#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.
