The Winter Melodies: Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Quarter- Pop/Folk Rock/Techno

A New Year has begun.  The final list of the First Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards will be released in the coming weeks and months.  Soon the nominations will be trimmed and the real business of the first annual Platinum Vinyl Awards can begin.  Time stops for no one, however, not even for something as momentous as the Inaugural PVA's.  So, we must commence with the nominations from the final quarter of 2010, which now are the First Quarter Releases for the Second Annual PVA's, which will occur sometime in 2012. We begin this time with the Pop Genre.

• The Story of Your Life by Matthew West
• When I'm With You by JJ Heller 

We'll do double duty this post by including the Folk/Folk Rock Genre

• The Shelter by Jars of Clay
• Flags by Brooke Fraser
• When I'm With You by JJ Heller

We'll do triple duty with Dance/Electronica/Techno

• Collide by Andy Hunter 

Still to come, the first selections for Rock, Hard Rock, Modern Worship, Alternative, and Hip Hop. Only Gospel will not be featured in the initial quarter.  Things will pick up soon for them.

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-The Best of The Rest

Due to a lack of qualified entries this Summer I have decided to combine the genres of Gospel/R&B, Folk/Folk Rock, and new entry Kids into one for posting purposes.  My lower limit for separate entry is three, and at most they have two entries. (If you read my previous TBSF blogs in July you know my Folk/Folk Rock genre only had two entries.  I know that, and this is the reason for the new rule.)

The Gospel/R&B entry, yes entry, is Triumphant by Vashawn Mitchell (D) and yes, the only entry just happens to be a new artist debut and is also eligible for Best New Artist.

The Folk/Folk Rock genre produced two entries during the Summer:

• Counting Stars by Andrew Peterson
• Raising up the Dead by Caedmon's Call

And finally, we have a new genre this time.  Kids music.

• Kickin it Old School by Go Fish
• Deliberate Kids 2 by Phil Joel 

That concludes my coverage of The Best So Far in Music for the Summer of 2010.  I will be returning to reviewing new and upcoming releases until the final installment in Late December 2010 or Early January of 2011

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Hip Hop/Rap

The last of the major categories this Summer to warrant its own blog entry is Hip Hop and Rap.  I still have three genres to go (there are a few kids entries this summer), but there were so few entries this summer that I am combining Kids, Gospel/R&B and Folk/Folk Rock into one entry. Without further ado, the The Best in Hip Hop and Rap for the Summer of 2010 are:

• City Lights by JSon
• Quarantine by Grits
• The Prototype by Sean Slaughter
• We Fit by K-Drama
• Rehab by Lecrae 

The K-Drama album is Hip Hop/Rap but its full title is We Fit: The Workout Plan.  It is a fitness album, but the music stands alone on its own.  I am not starting a genre for fitness albums.

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Modern Worship

The best of this Summer's music continues with the Modern Worship genre.  While some may bemoan the fact that Modern Worship is a genre, the fact is that it is. But that doesn't mean that an artist cannot drop in and out of the genre.  If an alternative or rock artist produces a "worship album", it will go in the Modern Worship genre, if there are only a few worship songs on an album otherwise classified as Rock, Alternative, Pop or another genre, it will either only be classified with its musical genre or will be placed in both. With that in mind, here are the Modern Worship entries for this summer.

• Dare to Imagine by Sean Keith
• We Still Believe by Kathryn Scott
• Finer Day by Kelly Minter
• Until the Whole World Hears Live by Casting Crowns
• The Rising by Charlie Hall
• Organic Family Hymnal by Rend Collective Experiment

The requirements are simple.  Every song must be "vertical", there must be enough of a beat and energy to avoid drifting off into sleep, and it must be authentic.  It should not be flat, the listener should feel drawn into the worship experience. By those standards Jeremy Camp's We Cry Out did not make final cut.  It was flat and I was not drawn in. By means of Full Disclosure, I am not a Jeremy Camp fan, but neither am I Casting Crowns fan.  However my only gripe with the Casting Crowns album is at only 8 songs it is too short.  It fits all the other rules.

