Wolves Unleashed: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr- Rap

Rapping up the Wrap. Not exactly, we have a long way to go. I just liked the rhyme time. Let's get this party started.

Rap/Hip Hop

• Quinten Colblentz - We EP
• Aaron Cole - Not By Chance
• G.L.O. (God's Love Only) - Reborn
• NF - The Search
• S.O. - Augustine's Legacy

That does it for the ties. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: July 2019

August is here. There are only two months remaining in #PVX. What a year it has been so far, and the year always seems to go out with a bang. We already know it will be a Victorious August. Let's get to the wrap.

The Singles Scene

• Avalon - Keeper of My Heart 5 Emeralds
• Josh Baldwin - Let The Redeemed 5 Emeralds
• Blindside - Gravedigger 5 Emeralds
• Cody Carnes - Run To The Father 5 Emeralds
• The Choir - In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins Cover) 5 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Unsigned 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Welcome But Unexpected (Marco Dassi Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Disciple - Cuff The Criminal 5 Emeralds
• Elim Sound - Send Revival ft Ian Yates 4.50 Emeralds
• Jordan Feliz - Faith (Radio Version) 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - You Want More From Me 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - King of Kings 5 Emeralds
• HOUSE (Bethel Church Worship) - Depth of Your Love 5 Emeralds
• Caitie Hurst - How Could I Be Silent (Rogue Sails Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Prafit Josiah - Come Back ft R-Swift 4.25 Emeralds
• KB - Hold Me Back (Latin) (ft Gabriel Rodriguez EMC, Eliud L'Voices, Niko Eme, Tommy Royale) 5 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Split The Sea (David Hamilton Arrangement) 5 Emeralds
• Jamie Kimmett - Love Your Neightbor 4.75 Emeralds
• Land of Color - Morning Song (Acoustic) 4.75 Emeralds
• Legin - On 4.50 Emeralds
• The Lowly Heirs - Center of It All 5 Emeralds
• Steven Malcolm - Summertime ft Jay- Way 4.75 Emeralds
• Manafest - This Is Not The End 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Dime Adios (Say Goodbye To Me) 4.50 Emeralds
• NF - Time 4.75 Emeralds
• OBB - 7 Billion (Otto Benson Remix) 5 Emeralds
• 116 - Big Wave ft Lecrae, Parris Chariz 4.50 Emeralds
• 116 - California Dreamin ft Lecrae, John Givez 4.75 Emeralds
• Out of The Dust - So Amazing 4.75 Emeralds
• Peabod - Backpack 4.50 Emeralds
• Melanie Penn - I will Trust 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetboom - Praise on Praise 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Rain Your Glory Down (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Mac Powell and The Family Reunion - Mess of Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Feel The Waters (Ruslan Remix) 5 Emeralds
• The Rocket Summer - Blankets 4.75 Emeralds
• Root Road - Dragon Drop 5 Emeralds
• V. Rose - Little Getaway 4.75 Emeralds
• V. Rose - Pretty Sad (ft Wande) 4.75 Emeralds
• Royal Company - Faithful is Your Love 5 Emeralds
• Sanctus Real - Jesus Loves You 5 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - Lioness 5 Emeralds
• Skillet - You Ain't Ready 5 Emeralds
• DJ Steph - Dear Regret (ft Moflo Music) 4.75 Emeralds
• Tedashii - Activate ft Steven Malcolm 4.75 Emeralds
• David Vaters - Red Sea 5 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - God of Our Mothers and Fathers 4.50 Emeralds
• War of Ages - Miles Apart 5 Emeralds
• War of Ages - Wrath 5 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - Your Voice 4.75 Emeralds
• We Are Messengers - Power 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - The God Who Stays 5 Emeralds
• White Collar Sideshow - I Didn't Come Here To Die 5 Emeralds
• Wolves At The Gate - Counterfeit 5 Emeralds

54 Songs this month. The Song Awards will be stacked. On to the albums, and we begin with those that don't make the cut

Missing The Mark

• P Lo Jetson - Jetson Juice EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Dusty Marshall - American Holocaust 4.25 Emeralds

Remember, these aren't bad albums. (Don't worry, I'll let you know when there is one). These just aren't award worthy. Our next list is, however.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• G.L.O.(God's Love Only) - Reborn 5 Emeralds
• NF - The Search 5 Emeralds
• Reflect Love Back (ft Lacey Sturm) - Soundtrack, Volume 1
• Oh Sleeper - Bloodied/Unbowed 5 Emeralds
• Scott Stapp - The Space Between The Shadows 5 Emeralds
• Wolves At The Gate - Eclipse 5 Emeralds

