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

Now that we are done with our multiple-genre posts as we reveal the 1st Quarter entrants into the #PlatVnyl9 Pool we move to the single genre. We go from least to greatest. The Minimum Bar Needed is Five Entrants. That bar was met by Gospel/R&B. All the others exceed it. Let's get to it.

Gospel/R&B

• Tomi Malm - Walking On Air
• Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir ft Shawn Cotrell - It's Not Over (Live)
• Tye Tribbett - The Bloody Win (Live) 
• The Walls Group - The Other Side
• C-West - Hide and Seek

Next up is a three way tie. Live Album, Adult Contemporary and Pop all had seven entrants. None Had Six. So there will be no beastly trio this time around. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind; November 2017

Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, and all that Jazz to you all. We are having our first snow of the season (Holiday. It's only autumn until the 22nd) and I can already feel the Floridian influence (We're in New England. It's Not a storm until it tops a foot). On to Rewind, We begin with the Christmas Releases.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Paul Baloche - For Unto Us: Christmas Worship Live From London 4.50 Emeralds
• Love and The Outcome - Christmas Songs EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Mari - Have Yourself a MARI Little Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Marc Martel - The First Noel EP 4.75 Emeralds
• John McClaughlin - Red and Green 4.75 Emeralds
• Melanie Penn - Immanuel 4.50 Emeralds
• Tenth Avenue North - Decade The Halls, Volume 1 5 Emeralds
• Tim Timmons - Mighty Christmas EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Light Of Christmas 4.50 Emeralds 
• Zach Williams - The Call of Christmas (Single) 4.75 Emeralds

Now on to the regular music. We begin with those songs released during the month, with hopefully an album or EP to follow in the near future.

The Singles Scene

• Steven Curtis Chapman - The Great Adventure 25th Anniversary Edition (ft Bart Millard) 4.75 Emeralds
• Dillon Chase - Homerun 4.25 Emeralds
• da Foo - 40 Days 4.25 Emeralds
• Mat Kearney and Afsheen  - Better Than I Used To Be 4.50 Emeralds
• Prafit Josiah - Mine Already 4.50 Emeralds
• Rapture Ruckus - Proof of Life 5 Emeralds
• Brad and Rebekah - I Am Found 4.75 Emeralds

Now on to the Albums. We begin, as always with those album that will not make the #PlatVnyl9 pool.

Missing The Mark

• Aha Gazelle - Trillium 3 4.25 Emeralds
• Datin - The Menace Mixtape 3.75 Emeralds 
• Dee 1 - Slingshot David 3.50 Emeralds
• Corey Paul - Untold Story: The Young King 4.25 Emeralds
• Konata Smal - Est 1997 4.25 Emeralds

3 of the 5 here may have made it into the pool last year, but we have tightened things up. Our next list, however, scale whatever obstacle is placed in their way.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Evanescence - Synthesis 5 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - Abide With Me 5 Emeralds
• Andy Hunter - Presence, Volume 2 5 Emeralds  
• Manic Drive - Into The Wild 5 Emeralds
• Skillet - Unleashed Beyond 5 Emeralds
• The Walls Group - The Other Side 5 Emeralds

Semi - Precious Metal

• Francesca Battistelli - Greatest Hits: The First 10 Years 4.75 Emeralds
• Benjah - Guidance 4.75 Emeralds
• Boiling Point - Take Courage EP 4.50 Emeralds
• John Ellis - Growing Silent 4.75 Emeralds
• Emery - Revival: Emery Classics Re-Imagined 4.75 Emeralds
• Jessica Johnson Garcia - Now Forever EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Matt Hammitt - Matt Hammitt 4.75 Emeralds
• Kevi - Barnabas 4.50 Emeralds
• Kutless - Alpha Omega 4.50 Emeralds
• Lifepoint Worship - Mountain/Valley (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Lovelace and Friends Present - Young Folk 4.75 Emeralds
• Your Memorial - Your Memorial 4.50 Emeralds
• Joshua Micah - 20XX EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - High Above 4.75 Emeralds
• Phinehas - Dark Flag 4.50 Emeralds
• Plumb - God Help Me EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir ft Shaun Cotrell - It's Not Over (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• BJ Putnam - Love Like Fire (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Jeremy Riddle - More 4.75 Emeralds
• Young Saint - Transition (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Skillet - Feel Invincible Remix EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Alexis Slifer - Famous For EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Abigail Sloane - Reason and Rhyme 4.50 Emeralds
• Sojourn Music - Clap Your Hands, Stomp Your Feet 4.50 Emeralds
• Soul Survivor - The Promise 4.75 Emeralds
• Austin Stone Worship - Everflow 4.75 Emeralds
• Sweet and Lynch - Unified 4.75 Emeralds

That does it. November is now in the bag. On to December and the end of the First Quarter. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

 

The Fast Forward to Forever Giveaway

It's finally here. The first giveaway of the year. We operate on a shoestring here at Night Beat HQ, so we have to work at restocking the prize closet. We finally have done so, and I have got some real doozies for you, if I do say so myself. We have four winners from #PlatVnyl5 including the Album of The Year. Let's take a look at the Prizes.

The rom-com line is "You Had Me at Hello". In the music world that translates into "Discovered by Kirk Franklin". The Pure Platinum emanating from the Gospel Genre doesn't come from Wall Street but The Walls Group. A family band consisting of four siblings Darrell, Rhea, Paco, and Ahjah (That's Brother, Sister, Brother, Sister, in descending order of age). Their sophomore release is called Fast Forward, though you wont want to do that to their album. They open with the question "If I talk about Jesus, can I get some love on the radio" Give it a listen and you will be screaming out YES, YES, YES.

