Night Beat Rewind: January 2019 - The Singles Scene

2020 is underway, and one month is in the bag. Time for our Singles Scene Rewind.

Missing The Mark

• Jon Keith - Way Up 4.25 Emeralds

The gift giving is here as well. Only one Missing The Mark as well.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Cory Asbury - Reckless Love (ft Tori Kelly) 5 Emeralds
• Cory Asbury - The Father's House (Studio Version) 5 Emeralds
• Christabelle Braden - Diffeerent Kind of Warrior 5 Emeralds
• Ty Brasel - The Power ft KB 5 Emeralds
• Caleb and Kelsey - Way Maker 5 Emeralds
• Landry Cantrell - Weightless 5 Emeralds
• Celldweller - Into The Void (SWARM Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Celldweller - Into The Void (SWARM Remix Instrumentals) 5 Emeralds
• Jimi Cravity - Still 5 Emeralds
• CRC Music - Made Whole 5 Emeralds
• Dens - Even 5 Emeralds
• Daniel Doss - This Is The Kingdom 5 Emeralds
• FreeG - Falling (ft Ceavora & Simon Miles) 5 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Give Me your Peace (ft Zach Rowe) 5 Emeralds
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - The Power of The Cross (ft Pedro Eustace & Jackie Hill Perry) 5 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Blackbird 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Missing Peace 5 Emeralds
• Here Be Lions - I Speak Jesus (ft Darlene Zschech) 5 Emeralds
• Jordan and Jessa - I Cannot Outrun Your Grace 5 Emeralds
• Kolby Koloff - Finding My Way Back 5 Emeralds
• Mandisa - Way Maker 5 Emeralds
• Mass Anthem - Need Your Love (Michael Schawel Remix) 5 Emeralds
• William McDowell - Only You Can Satisfy ft Chris Lawson (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Nashville Life Music - Reconciler 5 Emeralds
• Rachael Nemiroff - Draw Me Near 5 Emeralds
• Natasha Owens - Warrior (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Dave Pettigrew - Do It Again 5 Emeralds
• Dave Pettigrew - I Am Ready Now 5 Emeralds
• Dave Pettigrew - O Come To The Altar 5 Emeralds
• Zachary Ray - Let go 5 Emeralds
• Reach City Music - I Stand Amazed 5 Emeralds
• Seth and Nirva - Be Still 5 Emeralds
• RED - Sever 5 Emeralds
• RE: Hope Belfast - Nothing Like Your Presence 5 Emeralds
• Rend Collective - Sing It From The Shackles 5 Emeralds
• Angie rose - Infatuation 5 Emeralds
• L. Spenser Smith - The Cross Alone 5 Emeralds
• Social Beingz - No Worries ft John Givez 5 Emeralds
• Grace Spencer - Words (Remix) 5 Emeralds
• 3 Force - Abyss (ft Scandroid) 5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - 21 Years 5 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Apart of Me ft Eris Ford 5 Emeralds
• 29:11 Worship - For Everyone 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - Grace Upon Grace 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - Malking Miracles 5 Emeralds

45 Perfect Singles. You know the song awards are going to come from here. Finally the songs in the middle of the pack.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Alicia and Whitney - All For Nothing 4.75 Emeralds
• Cory Asbury - The Father's House (Acoustic) 4.75 Emeralds
• Building 429 - Don't You (Forget About Me) (Simple Minds Cover) 4.75 Emeralds
• Canyon Hills Worship - Jesus My Treasure 4.75 Emeralds
• Cody Carnes - Christ Be Magnified 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Mad 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - My Year 4.75 Emeralds
• CRC Music - All For You 4.75 Emeralds
• CRC Music - For The Fame 4.75 Emeralds
• Dee -1 - Really Feel This 4.50 Emeralds
• Colton Dixon - Miracles 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Rhythm - Better With You 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Youth - Trust in You (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Grace - Dream Big 4.75 Emeralds
• Jason Gray - New Song ft Blanca 4.75 Emeralds
• inTellect - All Day 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Johnson - The Way That You Love Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Greg LaFollette - Blessed Be The Name 4.75 Emeralds
• Mali Music - Let Go 4.75 Emeralds
• Andrew Marcus - Take All of Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Joshua Micah - Moving Through Me 4.75 Emeralds
• 116 - Live Forever (ft 1k phew, Aaron Cole, Hulvey, Tedashii, Tommy Royale, Trip Lee and Wande) 4.75 Emeralds
• Passion - King of Glory (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Psalm - Pig With A Pearl (ft Young Noah) 4.50 Emeralds
• Jon Reddick - Glory and majesty 4.50 Emeralds
• Chris Renzema - Springtime 4.75 Emeralds
• Rezurrection - Preach It Right 4.75 Emeralds
• Rush of Fools - Build My Life 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Sligh - Don't Waste 4.75 Emeralds
• Southville - Changing Seasons 4.75 Emeralds
• JSteph - Dear Depression (ft Dawson Samuel)(prod Moflo Music) 4.50 Emeralds
• John Tibbs - One Good Try 4.75 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - When I'm Gone 4.75 Emeralds
• The Union Chattanooga - Forever Amen ft Drakeford 4.75 Emeralds
• Tauren Wells - Famous For (I Believe) ft Jenn Johnson 4.75 Emeralds
• Tauren Wells - Famous For (I Believe) ft Christine D'Clario (Spanish/English Version) 4.75 Emeralds
• Ian Yates - Loved By You 4.75 Emeralds
• Zauntee - Center Stage 4.75 Emeralds

