Embracing Entropy in DiverseCity

Or is TobyMac trapped in a Circle of Dust. Sorry for the Rocky and Bullwinkle dual titles. I think I am fairly certain that the two will not be doing a single together anytime soon.

I do have a method to my madness. While Industrial Strength hip hop may not be appealing my point is. As I mentioned in my first post on the subject, there are many genres represented in Christian music. Now some of them may not release enough to fill a program director's playlist needs, others could possibly fill multiple years without a single repeat. But why should it have to be that way. The sin is that approximately 90% of Christian Music will never be played on over the air Christian Radio. The internet is a different tune altogether, as genre specific radio stations abound. OTA is an Adult Contemporary wasteland. How about we mix it up. We could have the AC/Worship going from 11pm to 9am and the rest of the time have music for people with a pulse. Just half kidding there. As a lot of Worship music has moved into the EDM zone it has offended the pillars (who are stiff as one), and that is fine with me.

Christian music is as diverse as the mainstream, and we should embrace it in all its glory. Musically definitely, but also theologically. If the musician says they're a Christian that's good enough for me. And I'm not going to throw them out if they sin. Only Jesus was perfect.

And maybe even some ethnic diversity. There is only one race, and that is human. There really isn't a reason why the same station couldn't play Southern and Urban Gospel music. Well maybe I should say a good reason. Why humiliate our Southern Gospel stick in the muds. White boys got no rhythm. I'm of Polish descent. I know of what I speak.

Until now I have stuck to the tunes. Beginning with my next post I will be meddling with Radio Station personnel. Preparing to defend against incoming missiles.  Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Hunted by the Huntress

Artemis: Daughter of Zeus and Sister of Apollo. The Greek Goddess of Hunting, Wild Nature, The Moon, and Chastity. Patron of Girls and Young Women and Protector of Women in Childbirth. Sounds like a really cool girl.

What's Greek Mythology got to do with a Christian Music blog? Glad you asked. We here at The Night Beat are always in search of what we call Pure Platinum Perfection. Suffice it to say it is the best music to be found. And while we are primarily are a Christian Music Blog, our search doesn't end there. We pull our nominees from "The Fringe", where Christian Artists go beyond "Jesus Jesus Wo Wo Wo" and produce music that truly takes the Cross Over into the mainstream. The Choir, The 77's, Switchfoot, and others. And then there is the GRAC (Generally Regarded as Christian). Groups. Like Creed, U2, and Evanescence belong here. And then there are bands that I call clean secular. They may not be Christian, but you won't sin by listening to them.

Which brings us back to the Goddess of The Hunt, aka Artemis. Lindsey Stirling is an American Rock Violinist with a bit of EDM flair. She is also a dancer. Combining the two has created a bit of a kerfuffle in the stodgy Classical Circles that Violinists usually are in. I first heard about Miss Sterling as she Toured with Evanescence in the Synthesis Tour. Needless to say I was quite impressed. More on Evanescence later.

Artemis is a mostly instrumental work. Of the 12 songs on the album, only 3 have any vocals, unless you count sampled vocals such as "take my breath away" (from Artemis). Let's start with the vocal songs. The weakest is number 3, the Upside with Ellie King. It's a pretty good EDM number, but nothing special. Tied for Favorite is Foreverglow by Lindsey, and Love Goes On And On (ft Vocals by Amy Lee). Foreverglow is ostensibly about a Star, but listening to it got me thinking "Would You Know You're Made of Light If You Were Not Born Into The Dark". We are Born Again into a Dark World from Above and are exhorted to "Shine Among Them Like Stars In The Sky" (Philippians 2:15 NIV). 

Immediately following Lindsey's Heavenly vocals on this song we move straight to a duel. What more can be said about Amy Lee of Evanescence. Her vocals can melt your heart and send chills up your spine and all she is singing is "Oh". The duel is really can Lindsey hit a note high enough on her violin that Amy Can't reach on her voice. The answer is simple: NO.

It doesn't matter that the subject is Love after Death, the result is stunning: "There is darkness ever waiting, I can feel it in the air. So I call upon my angels, are you still there".

On to the instrumentals. I think I shall highlight the bookends. The Album opens with Underground, which begins very melancholy and then kicks it up into high gear. You really can't stop dancing to it until the other end 



It ends with Aurora again, the Northern Lights. Light in the Darkness is a theme. It is well received by this Christian. It is full of hope, and closes a Perfect album quite perfecly.

Atemis is a godsend (sorry, couldn't resist) to the EDM/Instrumental/Rock world. I have been listening on repeat to this since I discovered it. I really do have to get to other music. It is addictive though. Needless to say she helps close out #PVX with a 5 Emerald Rating. On to other music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Black Sand

Welcome once again to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. Welcome to October, or in Night Beat Speak, #PlatVnyl8. A new year is beginning, and already we have struck Pure Platinum. And it is for a new artist. 

We begin our video journey with a little EDM. This is GAWVI DJ'ing for us in the Late Night.
Let's keep the Dance Party going. Another up and comer is Julianna Zobrist, who is feeling Alive.
Closing out our Dance party with our debut Platinum artist Ocean Calling (aka Sophie Wilkie). She just came out with a new album entitled Quiet Magic, and from the album this is Black Sand.
Next week we will have something other than EDM, I promise. Until then, though, I am Awaiting Your Reply.