Diamond Rain: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Adult Contemporary

Adult Contemporary is next as we move on through the genres. 11 entries for Elevator Music. Sorry, but I go for things a bit louder. Let's get to it.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Kristene DiMarco - Where His Light Was
• Point of Grace - Our Recollections
• Joel Hanson - Let Me Tell You Everything
• Lara Landon - The Never Again
• Matt Maher - Echoes
• Nichole Nordeman - Every Mile Mattered
• Fernando Ortega - The Crucifixion of Jesus 
• Natasha Owens - We Will Rise
• Robert Pierre - Nothing Without You
• Chris Sayburn - Saved By Grace
• Jason Whitehorn - As Long As I Have Breath

Not only do we have a whole boatload of entries, but we have four perfect albums in this list, which means automatic entry into the finals. And we hope to have 7. Can you say genre bracket buster. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: August 2017

One month to go. And we are starting to get the Ship of State sailing upright again. One month until the #PlatVnyl8 Pool closes and the #PlatVnyl9 Pool opens. Growth has come to the level where we can most likely say. "We Need A Staff". Of course there is no office. Just the internet. We haven't grown that much.

The Singles Scene

• All The Pretty Lights - Real Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Blanca - Real Love 4.75 Emeralds 
• B Cooper - Low ft Byron Juane 4.50 Emeralds
• Marcus Dawson - I Believe 5 Emeralds
• Jaxon - I Need You 4.75 Emeralds
• MDSN - Kerosene 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - Take Off 3.75 Emeralds
• NF - Green Lights 4.75 Emeralds
• Phil J - Ooh La La 3.75 Emeralds
• P.O.D.- Soundboy Killa 4.75 Emeralds
• Rend Collective - Rescuer (Good News) 4.75 Emeralds    
• Jay Sanon - Infatuation ft @MyCoachJosh 4.75 Emeralds 
• Michael W. Smith - A Million Lights 4.75 Emeralds
• Surf Gvng - I Know 4.50 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - 61/Twenty-Three (Unikron Remix) 5 Emeralds
• White Collar Sideshow - Tombstones For Eyes 5 Emeralds
• Blake Whiteley - Body Dat 4.50 Emeralds

17 Singles this month. I Believe that is a record (or even a Double Vinyl)

Missing The Mark 

• Dee Black - Black Friday 3.50 Emeralds
• Eric and Shala - Fearless 3.75 Emeralds
• Jarry Manna - HW3: Holy Weapon 3 3.50 Emeralds
• Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present - Magic and Bird 3.75 Emeralds

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Deitrick Haddon - Deitrick Haddon and Hill City Worship Camp 5 Emeralds
• Kings Kaleidoscope - The Beauty Between 5 Emeralds
• Lara Landon - The Never Again 5 Emeralds
• Jennifer McGill - Unbreakable 5 Emeralds
• Jennifer McGill - Unbreakable (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds
• Fernando Ortega - The Crucifixion of Jesus 5 Emeralds
• Third Day - Revival 5 Emeralds
• Third Day - Revival (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metal

• Brinson - Thornz 4.75 Emeralds
• Dillon Chase - Drifting 4.75 Emeralds
• Quinton Coblentz - Sahara 4.75 Emeralds
• Alex Faith - Summer Pack EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Finding Favour - Farewell Fear 4.75 Emeralds
• Point of Grace - Our Recollections: 25th Anniversary 4.50 Emeralds 
• Travis Greene - Crossover: Live From Music City 4.50 Emeralds
• Koryn Hawthorne - Koryn Hawthorne 4.75 Emeralds
• Jesus Culture - Love Has A Name (Deluxe Edition)  4.75 Emeralds
• Long Hollow WAVE - Upside Down 4.75 Emeralds
• Loso - Before I Commit EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Sandra McCracken - Steadfast Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Narrow Skies - Seasons: The Fade 4.75 Emeralds
• Needtobreathe - Hardcuts EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Robert Pierre - Nothing Without You 4.75 Emeralds
• Reconcile - Streets Don't Love You 4.50 Emeralds
• Anthony and Brittany Shepherd - Revival Nights EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - Levitate EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Alisa Turner - Alisa Turner EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Vertical Worship - Vertical Worship 4.75 Emeralds
• Devin Williams - We Are Forever Yours EP 4.50 Emeralds
  
