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: The Singles Scene - October 2019

Now that #PVX is over and ten years are in the books here at Night Beat HQ, it is time to shake things up once again. The explosion of Singles released in a typical month has necessitated that we split off the Singles Scene into its own rewind, with its own Christmas (Seasonal), Missing The Mark, Pure Platinum and Semi Precious Metal categories. It's the only way to bring it under control.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Conrad - Holy (Christmas Version) 4.75 Emeralds
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - Eleizabeth (ft Ellie Holcolmb) 5 Emeralds
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard - O Holy Night 4.75 Emeralds
• Natasha Owens - A Christmas Twist 4.75 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - O Holy Night 5 Emeralds

Not much on the Christmas Song front for Singles Yet. That should pick up in November and December. On to the Regular Songs. We begin, like the albums, to the songs that do not make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• David Dunn - Yes and No 3.50 Emeralds
• Prafit Josiah - If You Want It 4.25 Emeralds
• 1k Phew - Kung Fu (ft Whatuprg and Ty Brasel) 4.25 Emeralds
• Chris Renzema - Jacob 4.25 Emeralds
• West of Here - Robot 4.25 Emeralds

Again, I expect the numbers to go up on this as well once we get this sorted out

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Brad and Rebekah - Rejoice 5 Emeralds
• Cape Lions - 2 much 5 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Broken Together (New York Sessions) 5 Emeralds
• The Choir - In The Air Tonight (New Version)  5 Emeralds
• The Choir - Kathie's Garden 5 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Shatterproof 5 Emeralds
• Covenant Worship - Thank You 5 Emeralds
• Covenant Worship - With Every Step 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Rhythm - Reality 5 Emeralds
• Jason Fowler - Healer 5 Emeralds
• Goshen Sai - Signs and Wonders 5 Emeralds
• Elizabeth Grace - Like Myself 5 Emeralds
• FreeG and Simon Miles - Keep Moving (ft Jack Dylan) 5 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Diamonds and Gold (Laudr8 Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Hammock - Afraid To Forget 5 Emeralds
• Hammock - In the Shattering of Things 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Even Here 5 Emeralds
• Icon For Hire - Hollow 5 Emeralds
• Kalley - Alabaster Heart (ft Bethel Music) (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Spencer Kane - Closer 5 Emeralds
• Tasha Layton - Safe Here 5 Emeralds
• Brooke Nicholls - The Darkness Doesn't Scare Me 5 Emeralds
• MDSN - Who We Are 5 Emeralds
• Man of Faith - Blood In The Air 5 Emeralds
• Stephen McWhirter - Grave Clothes 5 Emeralds
• Mercy Me - Almost Home 5 Emeralds
• Mission House - I don't have much 5 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Don't Let Me Die In Dallas 5 Emeralds
• Nashville Life Music - Sing a Song Part 2 (ft Arron Cole) 5 Emeralds
• Ginny Owens - Magnified (Acoustic) 5 Emeralds
• Seth and Nirva Ready - Light Up The Sky 5 Emeralds
• RED - Hemorrhage (Fuel Cover) 5 Emeralds
• Jon Reddick - God, Turn it around 5 Emeralds
• Matt Redman - The Same Jesus 5 Emeralds
• Sara Reeves - Anxious 5 Emeralds
• Rend Collective - Revival Anthem 5 Emeralds
• Royal Company - Jesus It's You 5 Emeralds
• Scandroid - the Writing's On The Wall 5 Emeralds
• Skillet - Anchor (Re-Imagined) 5 Emeralds
• Ryan Stevenson - When We Fall Apart 5 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - This is Not The End (ft V.Rose) 5 Emeralds
• Micah Tyler - Amen 5 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - All The Ways 5 Emeralds
• Tauren Wells - Close 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metal

• All Things New - Goodness of God 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonathan Cain - Wonder of Wonders ft Michael Tait 4.75 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Loving My Jesus (New York Sessions) 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - Rescue (Chill Mix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Dee-1 - People Don't Want That Real ft Starlito (Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Equippers Revolution - Future 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Burn The Ships (R3HAB Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Gui and Elaine - Hallelujah (Hail The King) 4.75 Emeralds
• Tori Harper - Enough 4.75 Emeralds
• Jesus Loves Electro - Come Alive ft LinD 4.75 Emeralds
• Kalley - Oasis 4.75 Emeralds
• Spencer Kane - Senorita ft Brooke De Leary (Shawn Mendes Cover) 4.75 Emeralds
• Legin - Problematic 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - Dope (ft Propaganda and John Givez) 4.75 Emeralds
• Rachael Nemiroff - Steady 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Renzema - HTBY (How To Be Yours) 4.50 Emeralds
• Slick Shoes - Feeble 4.75 Emeralds
• Social Beingz - Good Music (ft Ruslan) 4.75 Emeralds
• JSteph - Direction (ft Moflo Music) 4.75 Emeralds
• Mark Tedder - Like Mercy 4.75 Emeralds
• John Tibbs - Details 4.75 Emeralds
• Chase Tremaine - Matter 4.75 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - Eyes On U (ft Ryan Ellis) 4.75 Emeralds
• Matthew West - Truth Be Told 4.50 Emeralds
• The Young Escape - So Alive 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for the first Singles Scene Only Edition of Rewind. The Album List will be forthcoming. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

Time to rock out. Rock Music is the second part of our second tie in this final quarter wrap. 10 entries. Let's get to it.

