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.
We are at the penultimate post of our 3rd Quarter Wrap. That's next to last for you progressives out there. It is Modern Worship. Okay, now that you've recovered from your faint, I know it is a shock. I can't remember the time when Modern Worship didn't win the quarter. But Rap did this time. By one entry.
Modern Worship
Bethel Music - Moments: Mighty Sound
Heartsound - Heartsound: Live From Vineyard Boise
Here Be Lions - Only A Holy God
Highlands Worship - Volume 2: Jesus You Alone EP
Hillsong Worship - There Is More
Life Worship - Speak to the Storm
Chris McClarney - Breakthrough (Live)
Planetshakers - Heaven on Earth, Part 1
Brittani Scott - Fight For Us EP
United Pursuit Band - Garden
Upperroom - Moments EP
Vertical Worship - Bright Faith, Bold Future
A very good showing, but just not enough to take the prize. Rap Wraps it Up. I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to another edition of Music Video Monday. July is just about over, and with it the first third of the final quarter of #PlatVnyl9. Let's get right to it.
We begin with a little wrap or Rap. This is Aaron Cole. He's Down Like That. We continue with some Pop and Shelly E Johnson. She's Home. And we finish off with For King and Country. They are continuing their trend of a song and video a month to kick off their new album. This is God Only Knows. Sometimes I feel we could say that about Music Video Monday, but we wont. Until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We continue our journey into CCM history using Servant's Jungle Music skit as our guide. When we began our Journey with Stanley and Livingston we discussed their opening band, The Heavy Metal and Female Fronted Rock Band Resurrection Band (which is commonly known as REZ or REZ Band)
If you didn't read the Tribute to REZ, please, click on the link and check it out. This small 90 second or so is a name dropping treasure trove of CCM History. I will briefly mention that the reference is to Awaiting Your Reply (1978) the band's Major Label Debut on Star Song Records.
S: Dr. Livingston I presume! L: Why Stanley Ole chap, did you bring those rock and roll tapes that I requested? S: Yes I did Doctor, I brought some Resurrection Band L: Capitol! I was Awaiting Your Reply.
We now join the conversation in progress.
S: However, I lost the Daniel Amos in the river. It was a pity. L: How Alarming.
The band and album referenced this time is Daniel Amos, and more specifically, the album Alarma! (1981) the band's fourth album. Losing Daniel Amos in the river is more than alarming, it is quite the tragedy.
Christian music has always been a tale of two Taylors (and I don't mean Swift). In this case the two are Terry Scott Taylor of Daniel Amos (aka DA) and Clone (or is it Clown?) Prince and Political Skewerer (is that a word?) Steve Taylor. We shall eventually come round to Steve, but we shall stay with Terry Today.
Daniel Amos started out as a Country-Rock group at the Prime of the Jesus Music Era, though they were called Jubal's Last Band at the time. They Changed their name to Daniel Amos and released their eponymous debut in 1976. Yes, that's early but even Petra was earlier. By the time their third album Horrendous Disc (1978) they had seen the light and ditched country, becoming the Father of Alternative Rock (though some would attribute that to The Choir, which came along several years later. By the time Vox Humana came out in 1984, the band had a slight complaint.
I thought by now I'd walk the moon And ride a car without no tires And have a robot run the vacuum And date a girl made out of wires No thing's don't change that much, do they? We are still out of touch, by now we should discover Just how to love each other, like Klattus' robot man Your looks have killed again
The Song was titled "It's the eighties, where's our rocket packs". Well we didn't get rocket packs yet, at least not commercially available ones, but in the midst of break-ups and reunions, Daniel Amos is amazingly, still together and working on new material. A 2011 planned new album didn't pan out, but there is 2012 to hope for.
UPDATE July 27, 2018: That 2011 Album was delayed for 2 years. In 2013 the band released Dig Here Said The Angel. I am considering a review. So we only have a 5 year hiatus. Good to hear that some of the "fathers" are still plugging away.
I finish this edition of Flashback Friday with Sanctuary from the Cornerstone Jesus Rally. Watch and enjoy. Until Next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Three genres to go. We are in the final stretch. Remaining are Modern Worship, Pop and Rap, surprisingly enough. We are covering pop, so I'll leave it to you to figure out who is the winner. It will be revealed soon enough.
Pop Music
Chris August - Seasons
Jonny Diaz - Sweetness and Sorrow EP
Tori Harper - Seasons EP
Mat Kearney - Crazy Talk
Mark Lee - Unshakable Heart
Lovecollide - Tired of Basic
Teresa Peterson - Faithfu EP
Plumb - Beautifully Broken
Plumb - Beautifully Broken (Remixes)
Sarah Reeves - Easy Never Needed You EP
Ryan Stevenson - No Matter What
11 songs for the bubblegum set. Mark Lee is a former member of Third Day. Kind of cements the breakup. Two releases from Plumb in this quarter by no means tips my hand. Modern Worship is next. Yes, they are only in second place. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The second genre among our tie this quarter is Rock. Anytime you get over a complete final in one quarter you have a healthy genre. Rock and Roll is here to stay.
Rock Music
Jonathan Cain - The Songs You Leave Behind
John DeGroff - Salt
Jeremy Johnson - Legendary
Ledger - Ledger EP
Mainframe - Burn The Boats
Hawk Nelson - Miracles
Sanctus Real - Changed
Andrew Serino - The Golden Thread
Smalltown Poets - Say Hello
That does it for Rock. A mix of old and new. The oldest would be Jonathan Cain, of Journey's Don't Stop Believing. And John DeGroff, one of the founders of Petra (who didn't stay long). And the "new" definitely includes Ledger, though the band is fronted by Skillet drummer Jen Ledger, who has been with the band for a while. Next up is Pop. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome back to Music Video Monday. Things are heating up here at Night Beat HQ right along with the weather. First up we have Austin French. He's Born Again and wants everyone to know it. Next up we go to cover an escape, as in The Young Escape. They have been dancing around the edges of the big time lately and have released a new video featuring rapper nobidgyl. I don't know if that helps or hurts, but it is what it is. This is Love Me Like You.
Finally we go to Branan Murphy, who seems to be primed to rocket up the radio charts. This is My Life. That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