• XD Out - Better Day 4.25 Emeralds

Well that completes our August edition of Rewind. There is just one month to go before I have to do our 4th Quarter Wrap. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

  
        

Night Beat Rewind: September 2014

We are interrupting our regularly scheduled Music Video Monday Schedule in order to get #PlatVnyl4 wrapped up as we cruise directly into #PlatVnyl5. One of the things I don't like about the September releases is that we start the Christmas Music Releases. Do we have to start this early, folks. The good part is I have no spot for them in the voting, so I can be honest with the voting and not think "am I trying to exclude (or include) them in the finals because of bias"

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Guy Penrod - Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• David Phelps - O Holy Night (2014) 4.75 Emeralds
• Michael W. Smith and Friends - The Spirit of Christmas 5 Emeralds
• Sovereign Grace Music - Prepare Him Room: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus in Song 4.50 Emeralds

The fun part of Christmas Music is you get to hear artists we don't normally consider (Like Guy Penrod, a Gaither Southern Gospel Person, but here he went Jazz). We move on to the songs, or as we like to say here at The Night Beat

The Singles Scene

• 1 Girl Nation - Try 4.75 Emeralds
• Amy Grant - Welcome Yourself 4.50 Emeralds
• Andy Hunter - Harmony 5 Emeralds
• KJ - 52 - Gameface 4.75 Emeralds

Now we move on to the last of the #PlatVnyl5 eligible entries. After that we drain the pool and move on to #PlatVnyl6. Boy we have grown. I can still remember the first awards. But first, those that didn't make it. These are

Missing The Mark

• David Daughtry - David Daughtry 3.75 Emeralds
• Everfound - Reimagine 3.75 Emeralds
• Fever Fever - Aftermath 3.75 Emeralds
• Eamonn McCrystal - A Living Prayer 3.75 Emeralds
• OBB - Bright Side 3.75 Emeralds
• Robbie Seay Band - Psalms, Volume 3 3.75 Emeralds

Like I always say, these aren't bad albums (I would tell you if they were). They just didn't wow me enough to consider them for a Platinum Vinyl Award. Our next grouping, however, cleared all expectations. They are:

 Pure Platinum Perfection

• Disciple - Attack 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - Need you Now (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds
• Remedy Drive - Commodity 5 Emeralds
• Salt of the Sound - Meditations, V1 5 Emeralds
• Stryper - Live at The Whisky 5 Emeralds
• Various Artists - WoW Hits 2015 5 Emeralds
• Various Artists - WoW Hits 2015 Deluxe 5 Emeralds
• The Walls Group - Fast Forward 5 Emeralds

Eight Perfect albums to end the year. Sometimes the industry leaves the best for last. Though I do have a compilation award, only the Six single artist albums really count. Most releases are somewhere in between, however. These are the 

