Lost Love Songs: A Coupleary Celebration

Well it is that time of year again. Coupleary. It is the 13th Month of The Year and spans from (Officially) January 15-February 14, but unofficially it lasts from December 26 (I checked, the stores had everything out on the shelves) until February 17. As a single guy, I usually do my best to ignore all the mushy ads. Valentines Day is one of the "holidays" that I opt-out of. I figure I save at least $500 every year. 

One of those things I try to avoid is love songs, at least the typical "I'd never trade a thing, you are so wonderful to me" songs. Written by someone who has the girl. Those of us who look at the situation and decide to try our luck at Foxwoods tend to like the other kind of "love song". The song where the girl says no or otherwise leaves. I call this playlist lost love songs, after "tis better to have loved and lost..." It is a work in progress and I will keep adding to it as I find them. For now, this is the list.

• Emery, The Ponytail Parades: "It scares me to think that you could find takers other than me, better than me." "Don't say that we can still be friends." With two cuts here, they are the king of the break up song.
• Emery, Can't Stop The Killer: One of the most disturbing songs in Christian Music. The chronicle of a Broken Marriage ending in Murder. You have to hear it to believe it.
• Color Theory, I Should Have Kissed You: "I told myself when you leaned in closer, this is my big chance but now it is over, and now I miss you. I should have kissed you." Honesty like this gets you the co-regency.
• Color Theory, A Safe Distance: "I will always love you, From a safe distance" Enough Said.
• Skillet, Say Goodbye: "Don't say anything tonight, if you're gonna say goodbye"
• NF, I Just Wanna Know: "I just wanna know, when did you get so cold, what happened to your soul."
• Sumerlin, Breaking Out: "It's my fault I gave my heart away with the key, I thought that she would be the one to stay here."
• The Ember Days, Darling: On first spin I felt it was about a spouse dying, I later discovered that it was about the death of a child. It works either way. "What shall be my hope without without my love without my love. Will I find heaven to be my only relief." I can not hear this song without tearing up. A short vocal song with a long instrumental end.
• The Quiet Science, The Things That Cannot Be: "If Only Every Word You Said Could be Removed From Me so that I didn't know you at all. If Only Every Line of your face didn't burn so deep into my memory the things that cannot be."

Despite the list I am not depressed, only realistic. The sayings end "than not to have loved at all" is true. You can't break up if you weren't together at one point. Get your tissues and give it a listen. Meanwhile I'll be practicing my poker skills. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
 

Mistletunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Alternative

We are back at the offices after our long weekend. Actually you received a post on Monday through the miracle of scheduled posts, but we were off Having Fun Doing Research. Up next is Alternative Rock, which had seven entries into the pool this quarter. Let's get it on.

Alternative Rock

• The Ember Days - Valitus
• Falling Up - Falling Up  
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands: Dawn
• Low and Behold - Uppers
• John Mark McMillan - Live At The Knight
• Mutemath - Vitals
• Wilkes - Shells - EP  

There are a few comments. The Ember Days and Falling Up both scored a perfect 5 this quarter, which didn't really surprise. The shock was thaf Falling Up is Falling Down (they are disbanding for the moment). Low and Behold has Ryan Clark (of Demon Hunter and NYVES) on lead vocals. The man is a machine. Pop Music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: December 2015

2015 is just about history, but first we have one final edition of Rewind. It's rare to get one done in the month it covers, but there were only 14 entries. Let's get to it.

The Singles Scene was very appropriate, with only a single entry. Fearless BND, the former Worth Dying For, is in the process of releasing a song a month. December's release has a somewhat appropriate title.

• Fearless BND - The Anticipation 4.50 Emeralds

It is not a song about Santa and Presents. On to the Album Reviews. We begin with the albums which will not make the #PlatVnyl7 Eligibility Pool.

Missing The Mark

• Fern - 68 and Douglas 3.75 Emeralds
• Corey Paul - Today, Tomorrow, and Forever 3.75 Emeralds
• Joe Pots - Shout It Out 3.75 Emeralds

There was also one Pure Platinum Release. Sometimes they sneak up on you at the last minute, when you are trying to finalize the Best of The Year List.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• The Ember Days - Valitus 5 Emeralds

The rest of the releases fall in between the two extremes, as usual.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Bethel Music Kids - Come Alive 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - We Are Young and Free The Remixes 4.75 Emeralds
• Skrip - Show and Tell EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Mr and Mrs Something - Setting Sail 4.75 Emeralds
• Spoken - Breathe Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Duawne Starling - Deeper Faith 4.50 Emeralds
• Stu G - Have You Heard 4.50 Emeralds
• Various - Small Group Worship, Volume 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Withered Bones - For The Ones I Love 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for 2015. And we still have a few days in the year. I don't think I can get the first quarter in the bag before then, but that is the next thing on the agenda. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Modern Worship

The end of the line has been reached. Today we announce the big winner for the third quarter pool entries. Modern Worship had seventeen releases. That would almost make for three genres this quarter alone. Let's get right to it.

