November Update

Hallowsnow Strikes Again. The Saturday October 29 Snowstorm dumped only about 3 inches of snow, even though the weather reports were predicting 26 inches. However, even though my personal abode remained unscathed and power loss free, the nearby town suffered 80% Power Loss. Since I am currently relying on that Towns library for unfettered internet access, we are somewhat hamstrung. I am hoping to be up to full speed soon. Of course, I am not the only one to be inconvenienced. The Local Trick Or Treating has been postponed to November 4. At least they are getting it in before the clock change.

Any Day Centered On Candy Can't Be Bad

Happy Halloween From The Night Beat. There, I've said it. That should cost me a few conservative readers. I know the accepted Conservative Christian doctrine is that Halloween is a day cleverly devised to teach our youngsters Devil Worship, Witchcraft and Ritualistic Serial Killing Techniques. GIVE IT A REST! It's all about the Candy.

I was celebrating Halloween from a very early age. I'm told that my first costume was as Jerry The Mouse (Tom & Jerry). It was homemade. I don't remember. I do remember being Little Stinker (a skunk, also homemade, with a wire coat hanger used to keep up the tail). I'm sure there would be some sort of OSHA regulations against such things nowadays.

Yesterday (That would be Friday the 28th. I'm doing this post in advance), the town I live in had a main street merchant trick or treating walk. I saw a lot of kids going into and coming out of business establishments in search of CANDY. There was nothing disturbing about the scene, except that the parents seemed to try to hit ALL the establishments, not just the ones that had originally signed up. Seeing kids go into an auto parts store and a liquor store was a little disturbing. Exactly what kind of treat were the parents expecting. Chocolate Schnapps, Candy Oil Filters? I digress.

If your town has had Trick or Treating already, I hope it was good. If it's tonight, I wish you much success. Kids, Hide Your Stash Quick. Your Parents need your help.

Any day centered around candy can't be bad. That hits just about all of them. Valentines Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check, Check, Check, Check and Check. Happy Candy Hunting from The Night Beat.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees- Pop

We come to Pop Music. Now this is an overloaded category if there ever was one. Just about everything, if it is not obviously Rock & Roll, could be categorized as Pop Music. If you use a true definition, as popular music, then just about anything people like fit here. For sanity's sake, of course, I use the more restrictive, non rock definition.

Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

So Basically, the definition is, if it's not Rock (loud), but still bouncy, it's Pop. But if it's too bouncy, it's dance, and if there are heavy use of Synthesizers, it's not only dance but Techno. You Can see how this can get confusing.

Pop Music

• Jessa Anderson - Not Myself Anymore
• Big Daddy Weave - The Ultimate Collection
• Steven Curtis Chapman - Re: Creation
• Jason Gray - A Way to See In the Dark
• Shaun Groves - Third World Symphony
• Matt Hammitt - Every Falling Tear
• Mat Kearney - Young Love
• Dara Maclean - You Got My Attention
• Matt Maher - The Love In Between
• Jon McLaughlin - Forever If Ever
• Manic Drive - Epic
• Geoff Moore - Saying Grace
• Ginny Owens - Get In I'm Driving
• Andrew Peterson - Above These City Lights (Live)
• Robert Pierre - I'm All In
• V.Rose - V.Rose
• Selah - Hope For the Broken World

Eight down and only three to go. Whew. Stay with me as I complete the fourth quarter roll out of the initial nomination pool of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. As always. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Modern Worship

Moving On to Modern Worship. And there's only one Hillsong Entrant. I guess it is possible to have a best of Modern Worship not dominated by the Australian Megachurch.

Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

Like I said, this is Modern Worship. Now for anyone not clear on the concept, basically it is worship music with a rock beat. Now I have a problem with most modern worship music, but it's not the same problem that most have. Sure, there is the standard gripe that Hillsong Church seems to dominate the genre, but my biggest gripe is it's too tame. I Prefer Skillet and Worth Dying For. Let's crank this up to 25. Who do we think we are, the Talley Trio?