Semi-Precious Metal

• Boiling Point - More 4.75 Emeralds
• Climbing Blind - Burn 4.50 Emeralds
• Kim Collingsworth - Majestic 4.75 Emeralds
• Colossus - Badlands 4.50 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be? 4.75 Emeralds
• Desperation Band - Banner 4.50 Emeralds
• Flyleaf - Between The Stars 4.75 Emeralds
• Deitrick Haddon - Best of Dietrick Haddon 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - No Other Name Deluxe 4.50 Emeralds
• Justin Jarvis - Atmospheres 4.50 Emeralds
• Sarah Kelly - My Corner of Heaven 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Run Wild, Live Free, Love Strong 4.50 Emeralds
• Lara Landon - There is Grace 4.75 Emeralds 
• Lecrae - Anomoly 4.75 Emeralds
• Mandisa - Get Up: The Remixes 4.50 Emeralds
• John Mark McMillan - The Borderland Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Heath McNease - Fort Wayne 4.50 Emeralds
• Tim Neufeld - The Joy (f/The Glory Boys) 4.50 Emeralds
• New Hope Oahu - Victorious 4.50 Emeralds
• Matthew Parker - Shadowlands 4.75 Emeralds
• Paul Porter - F.R.E.E. 4.50 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - Through The Mist 4.75 Emeralds
• Kathryn Scott - Sing on The Battlefield 4.75 Emeralds
• Jenny Simmons - To Be Well 4.75 Emeralds
• Dustin Smith - Coming Alive 4.75 Emeralds
• Switchfoot - The Edge of The Earth: Unreleased Songs from the film Fading West 4.75 Emeralds
• Jaye Thomas - Here is my worship 4.50 Emeralds
• Veritas - Veritas 4.50 Emeralds
• Vineyard UK - Great Big God 5 4.75 Emeralds
• Brian Weaver - Motion 4.50 Emeralds
• Michelle Williams - Journey to Freedom 4.50 Emeralds
• Ayiesha Woods - It's Time 4.50 Emeralds

Kerrie Roberts still hasn't put out her album on iTunes or Amazon, and there are no sound clips on her personal website. Until something like that happens I can't review it, so it gets pushed to PV6 in my opinion.

 

That does it for this year. I am forgoing links for now. I know, I'm backlogged. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Come On In

We are back in business. Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. Since two-thirds of the #PlatVnyl4 results are in, it's safe to resume normal operations, so here we go.

We begin with a new video from a #PlatVnyl4 Winning Artist. +WHOSOEVER SOUTH has already won Hip Hop/Rap Album of The Year, and the announcements are still not done yet. They have an opportunity to win three more awards, so keep it tuned here for the results. From their album which will release October 7, they say Come On In.
Next up we move on to the dance hall. This is Capital Kings, and Fireblazin.
And finally we have one of the most beautiful voices in Christian Music, Lara Landon, with a home video tribute to her Father, who recently moved to heaven. This is the touching song I Want To Know You. 
Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Wait of Glory

Here at The Night Beat we pride ourselves at calling it as we hear it. We're not going to fawn over an artist or bands release just because everybody is doing it, and, as you already may know, we pretty much adhere to a once saved always saved doctrine, musically speaking as well, where the industry is known for purges over various indiscretions.

This post is somewhat of a second look on an artist whose work I had panned in the past. Last Spring I posted a review of Thrift Store Jesus, and due to hiss and distortion, which while explained by the artist still drove me batty, I was kind of cool on the album. Add to that a level of profanity that I was uncomfortable with in a release toted by the Christian Market, and I gave it a bad rating, though not as bad as some.

Part of the re-assessment of +Heath McNease  was due to a release by P.O.D. a few months later. It created quite a stir when, though muted, the f-bomb was pretty evident on the last song. The band got away with it by the creation of a Christian Edition which omitted the song, thus depriving some of another purge.

Which brings me to two releases, one in 2012 and one this year, entitled The Weight of Glory: Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis. Due to a number of reasons, not excluding my previous review of TSJ, the first work fell through the cracks. That is rectified here. The titles of the songs are also the titles of Lewis works.

1. The Great Divorce
2. A Grief Observed
3. Mere Christianity
4. The Problem of Pain
5. The Four Loves
6. The Screwtape Letters
7. Edmund
8. Perelandra
9. Till We Have Faces
10. Surprised by Joy
11. The World's Last Night
12. Weight of Glory.

