Caught in a Firefall at General Hospital

The Calendar doesn't say it, but it is coupleary once again. For those new here, that is my name for the first half of February and the last half of January. It's the thirteenth month, and it exists mainly to depress single guys and make guys in a relationship feel guilty if they don't spend big bucks on this one day. I usually can ignore the month as best as is humanly possible, but these past few years have made me a bit more sensitive to its effects.

For that I blame love songs. They seem to occur with more frequency around now. A while back I was having breakfast at a fast food joint and a love song from the 70's came on the radio. Plus, they are always written by people who already have the girl.

You are the woman that I've always dreamed of, I knew it from the start.
I saw your face and that's the last I've seen of my heart.

Corny? Maybe, but pretty innocent. Just listen to the cars that pass by any day and you would have an eternal bleep if you tried. That's not love. Still, I remember listening to it and thinking "Lucky guy". If I knew it at the time, things would have been different. No, I am a bit closer to another love song, this from the 80's.

All I need is just a little more time to be sure of what I feel. Is it all in my mind. Cause it seems so hard to believe that you're all I need.

That second one comes from Jack Wagner, at the time a star on the soap opera General Hospital. You want to know how I know that?My High School Sweetheart was a GH Fan and she raved about the song. That should have been my cue to exit, stage right. No way I was going to compete with a soap opera star. What's reality when you've got fantasy.  I may have needed a little more time, but she probably wanted a decision NOW. When I finally had enough time I found out that my time was up long ago.

I'm not entirely a lost cause. I still believe there can be love at first sight. Only if it doesn't go both ways at that time, it never will. Though that line about marrying your best friend. Only if they became your best friend after marriage. Otherwise, once again, It doesn't work. Believe me, I know whereof I speak.

My post last year said it best. On the 15th, the candy goes on sale. Then we single guys get left alone until next year. Time to put Sumerlin on. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Runaways are always walking in the dark

"What makes your heart break, you've been dying to let it go.
But you keep holding on to what makes your heart beat
so desperate to find what is real. Longing to feel again."

I have a love/hate relationship with certain artists and albums. I love the fact that they do much more than entertain, that they seem to reach down into your soul and speak to how you're feeling, and become an agent of healing. On the other hand, you hate them for being able to penetrate your defenses. You would think that would mean you would never listen to them again, but the healing wins out, and you listen again and again. I am convinced more than ever that Amy Lee knew what was in my heart long before I did. That's +Evanescence for the rest of you.

Runaways is such an album. The latest release from Dream Records artist Sumerlin. It's their first full length album after two EP's, and what a release it is. I think that Dream Records has something to do with it. They are vying with +Tooth & Nail Records and +Brandon Ebel for The Kingmakers of Christian Music, and with Sumerlin, The Thulin Brothers (Jonathan and David), Press Play, Satellites and Sirens, and Silverline. their making quite the claim to the throne.

Some albums put a love song on the album as its ballad. This song is one great lost love song (from a guys perspective).

1. Heartbeat
2. Walking In The Dark
3. Home With You
4. Breaking Out
5. Counterfeit
6. You Always Were
7. As I Am 
8. Speak Up, Speak Out
9. War
10. Voices
11. More Than A Memory.

Breaking out was the first song to get its hooks into me

"If only gravity couldn't keep me down
so I could go to any new place to a new life
but these eyes have seen enough, and these hands
are broken I can not feel you.
It's my fault I gave my heart away with the key. 
I Thought she'd be the one to stay here. Don't leave me astray."

WOW. The tears had to be stifled on that one. How about this for power.

"Is it possible to live life without a heart?
To live your life like a ghost walking in the dark.
I've longed for something new to ease the pain
I've made and built up inside. And leave the past behind."

Powerful rock, touching ballads (Home With You, You Always Were, More Than A Memory). Unlike in TV, the game of Love doesn't always end right. The guy doesn't always get the girl.

"Can I be caught in the moment you or am I just a picture on your wall
I say over and over again this can't be the end of us, this can't be the end of more than a memory, more than a memory."

 Yeah, I know, he's a stalker that can't take no for an answer. It's certainly not that easy to pigeonhole. Healing never is. Get Runaways . It grew to 5 Emeralds. If you've ever had a relationship not work out, you'll get it. Keep the Kleenex handy. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

You Left Me Shattered

I like to think I do things a little differently here at the WENC Night Beat. Especially in regard to Song of The Year nominations for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. The Major Awards and I usually don't see Eye to eye when it comes to radio singles, from which the nominees are picked.

Maybe it's just that I don't get the whole process. I thought you wanted to release the strongest songs to radio in order to get people to buy the album. 

Case in point, Rebuild by The Letter Black. The radio singles are Pain Killer and Found. One anthem, one ballad. Batting .500 isn't bad. Hey, it's better than Ted Williams, but it could have been 1.000. Unlike some, I personally loved Found. There are a lot of FFR bands now in Christian Music, and all of them do anthems extremely well. The ballads, however, is where we separate the platinum from the rest. Some just can't pull it off. Sarah Anthony, however, has a simply beautiful voice. Found and Outside Looking In are showcases for her voice. Found has strings as well, and great orchestration. Simply, it sounds majestic. Great Choice.

Pain Killer, eh. The Video is intriguing, and we shall get to that soon enough when we begin the new Videos. But it it far from the best rock anthem on the album. If you want loud, you should go with Up From The Ashes. That is an excellent song, and is the hardest and loudest on the album. Better overall though would have to be Break Out. 

The Best Song on the album? Hands down that would have to be Shattered. It's sort of a hybrid between the two styles, and it absolutely burrows into your brain. I see it as a getting over a breakup song, as opposed to a love song.

You left me shattered, but I'm so over it. I put back the pieces just to see if they still fit.

You left me shattered, but I'm stronger from this. I'm doing just fine, and now you're only wasting your time. 

It's also a duet between Sarah and her husband Mark (no J Lo jokes please). There really aren't that many honest lyrics like this in Christian Music

You tried to make believe you're the best part of me
You words cutting me in two
But now I realize I gave you love you gave me lies
The worst part about me was you

Like I said, honesty. And it is in that vein that I am giving Rebuild by The Letter Black a near perfect score of 4.75 Emeralds. If you love to rock you will love The Letter Black. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.