Modern Worship was the winner once again. 21 entrants a triple final. Let's wrap it up.
Modern Worship
- Bethel Music - Without Words: Genesis
- Noah Cleveland - The Nashville Sessions, Volume 1 EP
- CTZN Worship - Welcome Home
- Elim Sound - Send Revival
- Every Nation Music - Seven Verse Nine
- First Free Music - Live at Black Box Theater
- ICF Worship - Fearless (Acoustic Sessions)
- Kalley - Faultlines, Volume 1 EP
- Kalley - Faultlines, Volume 2 EP
- Lifepoint Worship - Heart of Heaven
- Matt Maher - Alive and Breathing, Volume 3 EP
- The Maker and The Instrument - Instrumental Songs of Worship
- Chris McClarney - Fill This Place (Live) EP
- Brooke Nichols - Pursue EP
- One Hope Project - You
- Sovereign Grace Music - The Glorious Christ
- Upperroom - Moments: Design 004 EP
- Various - Simple Hymns: Songs of Worship
- Vive Worship - Resonance (Live)
- Worship Mob - Venture 12: Do It Again EP
- Y+YA - Beyond EP
That finishes off the 1st Quarter Wrap. On to 2020. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Instrumental Music is the second genre in our first of three ties this quarter. Let's get to it.
Instrumental Music
- Bethel Music - Without Words: Genesis
- Dear Gravity - Sleep Scenes
- Hammock - Silencia
- Greg La Follette - Like Locked Rooms EP
- The Maker and The Instrument - Instumental Songs of Worship
From one tie to another. Actually, we have three sets of ties one after another. The next grouping has 6 entrants each. Live Album is first. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Modern Worship is once again the big winner for the quarter. Thirty Three entries for the quarter. That's almost 7 final entries. Let's get to it.
Modern Worship
- Meredith Andrews - Faith And Wonder (Live) EP
- Michael Bahn - Clean
- Bethel Music - Victory
- Mack Brock - Covered EP
- Catch The Fire Music - Presence: Live From Toronto
- CRC Music - Greater Than All (Deluxe)
- Cross Point Music - Cross Point Music
- Elias Dummer - The Work, Volume 1
- Jon Egan - Unveil (Live)
- Every Nation Music - Faithful EP
- London Gatch - New Stories
- Luke and Anna Hellebronth - Motions of Mercy
- Highlands Worship - Jesus You Alone
- Life Center Worship - Debut EP
- Lindy and The Circuit Riders - Driven by Love
- Stephen Miller - Behold
- New Hope Oahu - Scripture Songs
- Passion - Follow You Anywhere
- Passion - Behold The Lamb/It is Finished
- People of The Earth - Victory EP
- Planetboom - Jesus Over Everything
- Planetshakers - Rain Part 1 EP
- Radiate Worship - Come Alive
- Reach City Worship - Nothing Else Matters (Live)
- Michael W. Smith - Awaken: The Surrounded Experience
- 29:11 Worship - Marble and Mortar, Volume 1
- Chris Tomlin - Holy Roar: Live From Church
- Chris Tomlin - Is He Worthy? EP
- Upperroom - Moments: Color 003
- Upperroom - To The One
- Vineyard UK - Legacy (Live From Ireland)
- Vineyard UK - Twelve: One (Dave Miller Live From Trent Vineyard)
- Cory Voss - Songs of The House
- Phil Wickham - Living Hope (The House Sessions)
Thirty-four entries. At seven final entries that would be almost 5 years of finals, in one quarter. We raised the cutoff from 4 to 4.5 to get the genres under control. It worked for everybody but Modern Worship. The wrap is done. The third quarter awaits. I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to 2019. It is hard to believe that it has been nine years. We started around the 4th of July in 2010, so officially we are in our ninth year, but due to our adjusted calendar year for the Platinum Vinyl Awards we're taking entries for our tenth awards. We begin with the songs (not albums) released during the month.