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Dance/Electronica/Techno

We continue our look at the best of this Summer with Dance/Electronica/Techno genre. There weren't too many entries in this category but just enough to justify it's own blog entry.  Here they are:

• NY2LA by Press Play
• Kerrie Roberts by Kerrie Roberts (D)
• Outta Space Love by Group 1 Crew

(D) Indicates a debut release, Best New Artist consideration.

I have included Kerrie Roberts in this category as well. While her hardest song is Rock, most of the album has enough electronic influence to classify it as Dance as well.

The Dance genre is possibly the most generous to get into, all you have to have is a well produced album, with music that makes you want to dance, and vocals (if there are any) that are up to the task.  By Way of example this year Kerrie Roberts releases a well produced dance album, with the music that makes you want to dance and her vocals are never eclipsed by the loudest music. On the other hand, Natalie Grant released a well produced album which could also fit into the dance genre, and the music certainly made you want to dance, but, when the volume went up Grant disappeared.  Her vocals simply are not up to the task, unlike Roberts and Tiffany Lee (aka Plumb).  That's why Roberts is in and Grant didn't make the cut.

The Heat Is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Alternative

Continuing with the Best of This Summer, we move on to the Alternative genre.  Not surprisingly, a fairly crowded genre can produce not only a fair number of mediocre albums, but quite a few award winners as well.  The Summers Best are:

• The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday EP by 12 Stones
• Vessels by Ivoryline
• Call Out by Esterlyn
• Let Love Win by The Museum (D)
• Suburba by House of Heroes
• The Changing of the Guard by Starflyer 59
• Cotes d'Armor by Kevin Max
• Dark is the Way, Light is a Place by Anberlin
• Light up the Sky by The After
• The Rising by Charlie Hall
• Saturate EP by Bread of Stone

(D) Indicates a debut release, Best New Artist consideration 

This list should be beyond criticism, but I already know that's a pipe dream.  I have already read some reviews fairly critical of The Afters release and both Starflyer 59 and Kevin Max make music that appeals to a fairly limited audience. Nevertheless, this is my take. Feel free to comment.

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Rock

The Rock Genre is getting pretty crowded these days, and this summer's quality entries aren't helping whittle things down in Platinum Vinyl Award contention.  I am thinking that to make this entry more manageable, I will eventually have to split things in two.  I am thinking of calling the two categories Classic Rock and Hard Music.  That way we can keep the Fireflight fans from the Haste the Day fans, and everyone should be happy. Until that happens, here is the unsifted list of nominees in Rock:

• Heather Williams EP by Heather Williams (D)
• Blood in the Gears by The Showdown
• Horseshoes and Handgrenades by Disciple
• Our Journey....So Far by BarlowGirl
• Kerrie Roberts by Kerrie Roberts (D)
• For Your Consideration by Evolett (D)
• 7th Symphony by Apocalyptica
• Real Life by Lincoln Brewster

(D) Indicates a Debut Release and nomination for Best New Artist

For my review of 7th Symphony and my reasons for inclusion in PVA contention Click Here

I don't see why Lincoln Brewster and Disciple wouldn't make most best of lists. BarlowGirl should, but it is a best of album.  Enough Hard Music enthusiasts might exist to put in a good word for The Showdown.  I don't think anyone has heard of Evolett, and that's a shame, and the same might go for Kerrie Roberts and Heather Williams.  See above for the reason Apocalyptica wouldn't be included. I think they are all worthy. 

The Heat is On: TBSF Summer 2010-Pop

Now that Autumn is in force it is proper to return to another roundup of The Best So Far for the Summer Months (July-Sept).  At least this time I'm tackling three months instead of six. Without further ado I shall explore the best in the Pop genre that will pass, along with the first batch of entries into the first elimination round for the Platinum Vinyl Awards in early January. (I honestly hope to have a full cutdown to 5 like the Grammy's, but it might be more reasonable to vote on a top 10 for each genre.) The new additions for Pop are as follows:

• Born Again by The Newsboys
• The House You're Building by Audrey Assad (D)
• Midnight Sun by Sarah Kelly
• Wonder by Michael W. Smith

(D) Indicates a Debut Release, Best New Artist Nomination

Most likely The Newsboys and Smitty are on everyone's list, but the two others may escape notice.  They haven't escaped the Night Beat's notice though.

