Science Fiction Begins Now

No, I am not going to write about life on other planets. That's just a teaser. This is about music. The trend in music these days is Synthetic, not Organic. Personally, I think that's a good thing. Who needs instruments? All you need is a synthesizer and some vocals. Actually, vocals are optional.

Two brothers lead the pack in synthetic music are two brothers who are too lean. No that's not a comment on their diet, it's their name. David and Jonathan Thulin (the pronunciation is above). David is the EDM king, and Jonathan is the Electronic-Industrial/Alternative half. This is about Jonathan.

Way back in #PlatVnyl4 Jonathan came out with The White Room (Deluxe Edition) . Until then he was unknown to us, as was his brother. So much so that I had his name as Thu-lynne. Bombs Away was the song that caught my attention, and the video is a perfect analogy for redemption. It gathered nominations that year, and the Deluxe edition is in contention again in #PlatVnyl5.

The follow up to The White Room is pure Science Fiction . I've got the album on auto repeat here. It is addicting. Jonathan has a lot of help in this album (featuring credits) from big time artists (Rapture Ruckus, Derek Minor, Kevin Max, Moriah Peters) and some which may not be recognized at first, such as Manwell (Group1Crew), Tauren Wells (Royal Tailor) and Emily Irene (Shine Bright Baby).

One of the highlights of The White Room was the tendency to the spectacular, with musical scores more reminiscent of Epic Motion Pictures. To be fair, he delivered in the song, and especially in the Music Videos, which would be mini-movies. JT does not disappoint here. Cry Wolf,  Mockingbird, and The Ruins should make great videos with this one.

Considering that this has been on auto repeat from the start I have no qualms about giving Science Fiction a perfect 5 Emerald rating. This one has really set the bar for Electronic and Alternative. Like all good sci-fi, you do have to wait. The link is just for a pre-order, the actual album drops March 17. And it's a whole lot better than green beer. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: January 2014

Happy New Year everyone. Welcome to the first edition of Night Beat Rewind for 2014. The year has kicked off with a bang, with three perfect albums in this months total. We begin, however, with those albums which will not get an award in the 5th Platinum Vinyl Awards (The fourth is being tabulated for nominees as we write).

Missing The Mark

• Casting Crowns - Thrive 3.75 Emeralds 
• Copperlilly - Love Is A Legend 3.75 Emeralds
• Keno Camp - Riot 3.75 Emeralds
• Maranatha Music - Top 25 Praise Songs 2014 3.75 Emeralds
• Saving Grace - The Urgency 3.75 Emeralds

Now all these releases are pretty good, but pretty good just won't cut it at the PVA's. The only release that disappointed me was Casting Crowns. The only way to describe it is flat.

From Flat to Perfect. We now announce the January releases deemed to be

Pure Platinum

• David Ian - Valentine's Day 5 Emeralds
• Charlie Peacock - Lemonade 5 Emeralds
• Switchfoot - Fading West 5 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - The White Room (Deluxe Edition) CD Re-release 5 Emeralds

Ian and Peacock put out two outstanding Jazz records this past month. Switchfoot? Far from Fading away, they, in my opinion at least, put out their best album ever.

Now to the releases in the middle. Not perfect, but in the pool nonetheless.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Dave Barnes - Golden Days 4.50 Emeralds
• Latice Crawford - Latice Crawford 4.75 Emeralds
• Colton Dixon - A Messenger (Expanded Edition) 4.50 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Only King Forever 4.50 Emeralds
• Israel and New Breed - Playlist: The Very Best of Israel & New Breed 4.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Grace - Ready To Fly [+video] 4.75 Emeralds
• Jake Hamilton - Beautiful Rider   4.75 Emeralds
• Maranatha Music - Heart Of Worship - 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) 4.75 Emeralds
• Andy Mineo - Never Land EP 4.50 Emeralds
• J Moss - The Very Best of J Moss 4.25 Emeralds
• Nine Lashes - From Water to War 4.75 Emeralds
• Number One Gun - This Is All We Know 4.75 Emeralds
• Papa San - One Blood 4.75 Emeralds
• Triplicity - Triplicity 4.75 Emeralds
• Shout Praises Kids - We Belong To Jesus 4.50 Emeralds
• David Thulin - Reconstruction (Vol. 2.1) 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - iWorship Now/Next 2014 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for January. Yeah, I know there are four among the perfect and I said three. Three originals. This is a re-release from November for Jonathan Thulin. They all want an additional entry to the pool. Also, due to the possible snowstorm around these parts, I have only included limited links. Don't worry, they will be fully updated. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Songs: The 2013 Third Quarter - Dance

Dance is next as we roll out the pool eligible entries for the 4th Platinum Vinyl Awards. I am making one post here, although in the finals they will be split into two categories, Dance/Synthpop and Electronic/Industrial. Since I have already categorized this quarters entries I will be making two lists in this post. First up:

Dance/Synthpop

• Allistair - Feed The White Dog Love
• Family Force 5 - Reanimated
• Har Megiddo - Har Megiddo Remixed
• David Thulin - Reconstruction

Three of the four releases here are remixes, but they would qualify if they weren't. Har Megiddo and David Thulin (pronounced Too lean) got perfect 5's for their efforts. 

Next up is Electronic Music that isn't necessarily just for the dance floor, although you probably can dance to it.

Electronic/Industrial

• All The Bright Lights - The Wind and The Waves
• Steve Hare - A Heart Like Your Own
• The Jellyrox - Embellish
• Pilgrim - Pilgrim

For those not in the know, +The Jellyrox Street Team ST is the side project of Matt Langston of eleventyseven. All The Bright Lights has its entry pretty much by faith, as except for a few clips, I can't find anything on availability. It seems like vaporware, so, even though I gave it 5 Emeralds, it may not be guaranteed.

Three more to go, and I still have room in September. Yeah. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: April 2013

Welcome to the April edition of Night Beat Rewind. Before we get to the entries I want to mention that there were three special edition releases by DC Talk released this month. Re-mastered editions of Free at Last (1992), Jesus Freak (1995), and Supernatural (1998). They're not new, so I won't be giving a score. Just get them. 

There were two perfect albums. Not surprisingly they are both in dance.

Missing The Mark

• Joanna Beasley - Loud Love 3.75 Emeralds
• Chasing Tree - The Light in Miracles 3.50 Emeralds
• Coastal Rise - Call of the Sea 3.00 Emeralds
• Russell and Kristi - No Other Name 3.75 Emeralds
• Social Club - Rejects 3.75 Emeralds
• Tidewater - The Wedding 3.75 Emeralds
• Toarn - Brood of Vipers 3.75 Emeralds 
• Dr. R. A. Vernon & "The Word" Church Praise Team - We're Amazed (Live Worship At "The Word"), Vol. 2 3.75 Emeralds
• Young Noah - Mixtape Volume 2 3.75 Emeralds  

There were three Perfect Albums this month. Two of them were in the dance and electronic genres, which is not surprising. If it makes you move, it is gold, at least.

Pure Platinum

• Har Megiddo - Har Megiddo Remixed 5 Emeralds
• Paramore - Paramore 5 Emeralds
• David Thulin - Reconstruction 5 Emeralds

All three of these albums are must have. I basically had them on repeat for a whole week when trying to review them. As I said, nothing missed the mark, so we are left with that mass of musical talent known each month as 

Semi-Precious Metal

You know, not perfect, but still in the Award pool. Very Good releases actually. On a scale of 1-10 perfect is 10, these are 7-9.

• Ace Augustine - The Sick and Suffering 4.75 Emeralds
• After Edmund - Art and Commerce 4.75 Emeralds
• The Afters - Life Is Beautiful 4.75 Emeralds
• All Sons and Daughters - Live 4.50 Emeralds
• All Things New - All Things New 4.50 Emeralds
• Ark of The Covenant - Self Harvest 4.50 Emeralds
• Charles Billingsley - Charles Billingsley In Concert (Live) 4.25 Emeralds
• C3 (Christian City Church Oxford Falls) - In Your Rhythm 4.75 Emeralds
• Citizen Way - Love Is The Evidence   4.50 Emeralds
• Fallstar - Backdraft 4.50 Emeralds
• For Today - Prevailer [+digital booklet] 4.50 Emeralds
• Hawk Nelson  - Made [+video] 4.50 Emeralds
• House of Heroes - The Knock-Down Drag-Outs 4.75 Emeralds
• The Jellyrox - Embellish EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology, Pt. 1: Theology 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - All The People Said Amen 4.75 Emeralds
• Andy Mineo - Heroes for Sale 4.50 Emeralds
• Jonathan Nelson - Finish Strong 4.50 Emeralds
• North Point Kids -Shine! 4.50 Emeralds
• Over The Ocean - Be Given to the Soil 4.75 Emeralds
• Pilgrim (Josh White) - Pilgrim 4.75 Emeralds
• Joshua Price - Nothing Without You 4.75 Emeralds
• Kerrie Roberts - Time For The Show 4.75 Emeralds
• More Than Rubies - More Than Rubies 4.75 Emeralds
• Silverline - Lights Out 4.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Simond - Collage 4.75 Emeralds
• Martin Smith - God's Great Dance Floor, Step 01 4.50 Emeralds
• Sweet Comfort Band - The Waiting Is Over 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Come Back Home 4.50 Emeralds
• Ben Walther - Make Your Home in Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Carlos Whittaker - Fight 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Wilson - Carry Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Young Chozen - G.L.O.W. 4.50 Emeralds

That completes this edition of Night Beat Rewind. Glad I could get it out before June. Hopefully it wont take that long for me to get May out. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.