The Home of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Reviews of New CD releases, mostly CCM but also mainstream releases that may interest the Christian Music listener. Music News and Commentary, especially when there's a CCM connection.
Modern Worship is once again the big winner for the quarter. Thirty Three entries for the quarter. That's almost 7 final entries. Let's get to it.
Modern Worship
Meredith Andrews - Faith And Wonder (Live) EP
Michael Bahn - Clean
Bethel Music - Victory
Mack Brock - Covered EP
Catch The Fire Music - Presence: Live From Toronto
CRC Music - Greater Than All (Deluxe)
Cross Point Music - Cross Point Music
Elias Dummer - The Work, Volume 1
Jon Egan - Unveil (Live)
Every Nation Music - Faithful EP
London Gatch - New Stories
Luke and Anna Hellebronth - Motions of Mercy
Highlands Worship - Jesus You Alone
Life Center Worship - Debut EP
Lindy and The Circuit Riders - Driven by Love
Stephen Miller - Behold
New Hope Oahu - Scripture Songs
Passion - Follow You Anywhere
Passion - Behold The Lamb/It is Finished
People of The Earth - Victory EP
Planetboom - Jesus Over Everything
Planetshakers - Rain Part 1 EP
Radiate Worship - Come Alive
Reach City Worship - Nothing Else Matters (Live)
Michael W. Smith - Awaken: The Surrounded Experience
29:11 Worship - Marble and Mortar, Volume 1
Chris Tomlin - Holy Roar: Live From Church
Chris Tomlin - Is He Worthy? EP
Upperroom - Moments: Color 003
Upperroom - To The One
Vineyard UK - Legacy (Live From Ireland)
Vineyard UK - Twelve: One (Dave Miller Live From Trent Vineyard)
Cory Voss - Songs of The House
Phil Wickham - Living Hope (The House Sessions)
Thirty-four entries. At seven final entries that would be almost 5 years of finals, in one quarter. We raised the cutoff from 4 to 4.5 to get the genres under control. It worked for everybody but Modern Worship. The wrap is done. The third quarter awaits. I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Live Recorded Album had sixteen entries. Usually it's a pretty light genre, but I guess there was a rush to get a live album out this quarter.
Live Recorded Album
Meredith Andrews - Faith And Wonder (Live) EP
Bethel Music - Victory
Catch The Fire Music - Presence: Live From Toronto
Todd Dulaney - To Africa With Love
Jon Egan - Unveil (Live)
Keith and Kristen Getty - Sing! Psalms!: Ancient and Modern (Live at The Getty Music Worship Conference)
Passion - Follow You Anywhere
Reach City Worship - Nothing Else Matters
Shane and Shane - Hymns Live
Michael W. Smith - Awaken: The Surrounded Experience
Chris Tomlin - Holy Roar: Live From Church
The Tommies - The Tommies Reunion
29:11 Worship - Marble and Mortar, Volume 1
Vineyard UK - Legacy (Live From Ireland)
Vineyard UK - Twelve: One (Dave Miller Live From Trent Vineyard)
Cory Voss - Songs of The House
Most of the Live Albums are Modern Worship, as is the norm, but there are two Gospel entries. The Biggie is next, and it is Modern Worship. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply
We are two thirds of the way through the second quarter of #PVX (Platinum Vinyl 10 to the rest of you). And what a quarter it is January started us off with 4 Perfect 5's and February has blown that away with 11 Perfect 5's. It's a Temptation that may be impossible to Resist.