TBSF 2010: Modern Worship

Maybe it is only fitting that I end the Platinum Vinyl Genre Categories with the most crowded genre in CCM today, Modern Worship.  In truth, possibly not a typical genre, because all entrants could also be classified as rock, pop, or whatever.  The thing that sets the genre apart is the subject of the music, not the style in which it is played.  The Best So Far for 2010 in Modern Worship are:

• The Saving One by Starfield
• Everything is Different Now by Stellar Kart
• Eternity Invades by Vicky Beeching
• Ragamuffin Soul by Carlos Whittaker
• Wake Up My Soul by Andy Kirk
• Farewell Show: Live in London by Delirious?
• Name Above All Names by ALM:uk
• A Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong Live
• Find Me Pure by Patrick Paegel
• City of Life Worship by City of Life

TBSF 2010: Folk/Folk Rock

The last of the weak genre's this time around.  Here's hoping for more good entries, in the second half of 2010.  Without further ado, the Platinum Vinyl Award nominees in the Folk/Folk Rock genre are:

• Letting Go by Jennifer Knapp
• In Feast or Fallow by Sandra McCracken

TBSF 2010: Hip Hop/Rap

Another Genre Category with very few entrants.  Not so much that there were an abundance of bad music, but not many releases were in this category, and these three are the best so far:

• Lions and Liars by Sho Baraka
• Light up the Dark by The Washington Projects
• Between Two Worlds by Trip Lee

TBSF 2010: Gospel/R&B

Due to a lack of releases in this category, this is the first genre that won't have to be whittled down at the beginning of next year.  With that in mind, here are the early nominees for the Platinum Vinyl Awards for the Gospel/R&B Genre:

• In Spite of Me by Michelle Bonilla
• Get Ready by Forever Jones (D)
• Light up the Dark by The Washington Projects

(D) Indicates a Debut Project, qualifies for Best New Artist

TBSF 2010: Alternative

The early nominees for the 2010 Platinum Vinyl Awards in the Alternative Genre are:

• Disappearing World by Fair
• Of Men and Angels by The Rocket Summer
• Everything is Different Now by Stellar Kart
• Pieces of a Real Heart by Sanctus Real
• Vagabonds by The Classic Crime
• Blink by Revive
• Armored Heart by Runaway City
• Burning like the Midnight Sun by The Choir
• Travel III by Future of Forestry
• Salvation in Secrets by Our Lives In Motion (D) 

All links go to Amazon except for the Choir which links to their website store.  Album no longer available from Amazon. UPDATE 10/29: Adding Our Lives in Motion to this list. Digital Only EP released on iTunes back in April. Just got a chance to hear it and definitely it is the best thing to come out of Worcester in quite a while. They compare themselves to Anberlin but I think Ivoryline is a better comparison. Also get a best new artist nod. Will post a link soon. Check them out.

TBSF 2010: Dance/Electronica/Techno

The early nominees for the 2010 Platinum Vinyl Awards in the Dance/Electronica/Techno Genre are as follows:

• Young Giant by Queen's Club
• Love Reality by Charmaine
• Weakness Makes You Beautiful by Petree
• Spacebound by Group 1 Crew
• Life by Beckah Shae

TBSF 2010: Rock

The early nominees for the 2010 Platinum Vinyl Awards in the Rock genre, which includes Metal, Hardcore, and Industrial, are as follows:

• The Infinite Order by Living Sacrifice
• Tonight by Toby Mac
• For Those Who Wait by Fireflight
• Satellites & Sirens (Self-Titled)
• The World is a Thorn by Demon Hunter
• Hanging on by a Thread by The Letter Black
• Life, Scars, Apologies by Since October
• Rain's A Comin by Children 18:3
• Attack of the Wolf King by Haste The Day

TBSF 2010: Pop

The nominees for the 1st Annual WENC Night Beat Platinum Vinyl Awards begin now.  In no particular order of importance or rank, these are the best so far for 2010 in the Pop Genre.

• The Golden Rule by Above The Golden State
• Newworldson (Self-Titled)
• Me in Motion (Self-Titled)(D)
• Sing it Now by Poema (D)
• Love Reality by Charmaine
• The One I'm Fighting For EP by Article One
• The Generous Mr. Lovewell by MercyMe
• Around the World by Reilly
• Stories by Addison Road

(D) Indicates a Debut Release, Qualifies for Best New Artist/Group