Modern Worship

• Jeff Anderson - A Thousand Tongues
• Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
• The Ember Days - Emergency
• My Epic - Broken Voice
• Hillsong Live - God Is Able (Live)
• Leeland - The Great Awakening
• Planetshakers - Nothing Is Impossible
• Pocket Full of Rocks - Let it Rain: The Best of Pocket Full of Rocks
• Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - Twenty Three
• Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons
• Jeremy Riddle - Furious
• Vineyard Worship UK - My Soul Yearns 

Scroll down to the bottom of the Darlene Zschech review for my bonus on C.C.R. Now while The Ember Days doesn't exactly crank thinks up as high as I would like, no one can doubt that they set themselves apart with an Alternative/Trance Sound. They definitely are the Anti-Hillsong. There is still more to come, so stay with me. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Alternative

Moving on with the Fourth Quarter Nominations. For those new on the scene, the year of eligibility for the Platinum Vinyl Awards is October 1-September 30. So the fourth quarter is the summer months of July, August and September, hence "heating it up".

2011 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

We come to the Alternative Rock genre. Again, the genre was well represented, with ten entries this quarter alone. Let's get to it.

Alternative Rock

• Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta
• DecembeRadio - Southern Attic Sessions
• Divided by Friday - Prove It
• Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth
• Kiros - Outlaws & Prodigals
• Mikeschair - A Beautiful Life
• Rush of Fools - We Once Were
• Sidewalk Prophets - These Simple Truths (Deluxe Edition)
• Southbound Fearing - Southbound Fearing
• Switchfoot - Vice Verses (5)

There are a few multiple entrants here. Daniel Bashta is here and in Modern Worship, and Switchfoot is here and in Rock. We'll keep things going, hopefully one a day, and get through the genre based nominations in a week. As Always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Symphonic Steamrollers: The Night Beat Christmas "Rap" Vol.1

Christmas seems to come earlier every year. I consider myself a traditionalist that way. One of the local easy listening stations that gets pumped into just about every restaurant or Dunkin Donuts out here will start playing non stop Christmas/"Holiday" Music (Don't get me started on "Happy Holidays", it's Merry Christmas) It's too much. Christmas is supposed to be a time of great joy, and if hearing the 5 Trillionth play of "grandma got run over by a reindeer" or "Last Christmas", by November 25 leads one to thoughts of homicide, that kind of spoils the holiday cheer.

There is a cure to HMIHT though (That's Holiday Music Inspired Homicidal Thoughts. If anyone can think of a better acronym, I'm all ears). The cure is simple. Break out the Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. There are some others, but these two are key. They will get you into the proper spirit fast, and they rarely make a music FAIL. 5 Emeralds can get awarded on reputation alone. Usually.

Given enough time even Mannheim Steamroller can make an average album. There, I said it. It's not that Symphonic Symphony is bad. It isn't, not by a long shot. It's just, there's something missing, and that is the electronics. There are certain things that people expect from certain bands, and for Mannheim that means Renaissance Inspired Synth-Rock. The Synthetic Instrumentals have been replaced by a real orchestra, in this case the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague. Only the Renaissance tunes (Silent Night, Carol of the Birds, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) survive intact. For the Rock Tunes (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Rock). Sorry, you just can't replace synths, and electronic instruments in general, in a rock tune. With Rock strings and orchestra should accompany the electronics, not replace them. I am giving Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Symphony a mere 4 Emeralds (Christmas music is not eligible for the PVA's, so this is an honest rating. Still, it's a major ouch).

Since the Christmas Music releases started on September 27 (Major Ouch), here are a few more CD's to pass my ears so far. Don't worry, I'll spread out these posts throughout the season. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

• Various Artists - WOW Christmas 2011 4.5 Emeralds
• David Crowder Band - Oh For Joy 4.5 Emeralds
• Kutless - This is Christmas 4.5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Christmas in Diverse City 4.75 Emeralds
• Matthew West - The Heart of Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - Songs for Christmas 4 Emeralds

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees - Gospel

Listen...We Come to Gospel (and its kin R&B). And we also come to categories which will require significant cutdowns (we're talking over 50% of the initial pool will get a "thanks for playing" parting gift). Dispensing with pleasantries, let us get to the business of announcing

2011 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

Gospel Music (including R&B)

• Dorinda Clark Cole - I Survived
• Committed - Committed
• Ricky Dillard and New G - The Best of
• Deitrick Haddon - Anthology
• Le'Andria Johnson - The Awakening
• Forever Jones - Get Ready (Deluxe Edition)
• Donald Lawrence - YRM: Your Righteous Mind
• Jawn Murray Presents - Untapped
• Richard Smallwood - Promises
• 21:03 - Evolved....From Boys to Men

No Perfect albums this time around, but all of these selections could win. First they have to make the cut.

We still have much more to announce so stay here. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.