The Singles Scene
- Meredith Andrews - Faith and Wonder (Live)(ft Cody Ray Lee) 5 Emeralds
- Antarctic Wastelands - Unseen Gateway (with Sleepaholics)(Instrumental) 4.75 Emeralds
- K Anthony - I'm Alive 4.50 Emeralds
- Jeremy Benjamin - Work of Art 1.00 Emeralds
- Dee Black - Love Me 4.75 Emeralds
- Dan Bremnes - Thunder 4.75 Emeralds
- Aaron Bucks - Beautiful Thing 4.75 Emeralds
- Cody Carnes - Nothing Else 5 Emeralds
- Lindy Conant and The Circuit Riders - Driven By Love (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
- Copeland - Lay Here 4.75 Emeralds
- Copeland - Night Figures 4.75 Emeralds
- Copeland - On Your Worst Day 4.75 Emeralds
- Jimi Cravity - Ultraviolet 4.75 Emeralds
- Lauren Daigle - You Say (Piano/Vocal) 5 Emeralds
- Demon Hunter - The Negative 5 Emeralds
- Demon Hunter - Recuse Myself 5 Emeralds
- Jordan Feliz - Changed (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
- For All Seasons - Every Good Thing 5 Emeralds
- Kirk Franklin - Love Theory 5 Emeralds
- Danny Gokey - Haven't Seen It Yet 5 Emeralds
- Chad Graham - I Just Need U/Everything (Mashup) 4.75 Emeralds
- Luke and Anna Hellebronth - Up and Alive 5 Emeralds
- Eric Heron - Vegeta 3.50 Emeralds
- Czar Josh - IDWCMA (I Don't Want To Cut My Hair) 4.75 Emeralds
- Hillsong United - Whole Heart (Hold Me Now) (Live) 5 Emeralds
- For King and Country - Joy (r3hab Remix) 5 Emeralds
- Tasha Cobbs Leonard - This Is A Move (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
- Elle Limebear - Holding Me Still 4.75 Emeralds
- Local Sound - Heartache 4.75 Emeralds
- Matt Maher - Just As I Am (Live From Steinway) 5 Emeralds
- Zach Mehaffey - Chapter One 3.50 Emeralds
- Kevi Morse - Crank It Up 3.50 Emeralds
- Branan Murphy - Coming Home 4.75 Emeralds
- Newsboys - Greatness of Our God 5 Emeralds
- Osaze - Amen 3.75 Emeralds
- Peabod - Left Out ft Chad Mattson of Unspoken 4.50 Emeralds
- J-Phish - Dance On The Devil 4.50 Emeralds
- RAWSRVNT - Get Away 4.75 Emeralds
- Run 51 - Authentic 5 Emeralds
- JSteph - Reach Out ft Dawson Samuel 4.75 Emeralds
- Trinity - Wherever We Go 4.50 Emeralds
- Vineyard Worship - All The Same 4.50 Emeralds
- John Wiebe - Let Go 3.50 Emeralds
- Joy Williams - Front Porch 4.75 Emeralds
The Singles Scene is getting off to a hot start. I really will only make one comment on this section. Avoid Jeremy Benjamin. It is not a work of art. Unless you are a snowflake and believe all White Americans are racist, sexist etc. It doesn't qualify as a Christian Song, and I go out of my way to bring in anyone remotely spiritual. We Go on to the albums, and we begin with those albums which will not make the cut.
Missing The Mark
- The Drowned God - I'll Always Be The Same 3.75 Emeralds
- Eric Heron - Neon: A Somewhat Adamant Sequel 3.75 Emeralds
- Jarry Manna - Legends of Lotus Waver EP 4.25 Emeralds
- Matthew Tuck - Dress Rehearsal 4.25 Emeralds
Four MTMs is a good sign to start the year. Let's go from these to the perfect.
Pure Platinum Perfection
- Bethel Music - Victory (Live) 5 Emeralds
- Passion - Follow You Anywhere (Live) 5 Emeralds
- Upperroom - Moments: Color 003 5 Emeralds
- Various - WoW Gospel 2019 5 Emeralds
The scales balance in January. 4 miss, 4 perfect. Now to those in the middle.
Semi-Precious Metal
- Michael Bahn - Clean 4.75 Emeralds
- Casey J - The Gathering 4.75 Emeralds
- Catch The Fire Music - Presence: Live From Toronto 4.75 Emeralds
- CRC Music - Greater Than All (Deluxe) 4.50 Emeralds
- Every Nation Music - Faithful EP 4.75 Emeralds
- Matt Hammitt - Living Room Sessions (Acoustic EP) 4.50 Emeralds
- Steve Malcolm - The Second City 4.50 Emeralds
- Stephen Miller - Behold 4.75 Emeralds
- People of The Earth - Victory EP 4.75 Emeralds
- Pionjar - Du Som Leder Mig 4.75 Emeralds
- Dave Pittman - Different Kind of Love 4.50 Emeralds
- Planetshakers - Rain, Part 1 EP 4.75 Emeralds
- Reach City Worship - Nothing Else Matters (Live EP) 4.75 Emeralds
- Ripp + Rice - Songs We Wrote on Tuesdays 4.75 Emeralds
- Robbie Seay Band - O Great Love (A Best of Collection) 4.75 Emeralds
- Switchfoot - Native Tongue 4.75 Emeralds
- Vineyard UK - Twelve:One (Dave Miller Live From Trent Vineyard) 4.75 Emeralds
- John Waller - Explosions of Light 4.75 Emeralds
- Phil Wickham - Living Hope (The House Sessions) 4.50 Emeralds
Happy New Year Nightbeatniks. Let's make this year a rocking success. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
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.