What a month. 2020 is under way. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: April 2017

We are slowly climbing out of the hole we found ourselves in at the beginning of this year. As the saying goes, the first thing to do is to stop digging. I think we can say that we did that. After this we still have the Second Quarter Wrap to do, and Keep Up With the May Releases, and continue with the Nominations for #PlatVnyl7. You see what I mean? We begin our April wrap with the songs, and were there a boatload.

The Singles Scene

• Deraj - Way Up 3.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Grace - The Happy Song 4.75 Emeralds
• I Am They - Crown Him 4.75 Emeralds
• J-Heir - Reloaded 5 Emeralds
• Gospel Lee - Reset 4.50 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - Change The World Remixes feat Hollyn 4.75 Emeralds
• Branan Murphy - All The Wrong Things (feat Koryn Hawthorne) 4.75 Emeralds
• Natasha Owens - I am Loved 5 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Nowhere 4.75 Emeralds
• Kristina Schell - Pharisee 4.75 Emeralds
• Third Day - Revival 4.75 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Granny's Couch 3.75 Emeralds
• Transform DJ's - Never Alone 4.50 Emeralds 

Count them. That is 13 official singles (some are "EPs" with several versions of the same song, so the actual number is higher). It is enough for a Deluxe album, which is a nice segue  for our next group, albums which did not make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• BRVNDONP and Mission - Barely Finished 3.50 Emeralds
• Mike Clements - The Layover 43.50 Emeralds
• Lawren - As You Pass, Go EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Light The Way - Dude, Lame 3.75 Emeralds
• Leslie McKee - Another Mile 3.75 Emeralds
• Mogli The Iceburg - Tumultu 3.50 Emeralds  
• Nothing Left - Destroy and Rebuild EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Angie Rose - Sippin Coffee In The Bakery 3.50 Emeralds 
• RVN Band - Dancing Season 3.25 Emeralds
• Spence 4hire - Make Noise EP 3.50 Emeralds
• Oscar Urbina - MP2: Darkness 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - The Case For Christ (Songs Inspired By The Original Motion Picture) 3.75 Emeralds   

A full dozen in the rejected category. Of course when I say rejected, I mean from awards consideration. Most of the albums in this group are OK, just not great. On to the great, and that is an understatement this month.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Bethel Music - Starlight 5 Emeralds
• Stu G and Friends - Beatitudes 5 Emeralds
• Matty Mullins - Unstoppable 5 Emeralds
• Kim Walker-Smith - On My Side 5 Emeralds
• Various - Christian Dance Music Vol. 1 (Mixed by FreeG and Emasound) 5 Emeralds

An over 2-1 margin rejected/perfect is a great sign. One note, it takes more than saying "I want to dance" over and over again to make a dance album. RVN band could take a few lessons from FreeG and company. Stu G (Stuart David Garrard) is the former Guitarist for British Supergroup Delirious? Now on his own, he has assembled an excellent group of Friends (Audrey Assad, Amy Grant, All Sons and Daughters, and former bandmate Martin Smith). It is a must have album. Now, finally, to the albums which fall in between.    

Semi-Precious Metals

• Lauren Alexandria - Victorious In Love EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Anthem Lights - Hymns 4.50 Emeralds
• Citylovemusic - Citylovemusic EP 4.75 Emeralds
• The Classic Crime - How To Be Human 4.75 Emeralds
• Covenant Worship - Sand and Stars 4.50 Emeralds
• DJ Kirk - DJ Kirk 4.75 Emeralds
• Freedom Worship - The Veil 4.50 Emeralds
• Har Megiddo - Pressure 4.75 Emeralds
• North Central University Worship Live - Always Remain 4.50 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Nothing Ordinary EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremi and Amy Richardson - Wind And Water 4.75 Emeralds
• South of Royal - Deliverance and Doubt EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Garett Serban - Anthem EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Shane and Shane - The Worship Initiative, Volume 12 4.50 Emeralds

That is it. April is in the bag. Yahoo. Considering I had to re-rate the entire month after I lost my initial notes getting things done and posted within the first half of May is a minor miracle. I'll take it. No time to sit back and celebrate. There is still a lot of work to be done. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6 The Nominations Begin: Video by a Female Artist

We are quickly wrapping up the nominee announcements for our Video of The Year segment of #PlatVnyl6. We are moving on to Video by a Female Artist. It's just a bookkeeping thing you know, just like FFR. The nominees are: Dance Up by +Abigail Duhon ; Exhale by Plumb ; Neosho by +Jennifer Knapp ; The Well by +JJHellermusic ; and We Will Rise by Natasha Owens.