What, nothing from Narnia. Oh well. This is a very good album, but part of the problem with it is a certain lack of direction. The album is mostly Adult Contemporary/Inspirational, with some Alternative and some Folk or Folk Rock. In hindsight, since the Third Platinum Vinyl Awards, for which this would have been eligible, are already awarded, this would have gotten a respectable 4.50 Emeralds. Unfortunately this wouldn't have been enough to win because this was the year of the Goliath. In Folk Music there was The Vespers. In Adult Contemporary you had Moriah Peters, Michael W. Smith, and genre winner Lara Landon. Then in Alternative you had four Buzz-saws. The release would have been washed away in the Current of Sarah Macintosh, The Wild Things on the Paper Route attacked it. It was drowned out by The Loudest Sound Ever Heard, before finally succumbing to he who being dead yet singeth, Abel.

That brings us to The Weight of Glory, Second Edition: A Hip Hop Remix inspired by the works of C.S. Lewis. The content is the same, though the order is adjusted. Now while the album is advertised as hip-hop, for someone who's experience with the genre is DC Talk and Group 1 Crew, I would sort of go with Alternative here, though I'll give the artist his pick. A lot of the tracks sound like Future of Forestry, which to me is a big plus but to Mr. McNease, I don't know. Not all the songs work, but since the style is consistent throughout, the album works better as a unit, so I'm giving it a nit pick perfect score of 4.75 Emeralds, just so I don't hand out 5's as candy. One nitpick that didn't affect the score. You would think a song called The World's Last Night would have been the last song, both due to the title and it feels like a perfect ending. It's the penultimate song on both albums.

Hip Hop is a little light on entries this year, so I like TWOG's chances, but we shall see about that next year. You can get both of these for a tweet through noisetrade. Click on the album titles to get yours. You won't want to upgrade. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl3 - Album of The Year

The Album of The Year is given to the album which shone above all others. While all the winners of the Platinum Vinyl Awards contain a certain "wow factor", the Album of the Year, well, does the Big O mean anything to you? Every one of the 10 nominated albums was given a Perfect 5 Emerald Ranking.

• Arise : The Live Worship Experience, William McDowell
• Current , Sarah Macintosh
• Evanescence , Evanescence
• Feel The Power , Blessed By A Broken Heart
• Hats Off To The Bull , Chevelle
• Make It Right , Abel
• Overcome , Lara Landon
• Remembering You , Poema
• True Defiance , Demon Hunter
• Wait for the Siren , Project 86

There was no "first entry bias" as the nominees came from all 4 Quarters in a 3-2-2-3 fashion. Hard Rock had 3 nominees, Rock and Alternative each contributed 2, and Gospel, Pop and Adult Contemporary each contributed a single nominee. Also only three of the entries won their genre. These 10 would be battling to join last years inaugural winner, Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars. That's some big shoes to fill.

The first round of voting knocked out four of the contenders, and two genres. Gone was the sister act Poema and Gospel's McDowell. Hard Rock was reduced to one as both Demon Hunter and the boss's favorite, 80's Hare Metal Band Blessed by a Broken Heart. Did I ever tell you how much I love the 80's?

Destiny would not be with Demon Hunter, but it did wash over the category like a flood. A comeback album, the first release in five years. Songs that touch our darkest moments, vocals which chill spine and soul. The true Revenge of The Fallen. The Winner of This Years Platinum Vinyl Award for Album of The Year is EVANESCENCE.

#PlatVnyl3 - Female Vocalist of The Year

Though the same rules apply to the Female Vocalist as the Male Vocalist, the fact is that the shenanigans are not as present here. Usually because most of the ladies record under their own names and not under a band. That is changing though: (i.e. Amy Lee of Evanescence; Hayley Williams of Paramore, etc), so shenanigans may abound in the future.

Since there are more ladies recording under their own name, that usually means there will be a bigger nominee pool for FVY. There were, but we managed to narrow it to 7.

• Audrey Assad
• Sara Groves
• Lara Landon
• Sarah Macintosh
• Lindsay McCaul
• Moriah Peters
• Beckah Shae

Both McCaul and Peters would be classified as New Artists as well, so you can't accuse us of holding out until someone "proves themselves". We recognize talent up front.