The Singles Scene
Meredith Andrews - Open Over Us (Live) 5 Emeralds
Apollo LTD - Heaven (All Around You) 5 Emeralds
Battledrums - Breakthrough 4.75 Emeralds
Big Daddy Weave - Alive 4.75 Emeralds
Bonray - Love U Forever 4.75 Emeralds
Marci Coleman - Timeline 4.75 Emeralds
The Color - The Kind of Man 5 Emeralds
Dayseye - Victory 4.75 Emeralds
Demon Hunter - Close Enough 5 Emeralds
Demon Hunter - More Than Bones 5 Emeralds
Deraj - Everything 4.75 Emeralds
Deraj - Genes 4.50 Emeralds
DJ Em-D - Away ft Shope 4.75 Emeralds
Embassy - Jehovah Jireh (ft Deraj) 5 Emeralds
For All Seasons - Light and Momentary 5 Emeralds
GAWVI - Hope You Say 4.75 Emeralds
Chad Graham - You say/Look Up Child/Rescue/Still Rolling Stones 5 Emeralds
Sara Groves - Jesus See The Traveler 4.75 Emeralds
HGHTS - Somebody ft Kristen Hicks 5 Emeralds
Koryn Howthorne - Unstoppable ft Lecrae 5 Emeralds
Luke and Anna Hellebronth - Abide 5 Emeralds
JJ Heller - The Place Where Lost Things Go (from Mary Poppins Returns) 5 Emeralds
Highlands Worship - Jesus You Alone 5 Emeralds
Hillsong United - As You Find Me (Live) 5 Emeralds
Hollyn - Good Times 4.75 Emeralds
Influencers - Just The Cross 5 Emeralds
Ledger - Completely 5 Emeralds
Elle Limebear - Call On Your Name 5 Emeralds
Local Sound - Never Far 4.75 Emeralds
Dianne Michelle - Let It Be Evident 4.75 Emeralds
Narrow Skies - Season of Gold 5 Emeralds
Neon Feather - Come To Life ft Matty Mullins 4.75 Emeralds
Christy Nockels - In Every Way 5 Emeralds
Pastor Victor Onwundi - You are at the centre 4.25 Emeralds
Brian Ortize - Only Jesus ft London Gatch 5 Emeralds
Ginny Owens - Echo 4.75 Emeralds
Passion - Step Into The Light ft Sean Curran [Live From Passion 2019] 4.75 Emeralds
Plumb - Somebody Loves You 5 Emeralds
Royal Company - Found In You 4.75 Emeralds
John Schlitt - Fighting The Fight 4.75 Emeralds
Beckah Shae - You Are 5 Emeralds
Shonlock - Gnarly 4.75 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - Waymaker ft Vanessa Camapgna & Madelyn Berry 5 Emeralds
Social Club Misfits - Everytime 4.50 Emeralds
Stars Go Dim - It's Gonna Get Better 4.75 Emeralds
JSteph - Erasing History 5 Emeralds
Roy Tosh - Close ft Evan and Eris 4.75 Emeralds
Roy Tosh - More Love ft CASS 4.75 Emeralds
Vineyard Worship - You're Carrying Me 4.75 Emeralds
Kevin Ward - He Loves 4.75 Emeralds
Jeremy James Whitaker - Promise Me 5 Emeralds
Jeremy James Whitaker - Tell Me What Is Real 4.75 Emeralds
Jeremy James Whitaker - Turmoil (Ju5tabu5t Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Ian Yates - Deconstruction 5 Emeralds
54 Entries. Yikes. That's a lot of songs. If there are a comparable number of albums released we will soon be inundated. On to the albums, and we begin with the albums which do not make the cut.
Missing The Mark
Xay Hill - Red Ranger: Part 3 3.75 Emeralds
1k Phew - What's Understood 4.25 Emeralds
Slow Coming Day - 1,000 Years (Like A Day) 4.25 Emeralds
3 Missing The Mark is pretty low, but it's still okay. You'll wonder when you see the next segment.
Pure Platinum Perfection
Adelaide - Strong + Brave 5 Emeralds
Evan and Eris - Seasons 5 Emeralds
London Gatch - New Stories 5 Emeralds
Donald Lawrence - Goshen 5 Emeralds
New Hope Oahu - Scripture Songs 5 Emeralds
Brady Novotny - Passions Collide 5 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - Awaken: The Surrounded Experience 5 Emeralds
The Tommies - The Tommies Reunion 5 Emeralds
29:11 Worship - Marble and Mortar, Volume 1 5 Emeralds
Various - Lift Every Voice and Sing, Volume 1 5 Emeralds
Within Temptation - Resist 5 Emeralds
3 MTM to 11 Perfect. It appears that the candy store is open for business. But Hey, it's February, and candy and chocolate is in style. We have many criteria to pick a Perfect 5 Album, probably as many as the genres themselves. One of the major criteria is that the album is perceived as perfectly representing the genre that it is in. And in the case of New Hope Oahu, I have given a 5 for the effort. Turning non psalms into music is quite an undertaking. Most will not do it. On to the music in the middle.