Our Playlist of the nominated videos:

Video by a New Artist is Next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6 The Nominations Begin: Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Video of The Year

#PlatVnyl6 is now underway as the Nomination Announcements begin. The Road to the Finals starts here. We start, as always, with the Video of The Year Awards. Our second group of nominees is Adult Contemporary/Inspirational Video of The Year. The Nominees are: Be Like You by +Finding Favour ; The Joy by +theneverclaimVEVO  My Story by +Big Daddy Weave ; We Are One by +thecityharmonic ; and We Will Rise by Natasha Owens.

Here is the Playlist of the nominated videos.

Our next announcement will be for Modern Worship Video of The Year. Until next time I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Adult Contemporary

I usually make fun of Adult Contemporary. I like to call it Air Conditioning Music. You know, it keeps you comfortable. Well the air conditioner is blowing pretty well, despite it now being November. Just Joking. These were the releases for the Summer Months, so AC is just fine then.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• The City Harmonic - We Are
• Noah Cleveland - Church With No Walls
• Colton Dixon - Calm EP
• Julie Elias - Unbroken
• Laura Kaczor - Restore Me
• Cheri Keaggy - No Longer My Own
• The Neverclaim - The Joy  
• Natasha Owens - No One But You
• For A Season - I Will Wait
• Amber Nelon Thompson - Just Sing
• Big Daddy Weave - Beautiful Offerings

The City Harmonic roared back on top this quarter with a Perfect Entry. I was beginning to worry about them. The big surprise of the quarter, however, came from Amber Nelon Thompson. With Southern Gospel history I was expecting a test to my gag reflexes. Good thing the youth generation decides to rebel. It leaves hope for the music world. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: August 2015

Eleven down, one to go. Once September is done we can put the cover on the #PlatVnyl6 pool and open the #PlatVnyl7 pool for entries. 7 Years. God Is Good. There was one song released in August, and that was the Title Track for Stryper's upcoming album Fallen. It wasn't as good as Yahweh, but you would be very rarely have two perfect songs, even on a perfect album. I give it 4.75 Emeralds.

We begin our album coverage with those releases which, while pretty good (I haven't found a real stinker in years), just aren't platinum.

Missing The Mark

• Between The Trees & Ryan Kirkland - Wanderer 3.75 Emeralds
• Rend Collective Experiment - As Family We Go 3.75 Emeralds
• Jim Sonefeld - Love EP 3.50 Emeralds
• United Pursuit Band - Simple Gospel 3.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Top 25 Hymns: The Old Rugged Cross 3.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - War Room: Music From The Original Motion Picture 3.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Watkins - Chasing After You 3.75 Emeralds

I was very disappointed by Rend Collective, they sounded so ordinary. While I don't know much about United Pursuit, I do know that Michael Ketterer teamed up with Har Megiddo, so I had my expectations. The next group not only met my expectations, they smashed through them.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• JJ Heller - Sound of a Living Heart 5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - This Is Not A Test 5 Emeralds
• P.O.D. - The Awakening 5 Emeralds
• Pillar - One Love Revolution 5 Emeralds
• Sidewalk Prophets - Something Different 5 Emeralds

All I can say to this quintet is WOW. JJ Heller burst out of her folk mold to be a certified Pop Star. Pillar reformed its original lineup and returned to the rap-core sound that I loved on Fireproof. P.O.D. likewise reached heights like a Satellite, and even Toby Mac has put out his best album in a while. I know, I didn't dote on the Sidewalk Prophets, but they were awesome as well. Now on to the ones in the middle

Semi-Precious Metal

• Brinson - Until We Meet Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Tasha Cobbs - One Place (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Disciple - The Best of 2005-2013 4.75 Emeralds
• Abigail Duhon - More Than Gold 4.50 Emeralds
• For A Season - I Will Wait 4.75 Emeralds
• Ghost Ship - Costly 4.50 Emeralds
• Geoffrey Golden - Kingdom Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Travis Greene - Intentional EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Gungor - One Wild Life: Soul 4.75 Emeralds
• Cheri Keaggy - No Longer My Own 4.75 Emeralds
• Bridgett Kern - No One Greater 4.75 Emeralds
• Nichole Nordeman - The Unmaking EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Natasha Owens - No One But You 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Rosado - Heartbeat 4.50 Emeralds
• 7eventh Time Down - #GODISONTHEMOVE 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Shust - Doxology 4.75 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - Heavy Is The Head 4.25 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Camden 4.50 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Camden (Instrmentals) 4.50 Emeralds
• John Waller - Crazy Faith 4.50 Emeralds
• WARR Acres - Future 4.75 Emeralds

I am going to forgo links once again to get this out. I think I shall go back and do the old ones. If I don't they shall never get done. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.