Modern Worship

• +All Sons and Daughters - All Sons & Daughters
• +Bethel Music - You Make Me Brave (Live)
• Kim Dexter - Reaching
• +elevationworship - Raised to Life [+video]
• +The Ember Days - Live
• +Fellowship Creative - Running to Follow
• +Kristen Gilles - Parker's Mercy Brigade
• +Jesus Culture Live - Unstoppable Love
• Mike Lee - Awakening Hearts
• Onething Live - Sing Your Praises
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Heaven Raining Down
• +Rush Of Fools - Carry Us Now
• Robbie Seay Band - Psalms, Vol. 2 - EP
• Michael W. Smith - Sovereign
• +Summit Worship - Our God Is Unstoppable
• Various Artists - Songs 4 Worship: Worship Classics
• +Phil Wickham - The Ascension (Deluxe)

That finishes off the Third Quarter of 2014. We've got only three months to go. And still I have to get the Finals of the 2013 Awards in the bag. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Alternative

Continuing with our announcing of the Third Quarter of 2014 Pool Eligible releases.  Our next grouping almost doubles the entries of our last group. Alternative had nine entries, which would make it a finals by itself. It is not the big winner. It tied with pop for entries and is surpassed by four other genres. (Did you think I was going to make it easy on you).

Alternative Rock

• Artifex Pereo - Time in Place
• The Choir - Shadow Weaver
• Cor Captis - Hello Someday - EP
• Crowder - Neon Steeple
• The Ember Days - Live
• The Museum - What We Stand For
• New Empire - In a Breath
• Page CXVI - Good Friday to Easter
• The Remission Flow - Rhythms of Grace

Legends (The Choir), Soon to Be Legends (The Ember Days) and newbies (Artifex Pereo) fill the ranks. A good mix to have in an award show. We move on to our next category, tied with nine entries as well. Pop is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl4: The Nominees - Song of The Year, Part Two

Last time I presented the first six nominees for Song of The Year in this years Platinum Vinyl Awards, known simply as #PlatVnyl4. The songs were listed alphabetically by title, so there is no ranking of the nominees. We come to the final six nominees for the category.

Not For A Moment (After All), +Meredith Andrews 
The One That Got Away, +The Civil Wars 
Prodigal, +The Ember Days 
Skyfall feat Eshon Burgundy, Rekonciled
Unstable, +Anberlin 
Wait For Me, +SHINY TOY GUNS 
That's it for the nominees, folks. Next up the voting, and then the awards. Back to our regular scheduled business. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Groundhog Blues: Winter 2013 Releases - Modern Worship

Well this is finally it. I know it because I have everything checked off. There are no more 2nd Quarter Releases to be rated. We end the quarter with Modern Worship, which was a big contributor this time around. A whopping 25 entrants hopped into the pool. That guy at the pool of Bethesda couldn't get past that Stampede. That number is almost enough for four years. Major judging in this category.

Modern Worship

• Meredith Andrews - Worth It All
• Todd Ballard - Anthems
• Bethel Music - Without Words [+video]
• Bridgecity - Bridgecity
• Bridge Music - New Has Come
• Citizens - Citizens
• Elevation Worship - Nothing is Wasted
• The Ember Days - More Than You Think
• Gateway Worship - The First 10 Years
• Charlie Hall - The Death of Death
• Hillsong United - Zion
• Kingdom - Kingdom
• Passion - Passion: Let the Future Begin
• Planetshakers - Limitless
• Rend Collective Experiment - Campfire [+video] : Worship and Community Reimagined
• Seventh Day Slumber - Love and Worship
• Kim Walker Smith - Still Believe (Live)
• Chris Tomlin - Burning Lights
• 1211 - Unplugged: The Baptism
• Various Artists - From the Inside Out
• Various Artists - Mars Hill Music Worship Sampler
• Paul Wilbur - Your Great Name
• Worship Central - Let It Be Known (Live)
• Worship For Your Family - Yellow
• Darlene Zschech - Revealing Jesus

I know, that's quite a list. Still, there are a few points of mention. Rend Collective is always a solid contender, as is The Ember Days. Surprisingly we got a perfect 5 in worship this time around from Kim Walker Smith. 5's in Modern Worship just doesn't happen. I guess there's a first for everything. On to the spring releases. Third Quarter ends in a few days. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.