Semi-Precious Metals
August Burns Red - Phantom Sessions EP 4.75 Emeralds
Becca Bradley - Heaven Come Down 4.50 Emeralds
Cross Point Music - Cross Point Music 4.75 Emeralds
Dayseye - Victory EP 4.75 Emeralds
Elias Dummer - The Works, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
Keith and Kristen Getty - Sing! Psalms: Ancient and Modern (Live at The Getty Music Worship Conference) 4.75 Emeralds
Chad Graham - First 4.75 Emeralds
Alex Holt and Free Worship - Grace.Mercy.Love 4.75 Emeralds
Rick Lee James - Thunder 4.75 Emeralds
Lindy and The Circuit Riders - Driven By Love 4.50 Emeralds
Radiate Worship - Come Alive 4.50 Emeralds
The Recording Collective - Gospel Volume 3: Yes And Amen EP 4.75 Emeralds
K-Ross - Son 4.75 Emeralds
The Ruins - The Ruins EP 4.75 Emeralds
Shane and Shane - Hymns (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
Switch - Symphony EP 4.75 Emeralds
Chris Tomlin - Is He Worthy? EP 4.75 Emeralds
Upperroom - To The One 4.75 Emeralds
Cory Voss - Songs of The House (ft Madison Street Worship) 4.75 Emeralds
That does it for February. March is already off to a Lions start. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We continue with our rollout of the 2nd Quarter of 2018 Pool Entries for the Platinum Vinyl Awards (#PlatVnyl9). A tie is next. Pop and Rock tied with 9 entries. Pop Music is first up.
Pop Music
Dave Barnes - Who Knew It Would Be So Hard To Be Myself
Leanna Crawford - Crazy Beautiful You (Deluxe)
Jordan Feliz - Future
Jaxon - The Journey EP
Marc Martel - My Way, Volume 1
Mass Anthem - Through People Like Me
Mercy Me - I Can Only Imagine: The Best of Mercy Me
Nicole C. Mullen - Like Never Before
Michael W. Smith - A Million Lights
Marc Martel (formerly of Downhere) did a cover album of Mainstream Classic Pop, sort of like Kevin Max Starry Nights. It is a very good album. All the rest are more "traditional" Christian Albums. Rap music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are two thirds of the way through the Second Quarter of 2018, boy time sure flies quickly. We are quickly getting deluged in New Releases this year. If this trend continues we shall be judging #PlatVnyl9 well into #PlatVnyl 11 (I don't like the space, but I think it's the only way to make it readable. At least we have two years to figure it out).
The Singles Scene
Lincoln Brewster - Here I Am 4.75 Emeralds
Bradley Bridges - Jesus Is King 4.50 Emeralds
Caves - More of You 4.50 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Jonny Diaz - Define Me 4.75 Emeralds
Fireflight - I Wont Look Back 5 Emeralds
Hillsong Young and Free - PEACE 4.75 Emeralds
Lawren - Mood 3.50 Emeralds
Toby Mac - I Just Need U (Capital Kings Remix) 5 Emeralds
Derek Minor - It Is What It Is 4.50 Emeralds
Nine Lashes - Breaking Out 5 Emeralds
Smalltown Poets - You'r My Shepherd ft Mac Powell 4.75 Emeralds
Scott Ralley - Way That You Do 4.25 Emeralds
Sarah Reeves - Feel The Waters 5 Emeralds
Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Kaden Slay - The Mercy of Jesus 4.50 Emeralds
Greg Sykes - No Greater Love 4.75 Emeralds
We sliced the single scene by over 50% this month. Still, this is shaping up to be quite the year. We turn to the albums, and once again begin with those that will not make the #PlatVnyl9 Pool.
