The Home of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Reviews of New CD releases, mostly CCM but also mainstream releases that may interest the Christian Music listener. Music News and Commentary, especially when there's a CCM connection.
Break out the Bubblegum, it's Pop Music Time. This quarter was a good one for the pop tart crowd with a double finals worth of entries (that's 14 for the newbies, and perhaps Iowa Dems can count that high). Sorry, couldn't resist. Let's get to the syrup.
Pop Music
Jared Anderson - The Whole Landscape EP
Jeremy Benjamin - WonderLove
Citizen Way - Love Is A Lion
Clay Crosse - Freewill Offering EP
For All Seasons - Side A EP
Hollyn - Bye, Sad Girl
Coby James - No trouble EP
Coby James - Happier EP
Coby James - Coby James EP
Chuckie P - Faith Hope and Love
Reba Rambo - Lady (Released 1976: Digital Debut)
Courtney Ramirez - Amada en Verdad
Stillman - Let Go EP
Stillman - Wherever You Are EP
Those in the know have deduced the winner. Modern Worship Wraps the Wrap with 20 entries. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Rap (and its sibling Hip-Hop) were third in the three way tie for third place in the first quarter of 2020. Two genres beat it. And when you have ten entries in a quarter and still aren't the winner, you know it's going to be a great year.
Rap/Hip-Hop
Beacon Light - Influential EP
Aaron Bucks - California, Volume 3
5ive - White Van EP
Xay Hill - Million EP
Manafest - This Is Not the End
Derek Minor - Nothing But A Word ft Propaganda
Social Club Misfits - MOOD/DOOM
Thi'sl - STTAG
Joey Vantes - The Season EP
Whosoever South - Backroads and Small Towns
To me Whosoever South and Manafest are at the top of the list, but this is a pretty good mix. The Penultimate Genre is Pop Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We crank up the volume all the way past limits now. Heavy Metal and Hard Rock had a very nice showing with 10 entries this quarter. It's gonna be headbanger heaven this year.
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Bloodgood - Trenches of Rock: The Metal Mission of Bloodgood
The Devil Wears Prada - The Act
Norma Jean - All Hail
Nothing Left - Disconnected
RED - The Evening Hate EP
Saint - The Calf
Michael Sweet - 10
What We Do In Secret - Repose
Wicked's End - Flood
The World Will Burn - Nothing as Real as it seems.
This quarter has a bit of an 80's feel to it. Michael Sweet is lead for Stryper, Saint and Bloodgood were also 80's bands and The World Will Burn is a side project of Dale Thompson, lead vocalist for the 80's Metal Band (still active) Bride. Our third and final tie is Rap. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The final set of ties is a three way tie. Gospel, Hard Rock and Rap are tied with ten entries apiece. These are only tied in the third place position however.
Gospel/R&B
Anthony Brown and Group Therapy - 2nd Wind: Ready
Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 1 EP
Kirk Franklin - Past and Present, Volume 2 EP
Travis Green - Broken Record
Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Smile (Live)
Donnie McClurkin - A Different Song
Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP
Noel Robinson - I Surrender
Kanye West - Jesus Is Born (ft Sunday Service Choir)
Kelly Wright - The Love Train
It still seems strange typing Kanye's name in Gospel, but God does Amazing Things. Next up is Hard Rock. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are going to try something a bit different at the Night Beat. Usually for Music Video Monday we play the best original music videos by artists. We have had an abundance of good cover songs recently, and some of them have made videos. We want to recognize them just like we do the "original" videos. We begin with Caitie Hurst, a rising star in the Christian Music Industry. This is her cover of Hillsong United's So Will I. Next up we go to "my band" as I like to Call Them. The Choir has been covering a bunch of mainstream music lately, and in a lot of cases making your forget the original. They are that good at making it their own. This time they redo One Republic's 2013 hit Counting Stars. Finally we go to my favorite lady, Amy Lee and Evanescence. They recently did a remix of Fleetwood Mac's The Chain. I gave the original a listen, as I do with all covers, and I hated it. Way to country for my taste. Amy is in her Goth glory in this one for this version made for the Video Game Gear 5. Defiant Metal at its finest. That does it for this version of Music Video Monday. We will be back with the original videos next time. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Our Second tie is between Live Album and Rock Music. Both genres had 6 entries apiece. We are just starting. When we finish the numbers get much bigger. Let's get to it. No More Words.
Live Recorded Album
First Free Music - Live at Black Box Theater
Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Smile (Live)
Chris McClarney - Fill This Place (Live) EP
Gene Moore - Nashville Sessions (Live) EP
Slick Shoes - Broadcasting Live
Vive Worship - Resonance (Live)
Slick Shoes releasing their first Album 16 years and sounding as fresh as ever. Looks like Comeback Album will be making a comeback this year. Rock Music is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
