The Nominations Begin: Alternative Video of The Year

We always try to mix things up at the WENC Night Beat, and what better time then at Award Season. The third Platinum Vinyl Award is almost upon us, and the nominations are in. This year we begin the Music Video Awards, and there are genre based awards for Alternative, Pop, Dance/Synthpop, Electronic/Industrial, Hip-Hop/Rap, Hard Rock/Metal, and Rock, as well as General Field Video Awards in Video by a Male Artist, Video by a Female Artist, Video by a New Artist, and Video of The Year.

I would really like to encourage an audience vote this year, and this is one of the best ways I can figure on doing it. I am going to check on the possibilities of using +SoundCloud as a possibility of bringing in Song of The Year participation. I would suggest using the comments as your vote.

We begin with Alternative Video of The Year. By alternative, we mean Alternative Rock, not some strange new way of shooting video. There are only Five nominees per category, if we can make it, not the usual seven we try for. Here we go, in no particular order of odds. (Actually, I was trying to go alphabetical by song).

And the nominations for Alternative Video of The Year for the 3rd Platinum Vinyl Award are:

Daylight by Run, Kid, Run.



Find Me by Anchor and Braille


My Name is Eustace by Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra

The Proof of Your Love by For King and Country

Summer Forgets Me by Deas Vail

That gets things started here on the Blog. The Awards, as well as the nominations, will have a multiple pronged announcement. I am currently going through them all on Facebook, Google + and soon, on Twitter as well. Along with right here for Video announcement and voting and the complete list on the nomination page. Let the voting begin, and, as always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Run Kid Run

Welcome to the latest edition of Music Video Monday. We Have moved into the Videos for albums released in the First Quarter of the 2012 Nomination Year (October - December, 2011). There were no Children's Music Entries, and While Folk had an entry, nothing on the video front so far. Last week we had Lights and Satellites and Sirens in the Electronica genre. Gospel also had nothing yet, so we move on to Alternative.

I know it's only April, but I couldn't help but think. Winter forgot us here in the Northeast (not that I'm complaining), though sometimes I think we're getting winter in the Spring. Will Summer Forget Us. This is Deas Vail and Summer Forgets Me.

John Mark McMillan has improved quite a bit since I considered The Medicine to be unlistenable back in 2010. I liked Economy, his latest release, and it is in the running for the 2012 PVA's. This is Sheet of Night from Economy

Finally we have Run Kid Run and Daylight from their album Patterns.


Next week we will move on to Pop, a very well represented genre in the First Quarter of 2012. Until the next Music Video Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Pop

This was the mega-genre this quarter. Pop usually requires a lot of work to narrow down after the eligibility year closes and this year is proving no exception. This is only the first Quarter and already we have ELEVEN entries. Well seven if you count that four are double dippers from another category, but that is just because their music can't be pigeonholed that simply.

First up Sara Groves. The favorite of a lot of Top 10 Lists this year, Invisible Empires just missed both a perfect 5, settling for 4.75 Emeralds as well as a spot in this years Platinum Vinyl Awards. As for a Top 10 album, there were too many Perfect 5's this year. Check out my list of the Best Albums of 2011.

Pop/Worship/Unique sensation The City Harmonic released their sophomore release this past October. Entitled I Have A Dream [It feels like home], the release is a fine successor to Introducing the City Harmonic. While Things are looking up for the band musically, on a personal matter we would like to convey the best wishes and prayers of all at The Night Beat to Bass Player Eric Fusilier as he combats leukemia. Praying for a speedy healing. I gave the album a respectable 4.5 Emeralds.

Once Upon A Time marks the return of Kerrie Roberts to the CCM Market. The EP contains a few acoustic versions of songs on her debut, but she really rocks out on the opening track, entitled Rescue Me (How The Story Ends). This song could be on my list of Dance Song of the Year for 2012. Oh, and it is also the Theme Song for the ABC series Once Upon a Time. It's about time that CCM artists get recognition for their superior talent. We shall see how the EP goes, as I was only able to give it 4.25 Emeralds. That puts it in the initial pool, but it is very short and that is one of its main drawbacks. We shall see how the story ends.

Rather than have an extremely long post, I shall put the other eight entrants on a quick hits list. Without further ado, the remaining Pop entrants for the first quarter.

• Casting Crowns - Come to the Well 4.5 Emeralds
• Keith Elgin - Keith Elgin 4.5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Deeper 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Hymns and Sacred Songs 4.25 Emeralds
• Relient K - K is for Karaoke, Vol 2 4.5 Emeralds
• Run Kid Run - Patterns 4.5 Emeralds
• Shane & Shane - The One You Need 4.25 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - Response 4.5 Emeralds

Due to my combining of a bunch of non producing genres this quarter I have only two more to go. Stay with me. As always I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Alternative

If the Gospel genre had a good showing this quarter with four entries, then this one was excellent with six. Pop, to nobody's surprise, had the best showing, but I shall hold off the reveal until it's time.

Forget Double Dip, try quadruple dip for the first entry. Alt-Ambient band Future of Forestry thrilled its fans with the Travel EP series. This quarter they combined the three EP's in the series into one CD. So if you loved Traveler's Song, Protection, or Working to Be Loved, it is all here on a single CD (or, of course, mp3). A near perfect combination, TCTS received 4.75 Emeralds.

Sometimes all it takes is the right album. A few years ago everyone was all gaga (not lady) over John Mark McMillan and The Medicine. When I heard the album I wasn't that impressed. Actually, I didn't like it at all. Fast forward two years (one actually, but two PVA eligibility years) and he comes out with Economy. Maybe it was the fact that it was a bit more rock and roll and a little less experimental, maybe he was just growing on me, or maybe I was (gasp!) becoming part of the CCM Elite! (Naaah!). Either way I liked it and gave it a passable score of 4 Emeralds.

We also had a release from a Tooth and Nail artist, which should be no surprise by now. You think you would be able to detect a bunch of Patterns by now. And by that I mean Patterns by Run, Kid, Run, who have been compared to The Rocket Summer, which is quite a compliment. I thought the album deserved a respectable 4.5 Emeralds.

New artist Caleb went To the ends of the World and received 4.25 Emeralds for it. They certainly didn't have to go that far, but such is the life. I would have given it to them without all the Travel. Deas Vail had their self titled release garner the same rating without the additional road miles. Finally, we waved at Wavorly as their EP garnered 4.25 Emeralds as well.

Because of some astute combining of categories, we only have four more to go, but they are all well stocked, with one having almost two years full of possible entries. We drive on. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

P.S. The New Releases are available to stream. Check out Live Riot by Worth Dying For, Feel The Power by Tooth and Nail artist Blessed by a Broken Heart (Classic Metal) and The Essential Kirk Franklin. The Last two are out now, WDF comes out February 7. Check them all out and enjoy the music.