Missing The Mark
Listener - Being Empty: Being Filled 3.75 Emeralds
Rockstar JT - Streets Signed Me 4.25 Emeralds
Gerry Skrills - Pray For Me 3.75 Emeralds
Only three entries missing the mark makes my work a bit tougher, but overall it is a good sign. On to the perfect.
Pure Platinum Perfection
Audrey Assad - Evergreen 5 Emeralds
Brad and Rebekah - Sound of Heaven 5 Emeralds
Elevation Collective - Evidence 5 Emeralds
Charlie Peacock - When Light Flashes Help is On The Way 5 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - Surrounded 5 Emeralds
Zealand - Liberated 5 Emeralds
I am always pleased when the Pure Platinum and Missing The Mark somewhat balanced. The Biggest category is always those in the middle.
Semi Precious Metals
All Above Me - Return to The Battlefield 4.75 Emeralds
Bee Ardoin - The Truth About Walking 4.75 Emeralds
Paul Baloche - Ultimate Collection 4.50 Emeralds
Dave Barnes - Who Knew It Would Be So Hard To Be Myself 4.50 Emeralds
Pastor Brad - Highway 2 Heaven 4.75 Emeralds
Chasing Victory - Friends, Volume 1 EP 4.75 Emeralds
Elevation Worship - Do It Again EP 4.75 Emeralds
EQ Worship - Push Out The Dark 4.75 Emeralds
Eufaula - Between The Hills 4.75 Emeralds
The Oh Hellos - Eurus EP 4.50 Emeralds
Hillsong Young and Free - Love Wont Let Me Down The Remixes 4.50 Emeralds
Jaxon - The Journey EP 4.75 Emeralds
Samuel Lane - The Difference 4.50 Emeralds
Off Road Minivan - Spiral Gaze EP 4.75 Emeralds
Passion - Whole Heart Live 4.75 Emeralds
Salt of The Sound - Lent, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - A Million Lights 4.75 Emeralds
Social Club Misfits - Into The Night 4.75 Emeralds
Swoope - Sonshine 4.75 Emeralds
Various - The Cross Was Meant For Me: Worship Songs For Easter 4.50 Emeralds
Various - Samson: Songs From and Inspired by The Motion Picture 4.75 Emeralds
That does it for February, and March has just begun. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday, where we do our darndest to track down the best Music Videos in Christian Music. We begin with Smalltown Poets, which is making a comeback after a four year break. This is Prophet, Priest and King Next up we have Audrey Assad. She has released Evergreen this past Friday. This is the Lyric Video for Drawn To You. And finally we finish off our two week marathon. Last Week Michael W. Smith lit a million lights in the Pop arena. This week he leads worship and we find ourselves Surrounded. This is the live video of the title cut. That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. February is in the Bag. March and Spring Awaits. Until next month, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to an all New edition of Music Video Monday. Happy Presidents Day. This is a sham holiday created to kick off High School Winter Vacation. We used to have two holidays in February, which honored Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. In a rare move of contraction we have to honor all Presidents including U.S. Grant (great General, incompetent President, most corrupt administration of All Time. Sorry Libs, Nixon doesn't even come close), Hoover(Caused Great Depression) and William Henry Harrison (32 days). I think I like the old way better. And you get two days off with pay.
We begin our Music Tour with All Above Me, a Christian Female Fronted Metal Band. (With all apologies to Icon For Hire, it helps with the categorizing. And they should be honored. No one has accused all FFR bands of sounding alike, something that can not be said of Male Fronted Bands unfortunately. The Ladies know how to create their own unique sound. Maybe the guys should take a lesson.). The Calgary Band has released their first Full Length Album Return to the Battlefield. Featuring Kevin Young of Disciple, this is King and Crown. Sometimes a band takes a wrong turn. Sometimes it is a fatal mistake, sometimes the ship of state can be righted. Such is the case with Nine Lashes. A promising start in the Hard Rock/Metal genre (can you get much more promising than to be nurtured by Trevor McNevan of TFK?) they put out three solid albums before careening out of control into pop boy band territory with Ascend (talk about an ironic title). They return with a new single Breaking Out. All I can say is You have found your way back home. Finally, those of you who have been with us since our reboot began know that The Night Beat had its start as a Radio Show in the Mid to late 1980's. A staple on the radio those days was Michael W. Smith, who was a perfectionist in those days, pushing back release dates to absurd lengths. Time must have mellowed him, because while he still makes excellent music, he is releasing 2 Albums in Two Weeks. A Million Lights drops on February 16, Surrounded on February 23. This is A Million Lights. That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
This is it, the final posting of 2nd Quarter Results. The big winner this quarter is Modern Worship with a whopper 26 Entries.That's almost enough for four years of finals. Let us get to it.