Scandinavia has been doing its best to contribute to the Christian Music scene for quite a while, at least since Jerusalem began to Rock out in Sweden in 1975. Yeah, I know, Evie, but I'm trying to forget that. Lately we have a lot of Scandinavian Influence with David and Jonathan Thulin, Blindside, and Even Icon For Hire. Yeah, a whole lot more than ABBA came from there. Icon For Hire is a domestic band, but lead singer Ariel (pronounced R-E-L) was born in Sweden. Icon For Hire started as an independent rock band from Decatur,  Illinois before being discovered by Midas (aka

Brandon Ebel of Tooth and Nail Records). Their Scripted debut had overtones of Skillet and other bands and took the rock world by storm.They played warped tour. And their self titled sophomore release won best Rock Album. They took an even harder louder turn this time around and it paid off big time.

Nothing is harder than Metal, and for those of us in a certain age group Metal Means Melodic Metal, none of that thrash growls for us. Harmonies rule. And when it comes to Heavy Metal Harmony, there is only one name on the top - STRYPER. The album that propelled them to the top of the list was called To Hell With The Devil. The title alone sent shivers down the spine of Christian College Administrators. It was a stand alone album for almost three decades. Until 2013, when No More Hell To Pay came out. It was a fitting completion to the first album and I thought of it that way. But they upped their game once again and are going for the Trilogy. Fallen comes out this Fall (no pun intended).  As to the title, I almost want to say "from your mouth to God's ear". The last Christian album entitled Fallen went multi-platinum and shot its Artists to Rock Stardom. Of course they also got kicked out of the kingdom for their promotional efforts. One out of two ain't bad, though. NMHTP picked up the Platinum Vinyl Award for Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album of The Year.

And now we come to the big release. Album of The Year. This year the award went to the Modern Worship genre, which was a big surprise. Some albums just wont be denied, however. Majestic (Live) by Kari Jobe was one of those albums. It is one of the rare worship albums that make you feel like you've been transported directly to the throne. The song and video for Forever really moves you. It cleaned up at the Awards. Modern Worship Song, Video, and Album, and Album of The Year among others. As opposed to the other albums in the sweepstakes, the winner here will get the Deluxe Edition, which includes several videos, including Forever.

I have gone on long, but this is the best Sweepstakes I have put together, and it is fitting for the 5 year Anniversary of The Platinum Vinyl Awards. Just Enter below. You Wont be disappointed.

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The Best of 2014: Gospel

We usually go from low to high during our quarterly wraps, but this time we are reversing that order. Tied* with Rap with three entries is Gospel. That asterisk is there for a purpose. One of the three entries is also on the rap wrap.

That double dipper is CaJo and Lust, Drugs & Gospel . As I said, he does all things well.

White Men Can't Jump, but it isn't true that they can't do Gospel. No, I don't mean Southern Gospel. I'm still not convinced that that qualifies as music. When I first heard some music by +Wess Morgan , I was sure he was black. He most definitely wasn't, and that was quite a surprise. He certainly is Livin' the high life.

Here at the Night Beat we reward groups that sound differently, to borrow an Apple phrase and use it for our own. Forever Jones made us take notice. This year has had us banging against the walls. +TheWallsGroupVEVO to be exact. I love it when a small group can have the vocals and harmonies of a full choir, and being "discovered" by Kirk Franklin. You know that man knows talent. This former DJ would definitely give this group some "love on the radio". You will not Fast Forward through any of these songs

Two albums were left off the list, both deserving of a mention here. First up is +Christon Gray and School of Roses , which is more on the R&B side, and then Anthony Evans with Real Life / Real Worship . Both were worthy, but you got to edit somewhere, even among perfect albums.

Two more posts remain. First up we go with Hard Rock and Metal, and then, our widows and orphans post (genres represented by a single entry). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: The Perfect Gift

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled, if a bit late, edition of Music video Monday. I promised we'd be back. This is kind of a rush job as I am trying to beat the Veteran's Day Rush.

We begin our Video tour with Everfound and Take this City (feat Joel of For King and Country).

Next up we have a video by the freshest sound in Gospel Music. The Walls Group. This quartet is only looking for some Love on The Radio.
Love on the Radio is a pretty good gift. But it may not be The Perfect Gift. That comes from JJ Heller.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Looks like the Video pool is slowing down. We shall see if we are forced to go into Holiday Mode soon. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bad Moon Rising: The 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Gospel

Gospel Music tied with Alternative this quarter with a whopping fifteen entries into the pool, and a nice mix of new and established artists to boot. That's just the way I like things. Now things can get back to normal, though Normal is Overrated. Here's to closing out the quarter in a big way.

Gospel/R&B

• Bethany Devine - Daily Confessions
• Deitrick Haddon -The Best of Deitrick Haddon
• Shawna Harris - God Is Able
• Brent Jones - Joy Comin
• Canton Jones - God City USA
• Tasha Page Lockhart - Here Right Now
• Rachael Messini - Honestly
• VaShawn Mitchell - God My God
• Smokie Norful - Forever Yours
• Paul Porter - F.R.E.E.
• Kierra Sheard - Graceland
• Isaiah Templeton - Roll in the Dirt
• The Walls Group - Fast Forward
• Michelle Williams - Journey to Freedom
• Zie'l - Pronounced Zy-el

Rachael Messini is the former Rachael Washington of The Washington Projects with her brother Je'kob, whose latest album is in the running for PV6. I am really excited about The Walls Group. When a small group can have that choir sound, it is exciting. Haven't been this psyched about a Gospel Group since Forever Jones.

That does it for the 4th Quarter. Time to get the judging started. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.