Rock Music

• Apologetix - Sandwich Platter
• The Birdsongs - The Journey: Part Two - The War
• Jeremy Camp - The Story's Not Over
• Disciple - Love Letter Kill Shot
• Mac Powell and The Family Reunion - Back Again
• Random Hero - Tension
• Red - Innocence and Instinct 10 yr Anniversary Deluxe Edition
• Silversyde - In The Dark
• Skillet - Victorious
• Scott Stapp - The Space Between The Shadows

Another Loaded Quarter. Some genre's like to keep the judges on their toes. Gospel Music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

We turn up the volume on the 1st Quarter of 2018 for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Hard Rock and Heavy Metal had a very good. Nine entries in this quarter is a good start.

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• August Burns Red - Phantom Anthem
• My Children, My Bride - Vicious World
• For All Eternity - The Will To Rebuild
• Your Memorial - Your Memorial
• Phinehas - Dark Flag
• Project 86 - Sheep Among Wolves
• Red - Gone 
• Sweet and Lynch - Unified
• War of Ages - Alpha

Only two more to go. Rap is next (so you already know the winner of the quarter). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Gone

We are beginning to get back to normal here at Night Beat HQ. One of the major parts in the return to normalcy is the return of Music Video Monday. And we get a January Thaw at the same time. A double bonus. Without further ado, the first Music Video Monday of 2018.

We begin with New Music from a New Artist. Brooke Robertson (of Duck Dynasty Fame) has thrown her hat into the CCM Ring. She released her debut EP entitled Have My Heart this past Friday and this is the video for the title cut.

Next up we have Plumb (aka Tiffany Arbuckle Lee). She put out an EP this past quarter entitled God Help Me. From the EP, this is the title cut as well.
In an all title cut edition of Music Video Monday we move on to RED. They released GONE. A band which, despite the lyrics of the song, will never "Fade Away". I think they will be here for a while, and when they do hang it up, which I hope is far away in the future, I have no doubt that they will go out with an orchestral bang.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. 2018 is under way. Let's see if we can get a streak going. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat 10 Best Albums of 2017

We are really flying here at Night Beat HQ. I am pretty much on top of things. We should have our December Rewind up by the end of the year. Our look at the We Love Christian Music Awards should be done by then as well. And we are moving ahead with #PlatVnyl8. While I still think I will need additional judges for this one (and possibly beyond), things are looking good right now.

One of the final things for the year is Our list of The Top 10 Albums of 2017. And I have narrowed it down to 10. Let's get to it.

1. In Rivers, Light City Music: The Top Album of The Year is a Worship Album unlike any other, and from Canada. Vertical Worship is very rare these days, most worship is Praise by another name. This album is only available from Apple Music and iTunes. While they are the biggest and the best, it seems like the Music World is against these people.
2. Synthesis, Evanescence: Under most circumstances an album like this wouldn't make the list (and not for the reason you think). No, the reason I wouldn't have this on the list is, for the most part, it is a best of album. The reason it is on the list is that they haven't just re-recorded these songs, they have redone them completely with a live orchestra. It's the best thing going since RED.
3. Gone, RED: Yes, that is a good lead-in. The Pioneer and Still King of Orchestral Rock. Whether Thrashing with Step Inside, The Violence, Rocking with the title cut, or slowing it down with a Ballad like Hold On, the saying is true, RED always catches the eye. The Best RED Ever? I still think that's Innocence and Instinct. This may be number 2 for now.
4. Sheep Among Wolves, Project 86: You would think that a band with the aim of never making two albums the same would wind up making a misstep and you would get a clunker or two. Not this band. There is a bit of room to breathe on this one (a few ballads). The wolves will never know what hit them.
5. Starlight, Bethel Music. Bethel Church takes its show on the road for a live tour with friends. If you can't find a copy of In Rivers, this is a more than acceptable alternative if you are seeking Vertical Worship.
6. The Never Again, Lara Landon: The Way Unplugged Should Be. Lara is one of those artists that "could sing the phone book" (yes, I know, they went the way of the pay phone). Worship with minor accompaniment. The only problem. It's only seven cuts.
7. Benediction (Live), The City Harmonic: Sometimes Things End Well. The City Harmonic was one of the most innovative Worship Bands to grace the scene (and Surprisingly enough, this is another Canadian Band (Both Light City and The City Harmonic are from Ontario. Something is going on North of The Border).
8. Every Mile Mattered, Nichole Nordeman: We love artists with a few miles under their belt. We like it even more when the miles do not change you. Nichole has stayed true to her pop roots and even worked in a little EDM here and there. From someone who has been there from the first. Thank You.
9. Lifer, Mercy Me: Happy Dance. Enough Said. I can only imagine may have brought them fame, but they have had to weather "Friendly Fire" as they have been more blatant in the message of Grace. It was always there though. Best songs: Grace Got You and Best News Ever.
10. One Way Conversations, Hollyn: One of the best new artists. Her Sophomore release has no slump. No musical style is beyond her ability (Rap, Dance, Gospel, it's all here and done to perfection.)

