Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Modern Worship

This is it folks, the final post for the third quarter wrap. We had a whopping 18 entries for this one folks. Of course, this is the winner almost every quarter. Personally, I think that it is a bloated category that could be pared down quite a bit, but everyone wants to make a worship album. Let's get with it.

Modern Worship

• Daniel Bashta - For Every Curse
• Canyon Worship - Canyon
• Elim Sound - Elim 100
• Mia Feldes - Ashes
• House of Peace - Into The Great Unknown
• Jesus Culture - This Is Jesus Culture
• Derek Johnson - Real Love
• Chris McClarney - Everything and Nothing Less (Live)
• Matt McCoy - Alive and Free
• John Mark and Sarah McMillan - You Are The Avalanche
• Andy Needham Band - Love Is The Song
• Christy Nockels - Let It Be Jesus
• Northwest Collective - Rejoice: Live From Seattle
• Onething Live - Shout Your Name
• Planetshakers - Outback Worship Sessions
• Matt Redman - Unbroken Praise
• Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Kingdom Come
• Various - Top 25 Modern Worship Songs

That does it for the third quarter, and we are now one month into the Final Quarter. It's almost time for #PlatVnyl6. Wow. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Pop

The final of our trio is Pop Music. We still have one genre to go, and it is the biggie for the quarter.

Pop Music

• Blanca - Blanca
• David Dunn - Crystal Clear
• Lexi Elisha - Drowning In Love
• Chad Evans - Before and After
• Jimmy Needham - Vice and Virtue
• Morgan Harper Nichols - Morgan Harper Nichols
• Plumb - Exhale 
• Populis - EP
• Gracie Schram - I Am Me
• Jonathan Singh - City Love Music

Lexi Elisha is an up an comer that seems to bounce around the genres, and Plumb is settling in quite nicely into the pop arena. And Blanca is set up for a promising post Group 1 Crew career. Only one more to go. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Alternative

The second of our three Perfect 10 Lists goes to Alternative. It was a very good quarter for the genre. And we have a mix of new and old. On to the list

Alternative Rock

• Abandon Kansas - Alligator
• Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal: Live In New York City
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands: Sunlight
• Foreverlin - Still After
• Ghost Ship - Costly
• Jonathan David and Melissa Helger - On The Shores
• Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are (Instrumental)
• Kings Kaleidoscope - Live In Focus EP
• Lifehouse - Out of The Wasteland
• 21 Pilots - Blurryface

Last time I discussed a name change for Children 18:3 as opposed to a breakup. They could also go the Anberlin Route. Re releasing all their albums in a live concert format could hold of the fans until they choose to reunite. Of course they were a bit more prolific. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Rock

I really have to be more careful with my math. I announce things and then I find out I've miss-added. Counting to 10 stuff. So rock actually had ten entries, as did alternative and pop. That is this trio, and I've finally got it. Since I have teased Rock twice I think I will begin with it. You've got to put out eventually.

Rock Music

• Attalus - Into The Sea
• Children 18:3 - Come In
• Emery - You Were Never Alone
• Fireflight - Innova
• Dustin Kensrue - Carry The Fire
• Kutless - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kutless
• Needtobreathe - Live From The Woods
• People of The Earth - We Are People of The Earth
• Pioneer - Passive Aggression Part  1
• See The Rise - Exposures

Fireflight has embraced a new sound for Innova and I like it, though from the buzz on the internet I am in the minority. Children 18:3 saved the best for last, though a lot of us hope that they reconsider their breakup. If it's the children part of the name, why not go the Shinebright route and go with a namechange. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Rap

Rap and Hip Hop are next with 9 nominations this quarter. The genre is tied with Rock, which also had 9 nominees. We are now in the major genres, where each quarter produces a full final lineup. Needless to say there will be a lot of editing. Let's get to it.

Hip Hop/Rap

• Beacon Light - Open Eyes
• CJ Emulous - Light It Up
• Fedel - Flaw
• J Han - Tower Ivory
• Illuminate - Charismata
• KB - Tomorrow We Live
• SPEC - Vacancy
• Roy Tosh - Death Before Love
• Various - Holy Hip Hop, Volume 19

There is only one other comment. The artist J Han belongs to a rising crop of Korean Rappers (stop laughing, at least it's not Swedish Polka Artists). Anyway I listened to the album and I thought it was more R&B than Hip Hop, but that is how the label wants it. Either way it's a good album. Rock Is Next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Gospel

Gospel Music tied with Adult Contemporary for 7 entries in the pool for the third quarter. It's cause for rejoicing, but when it gets tied with Modern Worship I'll really dance. Let's get with it.

Gospel/R&B

• As One - As One
• Cornell Burton, Jr - The Singles EP
• Lonnie Hunter and Structure - #GETITDONE
• Freddy Rodriguez - Amazed
• Marvin Sapp - You Shall Live
• The Showers - The Showers Family Group
• Richard Smallwood - Anthology Live

It was a good showing with a bunch of new artists, or at least new to me. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Adult Contemporary

The Adult Contemporary Genre had a good third quarter. If this were the finals they would have a complete bracket filled out, as we try to have seven final nominees. We wont waste any time with small talk. Here are the contenders:

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Chris August - The Maker
• Brad and Rebekah - All You've Done
  
• Dan Bremnes - Where The Light Is EP
• Dan Bremnes - Where The Light Is
• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be
• Finding Favor - Reborn
• Jon Guerra - Little Songs

We've got things rolling again. Next up is Gospel, which also had seven entries this quarter. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Industrial Folk

The 3rd Quarter of 2015 is in the bag. The Temperatures are heating up and so is the competition for the honor that is #PlatVnyl6. There were no eligible entries (that I know of, others could be discovered) for Children's Music, Dance/Synthpop, and Remix this quarter. We also combine genres that had too few entrants to merit a seperate post. This quarter we are combining Folk/Folk Rock, Instrumental, Electronic/Industrial, and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. The combined genres amount to 10 potential nominees. So from least to greatest here we go.

Instrumental Music

• Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are (Instrumental)

Electronic/Industrial

• NYVES - Anxiety
• Rapture Ruckus - Invader Deluxe

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - Psalms 
• Shane and Shane - The Worship Initiative
• Joy Williams - Venus

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• August Burns Red - Found In Far Away Places
• Haste The Day - Coward
• The Ongoing Concept - Handmade
• Wolves at the Gate - Reprise EP

While all these made the initial pool, their fate is uncertain. Especially ones like Joy Williams and The Ongoing Concept. They are on the bubble with a 4.50 rating. We are on our way. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply