Glitz and glitter, due mostly to the fact that it was orchestrated by New Release Tuesday. Before each act there was a video speel announcing them as coming soon. The energy and anticipation was sky high.



In the Samestate, unless they're not

 Newcomers Samestate opened the evening. I had the chance to preview their EP earlier in the year and they're pretty good. Pretty much straight ahead Rock and Roll. As newcomers to the scene they did a quick three song set, and went off the stage. It was their job to get the mood going in both directions and they did a good job. They told the crowd they couldn't stay around long as the next day they were opening for Switchfoot. Now that struck me as unintentionally funny, Samestate-Different State.



Kiros Loves the Bruins

 Kiros Was Next. For those not in the know it's pronounced KEYE-ros.  They proceeded to endear themselves to the local audience by giving shoutouts to our Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. Since these guys are from Clagary they are ostensibly Calgary Flames fans, but they say they "Also root for whoever is playing the Canucks." I mmust confess that, being a Bruins Fan, I was unaware of this anti-Canuck sentiment. We usually save our emotions for the Montreal Canadiens (or Les Habs). As to the music, I would probably classify Kiros as Heavy Metal, but in a 80's metal style, not the metal-core prevalent today.

After two opening acts it was time for the first headliner. I say first because the night had Three Legitimate Headline acts. Again, hats off to Soulfest and NRT for this scheduling miracle. Samestate and Kiros both played a 3-4 song set, and then Superchick took over for headline act #1. I'm trying to recollect things here afterward, but I would say we got seven songs from Superchick.



Tricia Brock: The Original Superchick

 What can I say about Superchick? Garage Band to Super Band, I became a fan right off the bat while working for Sparrow Records at Soulfest back in 2000. That was when Tricia was still singing through a megaphone. Seven Albums later, they are one of the best know supergroups out there. Tricia can belt out rock (One Girl Revolution, Rock What You Got) as easily as a haunting ballad (We Live, Stand in the Rain), and even does a good worship set as well (You are My Shepherd, Always, from The Road).

Hey, Hey! Melissa takes the lead

Though Tricia is the lead, Lead Vocals on a few songs were either shared or done outright by Tricia's sister Melissa (who is also Guitarist). After the worship set we were set for the first intermission, but first, co-sponsors Compassion International had a presentation. Melissa talked about her mission trip to Uganda, and her experience with real poverty. She talked of 10x10 "houses" which were "made literally of garbage". When you hear of things like this you realize we have no poor in The United States.



Tricia With a Fan during Intermission

 A short intermission was next, and there were still five more acts to come.

I was running back and forth through the auditorium during the concert and have plenty more photos to share. I think they thought I was a media photographer, and in one sense I am. Since I have a lot more to share I am making a multiple post effort of it, so stay with me. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.