Flashback Friday: Kiss Me

Welcome back to an all new edition of Flashback Friday. We are concluding our current three post rotation with A Real Alternative. This weeks band toiled fairly obscurely in the CCM world until a simple request for a kiss thrust them into the mainstream.

Sixpence None The Richer, or simply Sixpence, was one of the Pioneers of Christian Alternative in the late 90's. It was fitting perhaps, that they were launched into the forefront by probably the most Alternative Artist of them all, Steve Taylor. Taylor, like Sixpence, and a lot of artists with crossover appeal, was uneasy with the "Christian Band" Label. Though there was no doubt about Christian bona-fides. They never fit in with the mold the industry tried to fit them in. Unlike other bands, however, (Evanescence, Creed, and recently P.O.D. come to mind) they were able to walk the tightrope fairly easily.

Kiss me started it all, on their self titled album back in 1997, which was actually their third album, though for all intents and purposes, most people think it is their debut.

The album also featured a hidden track cover of "there she goes" by the La La's on a later pressing.

It took five long years for Leigh Nash and company to come up with another album and Divine Discontent (2002) was the result. With this album the Crossover was complete, and some would say that they were no longer "Christian". Breathe Your Name was the big single, and they did another cover, this time of Don't Dream it's Over by Crowded House. Ironically, the name was prophetic, because within to years the band broke up.

The breakup lasted a decade, and was finally fixed last year, with the release of Lost in Transition (2012). The album was released to mixed reviews. While it doesn't have the magic of their eponymous release, it marks a fitting entry point back in the market. As they say, better sooner than later.


That concludes our look at sixpence. There is one additional note. During their decade long hiatus Leigh teamed up with one of my favorite Techno bands in Delerium and the result was known as Fauxliage. I think Sixpence needs to look in this direction in the future. Who knows. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Dance

We always come to Dance Music early. Mainly because it ticks off the traditionalists. As is not having a Hymns, Country, Or Southern Gospel Genre. It works for me.

The big winner this quarter in Dance was Satellites and Sirens with Frequency. They are one of the best synth-pop acts today, and they show it here. Anyone who heard their breakout single Anchor from their self-titled debut knows what I am talking about. They earned a near perfect 4.75 Emeralds. Not to be undone by the young ones, veteran Techno master Barry Blaze (aka Code of Ethics) returned to the Studio for the first time in Three Years (2008's long return after a 9 year hiatus with Lost in Egypt). If you've been with C.O.E. from the beginning then you'll love his latest release, because it harks back to the original sound. It is definitely a Beautiful Thing. I gave the album a very good rating of 4.5 Emeralds.

Considering the title of these posts, a happy coincidence is the newest release by the gorgeous Canadian brunette Valerie Anne Poxleitner (aka Lights). Techno isn't exclusive boys club anymore. Lights rocks the synthesizer to a near perfect 4.75 Emeralds.

Shai Linne The Attributes of God also qualifies as a Dance CD in a lot of cases, so I'm listing it here as well. Rounding out the entries in this genre for this quarter are Dance/Krunk/Whatever group Family Force 5 and III which got 4.25 Emeralds and the latest release by pop/dance band Eleventyseven, Sugarfist, which received 4.5 Emeralds for their effort. We shall see how FF5 holds up over the months but I think that the rest of them are safely in to the finals. One thing is sure, Lights and Satellites and Sirens are a near lock to the finals next year. That's why they got the pictures, courtesy of Amazon of course.

The first Quarter Releases Continue. Keep it Locked here. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

And The Nominees Are: Dance

We move along in the nominations for the Platinum Vinyl Award Best Album to the Dance genre, which also includes the Techno or Electronica genres.

The Nominees for the First Platinum Vinyl Awards for the Category of Best Dance Album are:

• Love Reality by Charmaine
• Outta Space Love by Group 1 Crew
• Favorites at Play by Joy Electric
• Weakness Makes You Beautiful by Petree
• Beautiful History by Plumb
• NY2LA by Press Play
• Life by Beckah Shae  

Still to be announced, Best Album Nominees for Hip Hop & Rap, Kids, and Modern Worship, and much much more.

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-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.

Project Wonder: Smitty's Return

Wonder, the 16th Full Length studio release by CCM Pioneer and unrecognized father of Synthpop Michael W. Smith is a testament to his longevity, and also a great statement. Just because you get older doesn't mean that you have to mellow. The album is an expert blending of Rock and Roll, New Wave, orchestral masterpieces and mellow piano tunes.  Even the most die hard rocker who can't stand anything soft has to admit that the arrangements alone are masterpieces and make this album a must have.

Walking on the Stars

Outta Space Love, the third full length release by Orlando, Florida based Group 1 Crew is a Dance House masterpiece. No Mickey Mouse effort here (sorry, couldn't resist), this album, unlike Chris Sligh (see my review of Anatomy of Broken) passes the Road Trip Test with flying colors. One caveat though, maybe you should put the car on Cruise Control first.  Constant tapping of the accelerator could get you in trouble.

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