That completes our wrap of the 2nd Quarter of 2016. And I should be able to get the April Rewind up very early next month. So all is good. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The end of the line has been reached. Today we announce the big winner for the third quarter pool entries. Modern Worship had seventeen releases. That would almost make for three genres this quarter alone. Let's get right to it.
That finishes off the Third Quarter of 2014. We've got only three months to go. And still I have to get the Finals of the 2013 Awards in the bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are finally caught up, and it is the last day of May. The nerve of the industry to release a ton of new material just at the time we are busy with #PlatVnyl4 nominations. We could say a conspiracy is afoot, but the truth is that we operate so far under the radar they probably don't even know we exist. But just maybe, if we make enough noise, like the who's of whoville, the industry Horton will know, "we are here".
We begin with "singles" this month, which is a new listing, and may help with song of the year nominees in the future.
Singles
For King and Country - Fix My Eyes 4.75 Emeralds
Anthony Garland - Talk Dirty Reply to Jason Derulo 3 Emeralds
Jars of Clay - Reckless Forgiver 4.50 Emeralds
Jesus Loves Electro - Burning Love, The Remixes 4.75 Emeralds
Salt of The Sound - It Must Be Hope 5 Emeralds
David Thulin - Light In Me (feat Nicole Croteau), The Remixes 4.75 Emeralds
Looking at that list you'll note that they all just missed except that glaring 3 that I gave to Anthony Garland. All it contained was a hip hop beat with the words Satan Dirty to Me repeated at various intervals. If that is anything like the original it didn't need a reply. You don't need a response to horrible music. Only two albums missed the mark. The first, while I'm a little disappointed, I'm not especially surprised. That release belonged to CCM Veteran Carman, and his new release No Plan B got a just missed 3.75 Emeralds. It was a pretty good album, but no Champion, and was rewarded honestly. The other album that missed was a gospel album, Rachel Armstrong and Passion got 3.75 Emeralds as well. Seven albums, however, rose to the occasion and beyond. They are those which are regarded as the most precious of all.
Pure Platinum
My Epic - Behold (Instrumental) 5 Emeralds
Wess Morgan - Livin' 5 Emeralds
Relentless Flood - The Time Is Now 5 Emeralds
Beckah Shae - Champion 5 Emeralds
Seventh Day Slumber - We Are The Broken 5 Emeralds
Tedashii - Below Paradise 5 Emeralds
Various Artists - The Action Bible Remixed 5 Emeralds
I judge each genre separately, but each release exhibits those categories which I deem perfect in that genres makeup. Most albums aren't perfect, however. This month is no exception. These releases still qualify for the Platinum Vinyl 5 Pool, but they are
Semi-Precious Metal
All Sons and Daughters - All Sons 4.50 Emeralds
Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir - You Alone 4.50 Emeralds
Artifex Dereo - Time In Place 4.50 Emeralds
Audrey Assad - Death Be Not Proud 4.75 Emeralds
Being As An Ocean - How We Both Wondrously Perish 4.50 Emeralds
Chris and Gileah - Chris and Gileah 4.75 Emeralds
Cor Captis - Hello Someday 4.75 Emeralds
Crowder - Neon Steeple 4.75 Emeralds
D-Tropp - Away From Home 4.50 Emeralds
The Ember Days - The Ember Days Live EP 4.75 Emeralds
Fellowship Creative - Running to Follow 4.75 Emeralds
Fight The Fade - Second Horizon 4.75 Emeralds
Mike Lee - Awakening Hearts 4.50 Emeralds
Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology Part 2: Doxology 4.75 Emeralds