I didn't say getting down to 10 was easy. There were a lot of good albums that didn't make the cut. I won't give you all the 5 Emerald Albums released (There Would Be 53 others). I will only go with those left after the first round of cuts. Without Rank, the Honorable Mention.

• Beatitudes, Stu G and Friends
• Colliding By Design, Acceptance
• Here (Live), Red Rocks Worship
• In Prayer, Salt of The Sound
• Projections, Landry Cantrell
• Rise, Danny Gokey
• The Rush and The Roar, We Are Leo
• Skin and Earth, Lights
• Suddenly (or The Nuclear Sunburst of The Truth Revealed), Young Oceans
• Unleashed Beyond, Skillet
• Untraveled Roads: A Live Album, Thousand Foot Krutch

2017 has been a really good year, and I have every reason to believe that 2018 will be just as good, if not better. I encourage you to respond via comments, Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus as to what you think. Until next year, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl6: The Year We Broke Facebook

The votes have been tabulated, the results made public, the winners notified. In short #PlatVnyl6 is in the bag. That doesn't mean there wasn't a few glitches. Most notably, our attempt to replicate and awards ceremony via posts fell afoul of Facebook posting limits. Who knew they weren't up to the challenge. We shall pursue other options for #PlatVnyl7. Perhaps we will do a video podcast. I wanted to do that this year but I could not find a proper place to record in silence.

In the near future we shall have the Platinum Vinyl Awards Page on the blog updated with this years results. We will be taking the page down until we finish the update.

#PlatVnyl6 was an awesome year, and I have every expectation that #PlatVnyl7 will exceed it. And that is a scary thought. I am definitely going to need some help one of these days. In terms of the number of award winners, I think we had a record in that single award winners totaled 25 and there were 35 different winners. Nobody ran away with the awards like before, so I guess parity is the word. The big winners were Toby Mac and Red with 4 awards apiece. 4 other artists had 3 awards each.

We have about a month to go until the lid closes on the #PlatVnyl7 entry pool. It will be the biggest yet. I should be greatly pleased. It has grown every year. As a seven year old, it is getting a bit to big to handle alone. Success has growing pains. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: June 2016

We are down to the final stretch. The beginning of July doesn't just mean the kicking of Summer into high gear, it also means that there are only 3 months left to make the #PlatVnyl7 eligibility pool. And that warning will be heeded. Usually at least one release occurs, sometimes in late August, that simply screams Album of The Year. Don't laugh, it happens more often than you think.

We begin with the song releases, or as we like to call it

The Singles Scene

• Tanya Godsey - We Are Your Song 4.50 Emeralds
• Anna Golden - Changing Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Spencer Kane - New Level 4.50 Emeralds
• Skillet - Stars 4.75 Emeralds

A nice bunch of singles this month. Should make for an interesting year in the Song Awards. On to the albums. First to the albums, or more specifically album, which 

Missed The Mark

• First Call - Second Birth 3.75 Emeralds 

We are usually all about comebacks here at The Night Beat, but I don't think so in this case. This was pretty flat as things go. Nothing Flat about our next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Myron Butler and Levi - On Purpose 5 Emeralds
• Emery - Acoustic: Live In Houston 5 Emeralds
• William Murphy - Demonstrate 5 Emeralds
• Red - End Of Silence 10th Anniversary Edition 5 Emeralds
• Starflyer 59 - Slow 5 Emeralds
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Exhale 5 Emeralds
• The Union of Sinners and Saints - The Union of Sinners and Saints 5 Emeralds

This is a jam packed month. This is going to be a very tough year to judge. Like we say, most music lies somewhere in the middle, or what we call

Semi-Precious Metal

• Trisha Alisha - Pieces 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Bauer - The Light In Us 4.75 Emeralds
• Zach Bolen - 1001 4.50 Emeralds
• Brinson - Black Canvas UWMA2 4.75 Emeralds     
• BrvndonP - BrvndonP 4.50 Emeralds
• Shirley Caesar - Fill This House 4.50 Emeralds
• Lindsey Conant and The Circuit Riders - Every Nation 4.75 Emeralds
• Jason Gray - Where The Light gets In 4.50 Emeralds
• Jesus Culture - Let It Echo: Unplugged EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Kings Kaleidoscope - Beyond Control 4.50 Emeralds
• Deon Kipping - Something to Talk About 4.75 Emeralds
• The Rubyz - I'll Follow 4.50 Emeralds
• Sherwood - Some Things Never Leave You 4.50 Emeralds
• DA T.R.U.T.H. - It's Complicated 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - 1 Mic, 1 Take 4.75 Emeralds
• Viktory - Tomorrow Came 4.75 Emeralds
• Natalie Villa - Symphony 4.50 Emeralds
• Vineyard Music - Shine On Us 4.50 Emeralds
• Adam Young - Omaha Beach 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for June. The 4th Quarter Beckons. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.