Of course most are between the two extremes.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Meredith Andrews - Faith and Wonder (Alternate Versions EP) 4.75 Emeralds
• Apologetix - Sandwich Platter 4.75 Emeralds
• Kurt Carr - Bless Someone Else 4.50 Emeralds
• Quinten Coblentz - We EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Foldinglights - Subterranean Hum 4.50 Emeralds
• JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise - Miracle Worker (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Housefires - Housefires V (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Influencers Music - Rebels 4.75 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Listen More EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Local Sound - Sunday School EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Catherine Mullins - Sing Like The Battle Is Over 4.50 Emeralds
• New Wine Worship - This Is Love (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Mac Powell and The Family Reunion - Back Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (Be Still) Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Allan Scott - The Story 4.75 Emeralds
• Silversyde - In The Dark 4.75 Emeralds
• Greg Sykes - No Greater Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Trinity - The In Between 4.75 Emeralds
• John Van Deusen - (I Am) Origami pt 3: A Catacomb Hymn 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for July. August is already cooking. Until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Lost Love Songs: A Coupleary Celebration

Well it is that time of year again. Coupleary. It is the 13th Month of The Year and spans from (Officially) January 15-February 14, but unofficially it lasts from December 26 (I checked, the stores had everything out on the shelves) until February 17. As a single guy, I usually do my best to ignore all the mushy ads. Valentines Day is one of the "holidays" that I opt-out of. I figure I save at least $500 every year. 

One of those things I try to avoid is love songs, at least the typical "I'd never trade a thing, you are so wonderful to me" songs. Written by someone who has the girl. Those of us who look at the situation and decide to try our luck at Foxwoods tend to like the other kind of "love song". The song where the girl says no or otherwise leaves. I call this playlist lost love songs, after "tis better to have loved and lost..." It is a work in progress and I will keep adding to it as I find them. For now, this is the list.

• Emery, The Ponytail Parades: "It scares me to think that you could find takers other than me, better than me." "Don't say that we can still be friends." With two cuts here, they are the king of the break up song.
• Emery, Can't Stop The Killer: One of the most disturbing songs in Christian Music. The chronicle of a Broken Marriage ending in Murder. You have to hear it to believe it.
• Color Theory, I Should Have Kissed You: "I told myself when you leaned in closer, this is my big chance but now it is over, and now I miss you. I should have kissed you." Honesty like this gets you the co-regency.
• Color Theory, A Safe Distance: "I will always love you, From a safe distance" Enough Said.
• Skillet, Say Goodbye: "Don't say anything tonight, if you're gonna say goodbye"
• NF, I Just Wanna Know: "I just wanna know, when did you get so cold, what happened to your soul."
• Sumerlin, Breaking Out: "It's my fault I gave my heart away with the key, I thought that she would be the one to stay here."
• The Ember Days, Darling: On first spin I felt it was about a spouse dying, I later discovered that it was about the death of a child. It works either way. "What shall be my hope without without my love without my love. Will I find heaven to be my only relief." I can not hear this song without tearing up. A short vocal song with a long instrumental end.
• The Quiet Science, The Things That Cannot Be: "If Only Every Word You Said Could be Removed From Me so that I didn't know you at all. If Only Every Line of your face didn't burn so deep into my memory the things that cannot be."

Despite the list I am not depressed, only realistic. The sayings end "than not to have loved at all" is true. You can't break up if you weren't together at one point. Get your tissues and give it a listen. Meanwhile I'll be practicing my poker skills. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
 

Falling Rocks: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Rap

The Penultimate post is upon us. Rap Music (along with its sister genre Hip Hop), had a dozen entries this quarter, but still fell just short of winning it all. Let's get it all.

Rap/Hip Hop

• B-L'atitude - Elevated Love
• Benjah - Guidance
• The Knu Black(fka Out of The Blue) - Ohana
• Beautiful Eulogy - Worthy 
• GAWVI - 954 EP
• KB - Today We Rebel
• Kevi - Barnabas
• Byron Juane - Life in the Evening EP 
• NF - Perceptions
• Nerva - One Way 
• Parxx - Unchained
• Young Saint - Transition (Live)

You know which genre comes next. Modern Worship is again the big winner. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: October 2017

#PlatVnyl9 has begun, and looking at the entries which crossed our desk this month, this will be the biggest yet. We seem to say that every year, and that means we're growing. 

Before we get to the music, a few announcements. First up, the Missing The Mark section has grown. Beginning with this year the minimum bar to reach the pool will be 4.50 Emeralds instead of 4. This is mostly an accounting matter, since no 4.50 rated album has won a Platinum Vinyl Award in its history.

Second, #PlatVnyl7 is just about ready to be unwrapped. I am leaning toward dribbling out the results over several days, in order to avoid the ire of Facebook. Hopefully the slow revelation will not turn my fans away. On to the start of #PlatVnyl9

The Singles Scene

• Anthem Lights - Just Be You (ft Sadie Robertson) 4.75 Emeralds
• Dee Black - Good Day ft Eshon Burgundy 4.50 Emeralds 
• Antoine (fka ABIV) Bradford - Safe 4.50 Emeralds 
• Capital Kings - Rip It Up (ft Aaron Cole) 4.50 Emeralds
• Datin ft Bizzle - Words You Don't Say 3.50 Emeralds
• Jordan Feliz - Witness 5 Emeralds
• Trip Lee - Forever 4.75 Emeralds 
• Levi the Poet - Sanctuary Cities 2,50 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - This Morning ft Anesha Birchett 4.75 Emeralds
• Nerva - Mind, Body, Soul 4.50 Emeralds
• PoetiCS - On My Grind 2.75 Emeralds
• S.O. - All Day ft JSon and Mission 4.75 Emeralds
• Ryan Stevenson - Lift You Up 4.75 Emeralds

A very good scene with 13 (very Halloweenish) entries. Of course there are some Tricks in this list. Spoken Word may be the next to get banned from the Night Beat. It is the most incomprehensible stuff I have ever heard. Poetry it is not. On to the albums, and we begin with Christmas Releases (I know, but we can't fight it). They are not eligible for the awards.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Meredith Andrews - Receive Our King 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Cain - Unsung Noel 5 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - It's Finally Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - The Peace Project 4.50 Emeralds
• Shelly E. Johnson - Christmas Is Beautiful 4.75 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Emmanuel 4.50 Emeralds 
• For KING and COUNTRY - A For KING and COUNTRY Christmas: Live In Phoenix 5 Emeralds 
• Chris Tomlin - Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship (Deluxe/Live)  4.50 Emeralds
• Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Christmas EP 5 Emeralds    
• Various - The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 5 Emeralds 

A good start to the Christmas Music Scene. I may make an exception to the non-eligible rule for The Star, since it also qualifies as a Compilation. It is an under-represented genre as such, so any help helps. On to the non seasonal releases, and we begin with the Miss The Marks, those that do not make the pool. 

Missing The Mark

• Davis Absolute - Eden EP 3.50 Emeralds
• Deepspace 5 - 5:55 3.75 Emeralds
• Horizon Music - Victory 4.25 Emeralds
• The Ongoing Concept - Places 3.75 Emeralds
• The Porters Gate - Work Songs 4 Emeralds
• Serge - Rookie Season EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Sivion - Dark Side of the Cocoon 3.50 Emeralds 
• K Sparks - Urban Couture 3.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - The Hurricane Relief Compilation: 40 Days 3.25 Emeralds
• Various Artists - The Hurricane Relief Compilation: 40 Nights 3.25 Emeralds 
• Big Yae - We Gone Shine (Deluxe) 3.75 Emeralds 

Almost a dozen missing the mark. That is a good way to start off the new year. Trust me. The more rejected the easier it is for the cream to rise to the top. And now, The Cream.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Julie Elias - A Girl Like Me 5 Emeralds
• Beautiful Eulogy - Worthy 5 Emeralds
• Brandon Heath - Faith, Hope, Love, Repeat 5 Emeralds
• Light City Music - In Rivers 5 Emeralds
• Matt and Toby - I Quit Church 5 Emeralds
• Red - Gone 5 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - In Prayer EP 5 Emeralds
• Tye Tribbett - The Bloody Win (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Various - The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 5 Emeralds
• Within Silence - Return From The Shadows 5 Emeralds
• Young Oceans - Suddenly (or The Nuclear Sunburst of The Truth Revealed) 5 Emeralds

11 Perfect albums, from 7 different genres. It's good to spread it around. Now to those in the middle of the pack.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Adam Agee - Paper Planes EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Anthem Lights - Painted Skies 4.75 Emeralds
• Ashes Remain - Let The Light In 4.75 Emeralds
• August Burns Red - Phantom Anthem 4.75 Emeralds
• The Knu Black (fka Out of the Blue) - Ohana 4.50 Emeralds
• B-L'attitude - Elevated Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - The Answer 4.75 Emeralds
• Carrollton - Everything or Nothing 4.75 Emeralds  
• Cherry Hills Worship - Cherry Hills Worship 4.75 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Ghost of a King Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Higher Vision - For Your Kingdom 4.50 Emeralds
• ICF Worship - The Journey: A Collection 4.50 Emeralds
• Carmen Justice - Against The Odds EP 4.75 Emeralds
• KB - Today We Rebel 4.75 Emeralds
• Tomi Malm - Walking On Air 4.75 Emeralds
• New Morrow - Ride On 4.50 Emeralds
• Mychildren Mybride - Vicious World 4.75 Emeralds 
• NF - Perceptions 4.75 Emeralds
• Parxx - Uncharted 4.75 Emeralds
• Pursue Worship - Let It Rise (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• J Reynolds - Fire and The Flood 4.75 Emeralds
• Scandroid - Monochrome 4.75 Emeralds
• Southville - Freedom's Tree 4.75 Emeralds
• Substance I.O. - Input Output 4.50 Emeralds
• John Tibbs - Heartland 4.75 Emeralds
• Micah Tyler - Different 4.75 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - Wear The Crown: Anchour Studio Sessions EP 4.75 Emeralds 
• The Welcome Wagon - Light Up The Stairs 4.75 Emeralds
• C West - Hide and Seek 4.50 Emeralds

Over two dozen in the middle. Where most should be. Looks like the start of a very big year. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.