1986 was a milestone year in Christian Music. At least if you were a headbanger. It was the year that a bunch of long haired freaks dethroned one of Pop Music's favorite singers, at least for a moment. The most sung youth ballad in history was, for a while, replaced by some Sweet Music. Robert Sweet, Michael Sweet, Timothy Gaines, Oz Fox. We know them as Stryper. The name hails from the Bible. Isaiah 53:5 to be exact (by His Stripes we are healed). The album was called To Hell With The Devil, and the original cover featuring four long haired angels casting the devil into Hell caused quite a stir among the CCM Industry at large and was replaced by a black triangle logo with the name underneath. Most notable, at least for me, was that the ballad Honestly actually supplanted Friends by Michael W. Smith. Plus the album went platinum. Rare for a Christian Album at any time. In the 80's, and to a heavy metal band. Fast Forward 27 years. Stryper is still among us, a feat in itself. Of course they did take somewhat of a sabbatical from 1991 to 1999. Still, when they reunited they did it with all the original members. No More Hell to Pay
, the third original album from the reunited band, is the sequel to THWTD in more ways than one. First, counting The Yellow and Black Attack EP, it is the
third album in sequence, not counting best of's and covers. Then there is another angel themed album cover. And finally, there is a Hell themed title.
That's pretty much where the similarities between the two end. This is by far the loudest and strongest Stryper album to date. The One, which is the only ballad on the album, is not what you would expect, honestly. It is still good. The anthems are where the band has always shone, and it is no different here. The Guitar Work by The Wizard of OZ is to be envied by any guitarist short of Phil Keaggy and Robert Sweet can still hit the high notes. Last Year I gave their students, Canadians Blessed By A Broken Heart, a Five Emerald Rating. I can do no less for the teachers here. The title cut alone is worth the albums, with typical tight three part harmonies. But then there is Revelation.
I'm, I'm, I'm, Coming like a thief at night. And You, you, you, you're out of time so make it right. There, There, There, will be no more apologies. Cause, my, my, my, my wrath will spread like a disease.
There's a Revelation, it's coming after you. Without hesitation, it's gonna bring the truth.
5 Emeralds. I can really do no less for No More Hell to Pay
. The only Hell to pay will be if you don't get this album. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
"...a lifetime's not to long to live as friends." The most popular song in Christian Music History probably generated enough tears to launch a small navy. I should know. While the song somehow missed my High School Graduating Class I couldn't escape it in college. My Senior Class voted it Class Song, which means we all had to sing it at graduation.
The person responsible for unleashing this song on the masses is none other than "Smitty", also known as Michael Whitaker Smith (Michael W. Smith). It first appeared on his debut release, The Michael W. Smith Project (1983). It's amazing what kind of damage a song can do after almost 30 years.
All joking aside, it is rare that a new artist gets a hit single on their debut. Even rarer still that the hit is still considered memorable three decades later, much less the artist who wrote the song. Both things apply to Smitty.
24 Albums (so far, as of 2011)
3 Time Grammy Award Winner, 13 Overall Grammy Nominations
31 Number One Songs
1 Multi-Platinum Album
6 Platinum Albums
16 Gold Albums
Over 17 Million Albums Sold
36 Time Dove Award Winner
It's that last fact that gets music critics like me riled up from time to time. The Doves tend to have a "he recorded an album? let's give it to Smitty" attitude, and probably during at least one stretch of time somebody more deserving got the shaft. Maybe not, but the odds are in my favor. With that 17 Million Sold (Why do I feel like a McDonald's Sign?) it's hard to blame them too harshly. That 1 multi-platinum album puts him on par with Evanescence (actually since Fallen is over 7x Platinum on its own, perhaps they put a dent in the entire platinum stash). Here's friends. Warning, have Kleenex handy.
Are your eyes dry enough to read? Good, let's proceed. While Friends may be the #1 Recorded CCM Song of All Time as voted by CCM Magazine, but he was hardly a one hit wonder. 1990 brought Go West Young Man and "Place in this world". It rose to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.Smitty Struck again just two short years later with I will be Here for You from Change Your WorldIn 1999 the Columbine tragedy struck. One of the students killed in the Massacre was Cassie Bernall. She was killed especially for her faith in Christ. This is This is Your Time, written in her memory. I remember when it was performed at the Inside Out Soul Festival a few years later. It's a very moving song. Personally, it's a lot better than friends.
Though Michael went astray, musically speaking, in my opinion as he chased the pop market, he recently returned to his orchestral roots back in 2010 with Wonder. Recently, (actually 2011), he went instrumental with Glory. Smitty and Keaggy, both of them really know how to do instrumental albums. They could make it famous without uttering a word.
That concludes this edition of Flashback Friday. Next Friday we will have a bit of Choir Music for you. Calm yourself, it's not what you think. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
This has got to be the most oxymoronic title I have ever put on a post, since Modern Worship is supposed to be the answer to the Church Malady known as being "stiff" (aka Frozen Chosen) but I couldn't resist.
Modern Worship had a very good showing this quarter, with almost two dozen possible entries. Of course such a large pool means a lot of work next spring, but I would rather that than have to count the number of entrants on one hand (Do You Hear Me Children's Music?). Just as an aside, I am typing this post while listening to TFK's The End is the Beginning. I can see a very good recommendation coming for this release. It drops next Tuesday. Let's get on to the list.
Modern Worship
All Sons and Daughters - Season One
Jon Bauer - Forevermore
Bethel Music - The Loft Sessions
Andy Cherry - Nothing Left To Fear
Cornerstone Church Worship - The Heart Revolution
Gateway Next - Look Up
Aaron Gillespie - Echo Your Song (Live)
Kari Jobe - Where I Found You
One Sonic Society - Forever Reign
Parachute Band - Matins : Vespers
Passion 2012 - White Flag
Rend Collective Experiment - Homemade Worship by Handmade People
Sanctuary - Reveal
Michael W. Smith - Decades of Worship
Starfield - The Kingdom
Various Artists - Awaken My Soul: Songs of Redemption
Various Artists - Maranatha Music: How Great is our God
Various Artists - Mission Worship: Come People of the Risen King
Various Artists - Worship Together: 25 Favorite Worship Songs
Vineyard Music - I Love Your Presence: Live From Phoenix
Worship Central - Spirit Break Out
Worth Dying For - Live Riot
Whew! That was a lot. Like I said previously, too many is better than none. I will continue to dribble these out throughout the week. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
No, that's not the name of a new Monster Movie. Due to the slow first quarter, I have combined a few categories, in this case Folk, Inspirational and Hip Hop. Of course there is always a slow first quarter. Most of the releases in October, November and December are Christmas releases.
There were no entries in Children's Music this quarter. I am sure things will pick up as the year goes on. The Category has grown each year.
The Folk and Inspirational Genres each contributed one entry this time around. JJ Heller came out with Deeper, and I gave the album a near perfect 4.75 Emeralds. Out of the gate it will be the one to beat.
Inspirational is Michael W. Smith's genre to own this time around. Glory an instrumental album of epic proportions. When the album came out my reviewgave it a split rating of both 4.75 Emeralds AND 3.75 Emeralds. My rationale for the split rating is expectations. Michael is one of those CCM artists that fans expect certain things from. Most fans expect "Friends" like songs, and certain fans expect synth-pop (he almost could be considered the originator of the genre). Not many people expect John Tesh style symphonic genius. But here it is. For those who were expecting the pop, I gave the secondary rating.
Hip Hop had three entries this quarter. Shai Linne had The Attributes of God get 4.25 Emeralds, and newcomer (at least to me) Rel Paul had his Spoiler Alert also garner 4.25 Emeralds. There was also the latest entry in the Compilation Series Holy Hip Hop, Volume 11.
That gets the First Quarter underway. There will be much more to follow. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
P.S. - To keep things interesting I keep trying to find ways to rename the seasons each year. Since most Americans idea of Siberia is extremely cold, I think a Siberian Summer would be an Autumn for most.
Various - Maranatha Music: Heart of Worship, Vol 2 3.75 Emeralds
Various - Christian Workout Playlist, Slow Paced 3.75 Emeralds
Various - Christian Workout Playlist, Medium Paced 3.75 Emeralds
A few comments. Susan Boyle hit the music world by storm and has consistently produced good music. But, as is usually the case, even Consistent doesn't have to be spectacular, and this one didn't wow me. Two Albums did wow me this time around the one
Perfect Platinum
William McDowell - Arise 5 Emeralds
Wolves at the Gate - We are the Ones 5 Emeralds
And of course there are a lot of albums that were eligible for the Platinum Vinyl Award nominating process but weren't perfect.
Semi-Precious Metals
As I Lay Dying - Decas 4.25 Emeralds
Caleb - To The Ends of the World 4.25 Emeralds
Eleventyseven - Sugarfist 4.5 Emeralds
Gateway Worship - Great Great God EP 4.25 Emeralds
Sarah Hart - This Winter's Eve 4.5 Emeralds
In the Midst of Lions - Shadows 4.25 Emeralds
Shai Linne - The Attributes of God 4.25 Emeralds
John Mark McMillan - Economy 4 Emeralds
Leigh Nash - Hymns and Sacred Songs 4.5 Emeralds
Rel Paul - Spoiler Alert 4.25 Emeralds
A Plea for Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea for Purging 4.25 Emeralds
Various - Christian Workout Playlist, Fast Paced 4.25 Emeralds
Various - Gospel's Best Praise 4.5 Emeralds
Various - Holy Hip Hop, Vol 12 4.25 Emeralds
Victory World Music - Shake Heaven 4.25 Emeralds
Wavorly - The EP 4.25 Emeralds
The Wrecking - My Window to Heaven 4 Emeralds
That will do it for this time around. Night Beat Rewind will return in February of 2012 with a wrapup of all the January releases. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
I Love Instrumental Music. I Hate Instrumental Music. Really, it's one of those dilemma's that St. Paul Had. In Philippians Look it Up (Philippians 1:21-25). Maybe I exaggerate slightly. The reason I have this love/hate relationship with instrumental music is that most of it is so darn relaxing that one is likely toooo Oh sorry, I must have dozed off there. Let's just say don't play this on a long nighttime drive. If you're home and want to chill, this is perfect.
Instrumental music, when it is done right, can be very mood affective. Otherwise it's just background noise.
I once did a presentation in College (a long time ago, we used slides) and used Phil Keaggy's The Wind and The Wheat as my soundtrack. I just let it play. If you've never heard the album, download it, get the CD. It is a must have for any music lover.
Michael W. Smith is like that. When he first appeared on the scene in the '80's he was known already for his Synthesizer/Keyboard skills. The Whole Pop Star thing came later. When Wonder came out last year I was elated. Not because I am a huge Smitty fan. I'm not. I only have Project and Project 2 on vinyl. I was elated because this was the Smitty I liked, the Composer in all his Teshian goodness. Most of the tracks were worthy of a soundtrack.
Glory is fifty minutes worthy of an Epic Movie like The Lord of The Rings Trilogy or The Ten Commandments. It's like a Christmas full of Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra and not a Grandma Got Run over in sight.
This review is a bit light, but in one sense so is an instrumental album. It's hard to say "So and so can't sing worth beans on this album when they're not singing. So let's do it this way. If you're at home and you want to Crank up the stereo and relax with symphonic excellence, well this album is 4.75 Emeralds of greatness. If you want Smitty Pop, it's only worth about 3.75 Emeralds.
That should do it for this post. So far it was my toughest to write. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
, and the original cover featuring four long haired angels casting the devil into Hell caused quite a stir among the CCM Industry at large and was replaced by a black triangle logo with the name underneath. Most notable, at least for me, was that the ballad Honestly actually supplanted Friends by Michael W. Smith. Plus the album went platinum. Rare for a Christian Album at any time. In the 80's, and to a heavy metal band.
, the third original album from the reunited band, is the sequel to THWTD in more ways than one. First, counting The Yellow and Black Attack EP, it is the 