Of course, one can't help it when the judges almost literally "fall in love" with an artist. And who can disagree anyhow? A "voice" that can carry off any style of music they choose, soar above the loudest instruments or whisper with a sultry style that best is described as "torch singer." That combination carried her above the unique Macintosh, the Powerful Peters, the powerful vocals of Assad. Their time will come. This year, however, the Female Vocalist of The Year in the Platinum Vinyl Awards goes to Lara Landon.

I have a few more wrap-up posts to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Platinum Collection: The Top Six

In our last post we announced the bottom half of The Platinum Dozen, the twelve best albums of the year 2012, as determined by us here at The Night Beat. We Continue now with the Top 6.

6. Blessed By A Broken Heart, Feel The Power (January 24, 2012)

I LOVE 80's Music. Probably since that was my formative decade. CCM Came into the rock era in the 80's and so did Heavy Metal, with bands such as Bloodgood and Stryper. Since then the metal world has gone screamo/thrash with those growls that always make me think "that's got to hurt". This band from Montreal has it all. Stryper like harmonies, awesome guitar shreds, and great songs. As they say on their album, "Bang Your Head, Shut Up and Rock." What a way to kick off the new year, as this was the first Perfect album of the year, coming out on January 24. Read my original post at the link. They can even do a good Metal Love song in Forever.

5. Shiny Toy Guns, III (October 22, 2012)

From Metal to Techno. Before they were in the mainstream, the duo of Chad Petree and Jeremy Dawson were well known among the Christian Fringe as Cloud 2 Ground, and though the music may have less of an obvious Christian tint, Shiny Toy Guns still has enough of C2G to please. I gave the album a Perfect 5 in my Original Post. Of course with their music videos, what is it with Carah Faye having to run everywhere. Somebody get this gorgeous blond a sports car. Another one which should clean up at next years Platinum Vinyl Awards. There is nowhere to hide from Shiny Toy Guns.

4. Project 86, Wait for the Siren (August 21, 2012)

The Hard Rockers from San Diego (no, not P.O.D.), these are the other ones strike Platinum once again. Strings, Screams, arrangements. From the opening notes of Fall Goliath Fall with its Celtic intro to the title cut which ends it, this is a Hard Rock album worth every penny. Defector is about the only place to take a breather. The title cut, placed at the end with Celtic Pipes worthy of Iona, pure genius. Definitely a Siren Song worth listening to.

3. Sarah Macintosh, Current (March 6, 2012)

The former lead singer of Chasing Furies returns with her first album in four long years and does not disappoint. Her vocals are unique in the music world, and they are expertly used in this album. About the time the album was released a series of Music Videos taken in the Recording Studio were released on Youtube. The raw energy of these recordings is breathtaking. Personally, the best of these is Damaged.

T1. Lara Landon, Overcome (May 1, 2012) and Gungor, A Creation Liturgy (October 9, 2012)

Falling for an artist was never easier. Lara is without argument the best singer in Christian Music today, and probably the only Torch Singer in the industry. Yes, I'm a guy, but there is no way to describe her voice except seductive. And her Arabic heritage allows her to pull off the middle eastern Look East without a hitch. She can even do country in Leah, and I love it. That says a lot. Get caught in the River.

There was never a doubt about number one from the moment this album was released until the PVA Year ended, and Gungor came out with their live album for the Ghosts upon the earth tour. I didn't like the studio album much, felt it lacked pop, so I was skeptical about the live album, which is usually less energetic for some reason. Not so here. If they could have captured this magic in the studio, but they didn't.

That's it folks, the Top 12 Albums for the Calendar Year 2012. I will soon come out with my PVA Top list, which goes from October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012, and a few others will be on this list. Until then, A Merry Christmas to all from all of us here at The Night Beat.