We here at Night Beat HQ don't often see eye to eye with "The Industry" and we like it that way. My disagreement with the Dove's and The "Christian" Section of The Grammy's is Legendary. Still, sometimes they come around. And when they do I don't know whether to be happy or concerned.
This years We Love Christian Music Awards (WLCMA) is one of those times. They have 55 nominees (5 nominees per category, 11 categories) in the Album Section (The only section I have partially completed. Song is too raw at the moment) 41 are in the initial #PlatVnyl8 Pool (Which is current and I can comment on), and 6 are in the #PlatVnyl9 Pool (Which is in process and I can not comment on). The remaining 8 were either those that Missed The Mark or Albums which I missed (and I am Checking On).
The WLCMA's really love Pop Music. The Proof? They have 3 Pop Categories so they can get 15 nominees in. Even with the liberal standards of the PVA's (we have 7 nominees per category unless we have to expand them) that's twice ours. Because of this discrepancy we will not go into much detail on Pop, except to say that 13 of 15 nominees are also in the Pool. I will include the categories among my quick picks.
The first of the detailed categories is the Inspo Awards (Adult Contemporary/Inspirational). The nominees are as follows.
- Trust, Jaci Velasquez
- Open Hands, Laura Story
- We Will Rise, Natasha Owens
- Every Mile Mattered, Nichole Nordeman
- Unbreakable, Selah
All 5 are in this years #PlatVnyl8 pool. My Prediction? Velasquez for the win. Trust me. Who would I pick? I would go with Nichole Nordeman.
Next up is The Encounter Awards (Modern Worship)
- There Is A Cloud, Elevation Worship
- God That Saves, Iron Bell Music
- More, Jeremy Riddle
- The Garden, Kari Jobe
- Taste + See, Ricardo Sanchez
All except Jeremy Riddle are in the #PlatVnyl8 pool (Riddle is #PlatVnyl9). I think the WLCMA's will stay traditional and go with Kari Jobe, and of the picks I would go with her or Sanchez (a lot of Horns in my samples. Horns and strings make my day). Though In My Humble Opinion, the winner should be In Rivers by Light City Music. All worship music is but a pale imitation. This is worship. They didn't even get nominated.
The AMP Award (Rock-Alternative) still in my opinion is too bloated (we have Rock, Alternative, and Hard Rock/Metal at The Platinum Vinyl Awards). Too many divergent sounds fighting each other.
- Farewell To Midnight, As We Ascend
- Let The Light In, Ashes Remain
- Gone, Red
- Found, Seventh Day Slumber
- IX, Spoken
Ashes Remain and Red are in #PlatVnyl9, the other three are in #PlatVnyl8. There is only one choice here: Red, Red, Red, Red, Red. Am I clear?
Album of The Year is the last detailed genre here.
- Starlight, Bethel Music
- Faith Hope Love Repeat, Brandon Heath
- One Way Conversations, Hollyn
- All In, Matthew West
- Hills and Valleys, Tauren Wells
Brandon Heath is a #PlatVnyl9 Pool member, all the others are for #PlatVnyl8. I am thinking that of the choices, Hollyn is the best choice.
Now for the quick picks:
- The Hook Award (Pop): Hollyn, One Way Conversations
- The Freebird Award (Art Pop): The Royal Royal, Rococo
- The Pop Lite Award (Pop/Contemporary): Mercy Me, Lifer
- The Hype Award (Rap): KB, Now We Rebel
- The BPM Award (Electronic): Fearless BND, We Are Fearless
- The Soul Vibe Award (Gospel): Deitrick Haddon, Deitrick Haddon and the Hill City Worship Camp
- EP of The Year: Plumb, God Help Me EP
That does it for this post. It will be all quick picks for the next few posts. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply
