Night Beat Rewind: August 2018

We are way behind schedule at Night Beat HQ, but we are finally ready to go. So without further ado, we have the penultimate Rewind of the #PlatVnyl9 Eligibility Year.

The Singles Scene

• A-Tonix and Sven E ft Zara Taylor - Forgiven 5 Emeralds
• The Afters - Well Done 5 Emeralds
• Anchor Worship - Emmanuel 4.75 Emeralds
• Anthem Lights - You Say (Cover) 4.75 Emeralds 
• Canon - Trolls 4.75 Emeralds
• CASS - White Noise ft Chris Howland 4.75 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Only Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Exclusive 4.50 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Yo Handz  ft Caleb Crouse 4.50 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - Still Rolling Stones 5 Emeralds
• DJ em-D - Turn Those Lights On ft Spencer Kane 4.75 Emeralds
• DJ 4:12 - French Water ft Parris Chanz 4.50 Emeralds
• DJ Kirk - Just Jesus (DJ Kirk Bootleg Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Echo ft Tauren Wells 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Here Again 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Won't Stop Now 5 Emeralds
• Fireflight - Die Free ft Kevin Young 5 Emeralds
• FreeG - Feet In The Sand (X-Stylez Two-M Edit) 4.75 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Deliverance 5 Emeralds
• Gateway Worship - Stand In Your Love 5 Emeralds
• I Am The Storm - I Am The Storm 4.75 Emeralds
• I Am The Storm - These Lines 4.75 Emeralds
• Informants Worship - Show Me 5 Emeralds
• Carmen Justice - Poco A Poco 4.75 Emeralds
• Tori Kelly - Never Alone ft Kirk Franklin 5 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Amen 4.75 Emeralds
• MAE - Let It Die 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Hold Us Together (Live From Steinway) 4.75 Emeralds
• Mission - Thank You Lord ft V.Rose 5 Emeralds
• Mosaic MSC - Maker of The Heavens 4.75 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - By My Side ft Emily Harrison 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetboom - Lemme Tell Ya 5 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Always Been You 4.75 Emeralds
• Scandroid - Shout (Josh Money Remix) 5 Emeralds
• 7Eventh Time Down - I Have Decided 5 Emeralds
• Silent Planet - Share The Body 5 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - Human (Matthew Parker Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Switchfoot - You Found Me 5 Emeralds
• Vineyard UK - Endless Praises (Live from DTI) 4.75 Emeralds
• Vive Worship - Heavens Hand 4.75 Emeralds
• Zakery - Too Many Knives ft Color Theory 4.75 Emeralds

41 Entrants this month. That's going to make for tough judging. On to the albums, and we begin with those releases which don't make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• James Gardin - Until It All Makes Sense EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Eric Heron - Duos EP 3.75 Emeralds
• KJ-52 and Goldinchild - Sons of Intellect 4.25 Emeralds
• Mark Schultz - Follow 3.75 Emeralds
• Weathered - Stranger Here 3.75 Emeralds

Now on to the albums which set their own standard. The cream de la Cream.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• James Fortune - James Fortune: The Collection 5 Emeralds
• Jesus Culture - Living With A Fire (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone 5 Emeralds
• Rend Collective - Good News (Deluxe) 5 Emeralds
• The New Respects - Before The Sun Goes Down 5 Emeralds
• Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes - Wind Up Bird 5 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - Living Hope 5 Emeralds
• Zahna - Red For War 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metals

• Austin Mark Adams - The Return EP 4.50 Emeralds
• David and Nicole Binion - Dwell 4.75 Emeralds
• Caleb and Kelsey - Timeless Worship 4.50 Emeralds
• King Chav - The Golden Lining EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Riley Clemmons - Riley Clemmons 4.75 Emeralds
• Collington - In Between 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - The Majesty of Our Broken Past 4.75 Emeralds
• Earth Groans - Rahab 4.50 Emeralds
• Vocal Few - Grand Pre EP 4.75 Emeralds
• James Gardin - Until It All Makes Sense Instrumentals EP 4.75 Emeralds
• HRC Worship - HRC Worship EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Catie Hurst - How Could I Be Silent EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Inspiration Worship - Powerful 4.75 Emeralds
• Czar Josh - For Your Heart EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Lifelight Worship - Bold EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - THe Trap 4.50 Emeralds
• Narrow Skies - Seasons: Remixed 4.75 Emeralds
• Bishop Leonard Scott - Jesus Loves Legacy 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Tomlin - Nobody Loves Me Like You EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Vertical Worship - Planetarium EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Rhett Walker Band - Rhett Walker Band EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Bryan Andrew Wilson - This Time EP 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for August. And I managed to get it in before September ends. There is hope. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: February 2018

We are two thirds of the way through the Second Quarter of 2018, boy time sure flies quickly. We are quickly getting deluged in New Releases this year. If this trend continues we shall be judging #PlatVnyl9 well into #PlatVnyl 11 (I don't like the space, but I think it's the only way to make it readable. At least we have two years to figure it out).

The Singles Scene

• Lincoln Brewster - Here I Am 4.75 Emeralds
• Bradley Bridges - Jesus Is King 4.50 Emeralds
• Caves - More of You 4.50 Emeralds
• Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
• Jonny Diaz - Define Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Fireflight - I Wont Look Back 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - PEACE 4.75 Emeralds
• Lawren - Mood 3.50 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - I Just Need U (Capital Kings Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - It Is What It Is 4.50 Emeralds
• Nine Lashes - Breaking Out 5 Emeralds
• Smalltown Poets - You'r My Shepherd ft Mac Powell 4.75 Emeralds
• Scott Ralley - Way That You Do 4.25 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Feel The Waters 5 Emeralds
• Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
• Kaden Slay - The Mercy of Jesus 4.50 Emeralds
• Greg Sykes - No Greater Love 4.75 Emeralds

We sliced the single scene by over 50% this month. Still, this is shaping up to be quite the year. We turn to the albums, and once again begin with those that will not make the #PlatVnyl9 Pool.

Missing The Mark

• Listener - Being Empty: Being Filled 3.75 Emeralds
• Rockstar JT - Streets Signed Me 4.25 Emeralds
• Gerry Skrills - Pray For Me 3.75 Emeralds

Only three entries missing the mark makes my work a bit tougher, but overall it is a good sign. On to the perfect.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Audrey Assad - Evergreen 5 Emeralds
• Brad and Rebekah - Sound of Heaven 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Collective - Evidence 5 Emeralds
• Charlie Peacock - When Light Flashes Help is On The Way 5 Emeralds
• Michael W. Smith - Surrounded 5 Emeralds
• Zealand - Liberated 5 Emeralds

I am always pleased when the Pure Platinum and Missing The Mark somewhat balanced. The Biggest category is always those in the middle.

Semi Precious Metals

• All Above Me - Return to The Battlefield 4.75 Emeralds
• Bee Ardoin - The Truth About Walking 4.75 Emeralds
• Paul Baloche - Ultimate Collection 4.50 Emeralds
• Dave Barnes - Who Knew It Would Be So Hard To Be Myself 4.50 Emeralds
• Pastor Brad - Highway 2 Heaven 4.75 Emeralds
• Chasing Victory - Friends, Volume 1 EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Do It Again EP 4.75 Emeralds
• EQ Worship - Push Out The Dark 4.75 Emeralds
• Eufaula - Between The Hills 4.75 Emeralds
• The Oh Hellos - Eurus EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - Love Wont Let Me Down The Remixes 4.50 Emeralds
• Jaxon - The Journey EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Samuel Lane - The Difference 4.50 Emeralds
• Off Road Minivan - Spiral Gaze EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Passion - Whole Heart Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - Lent, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
• Michael W. Smith - A Million Lights 4.75 Emeralds
• Social Club Misfits - Into The Night 4.75 Emeralds
• Swoope - Sonshine 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - The Cross Was Meant For Me: Worship Songs For Easter 4.50 Emeralds
• Various - Samson: Songs From and Inspired by The Motion Picture 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for February, and March has just begun. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Copernicus Rocks: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Pop

We are done. The finish line is in sight. Pop Music tied with Modern Worship with 11 entries this quarter. Let's cross the line together.

Pop Music

• Tim Drisdelle - Depths, Part 2
• David Dunn - Yellow Balloons
• Out of The Dust - Out of The Dust
• Fireflight - Re-Imag-Innova
• Danny Gokey - Rise
• Grayson/Reed Walk EP
• Hollyn - One Way Conversations
• Mercy Me - Lifer 
• Kerrie Roberts - Boundless
• Root Road - Come Alive
• Ayiesha Woods - The Runway Project EP

And we are done. And the prize is.... We get to move on to the third quarter. Thrilling, I know. The third Quarter is underway, and we are there. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Night Beat Rewind: March 2017

Things are backed up here at Night Beat HQ. Here it is almost the first of May and I have not even put out the March edition of Rewind. Well, the procrastination and delay ends right now. Some of the problem is unavoidable. My April notes disappeared, so I am forced to re-listen and re-rate for the first 3 weeks of April. Ouch. Anyway, let's get to it. We begin, as always, with the songs released during the month, or as we like to call it.

The Singles Scene

• Built By Titan - You (feat Skybourne) 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - What A Beautiful Name 4.50 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - Where You Are (Re-imagined) 
• Dara Maclean - Ashes 5 Emeralds
• Mandisa - Unfinished 5 Emeralds
• Kim Walker-Smith - Throne Room 5 Emeralds
• Ryan Stevenson - The Gospel 5 Emeralds 

Despite it being marketed as an EP, I am including Hillsong's What a Beautiful Name as a Single. It is really 1 song remixed 6 different ways. That does it for the singles. We move to the albums, and we also begin with those albums which do not make the #PlatVnyl8 cut.

Missing The Mark

• Dru Bex - The Good Album 3.75 Emeralds
• J-Giles Son - Promise 2 3.50 Emeralds
• Montel Dorsey and MUniversity - Love Over Hate 3.50 Emeralds
• Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - Souvenir 3.75 Emeralds
• Random Hero - The Covering 3.75 Emeralds

5 miss the mark makes me confident that things are still on the level at Night Beat HQ. Too many would make me wonder about the quality of the industry. Of course the next grouping makes me wonder if I am going soft.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Colton Dixon - Identity 5 Emeralds
• Demon Hunter - Outlive 5 Emeralds
• Edge Kirkland - Ekrmx 5 Emeralds
• Mercy Me - Lifer 5 Emeralds
• Kerrie Roberts - Boundless 5 Emeralds

5 Perfect albums in a month means 60 in a year if the trend continues. That could mean an award ceremony of only perfect albums.

Semi-Precious Metal

• As We Ascend - Farewell To Midnight 4.75 Emeralds
• Jason Bare - Fearless 4.75 Emeralds
• Daniel Bashta - My Resurrection (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Brooke and Boggs - Wildfire EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Dante Bowe - Son of a Father 4.75 Emeralds
• Earnest A - Form Father to Son 4.50 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - There is a Cloud 4.75 Emeralds
• Fireflight - Re-Imag-Innova EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Flatfoot 56 -Odd Boat 4.75 Emeralds 
• Young Fox - Sky Beats Gold 4.75 Emeralds
• GAWVI - We Belong 4.75 Emeralds
• Informants - Uprising 4.75 Emeralds
• K.I.D.S. - Side A EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Sajan Nauriyal - Always Enough 4.75 Emeralds
• Out of The Dust - Out of the Dust 4.75 Emeralds
• Righteous Vendetta - Cursed 4.75 Emeralds
• Root Road - Come Alive 4.50 Emeralds
• Selah - Unbreakable 4.50 Emeralds
• Aaron Shust - Love Made A Way (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Rita Springer - Battles 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Sprinkle - Real Life 4.75 Emeralds
• Laura Story - Open Hands 4.75 Emeralds
• Greg Sykes - Reverse EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Mike Teruel - Fragments 4.50 Emeralds
• Jaci Velasquez - Trust 4.75 Emeralds
• Darlene Zschech - Here I Am Send Me 4.50 Emeralds

It took a week, but here we are. The MARCH edition of Rewind. If you haven't noticed the calendar, it is May. If you live in the Northeast United States you can be forgiven for your disbelief. It certainly doesn't feel like May, it feels a lot like March. On to April. 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.

Music Video Monday: Exhale

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. It has been difficult to maintain our regular schedule recently, but I think we may begin to be able to pull it off now. I may have to schedule them in advance, but such will be the case.

We begin our journey with an artist I have been hot and cold with. Jimmy Needham is his name, and this time I am tending to hot, but I'm not so sure about the video end of it. This mascot bombing thing (which I assume is the Vice part) is pretty cruel. Yes it was probably staged, but why?

Next we go to a long awaited return by one of my favorite Rock bands, and yes it is an FFR band. Fireflight is back, and they've gone through a sound change as well. This is more poppy than the Fireflight I was used to. Still, they have pulled it off seamlessly, and I like the result of INNOVA, though I still don't know why they named their album after a Disc Golf Company. This is We Are Alive.

Last, but certainly not least, we return to my favorite Fruit (er, Dance Artist). I mean Plumb (aka Tiffany Arbuckle Lee). She continues to Crank out perfection in Pop, Electronica, Dance and Rock. This is the title cut from the Perfect Album Exhale.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: May 2015

We seem to be back on Schedule. April is up and linked and now May has been finished with a few days to go. If the release schedule has its Summer Slowdown I may even have the breathing room needed to make a proper #PlatVnyl5 awards ceremony. We did have some individual songs released during May

The Singles Scene

• Salt of The Sound - Dwell Among Us 4.75 Emeralds

Although like the 45 there are two sides to these singles they only usually pick one to announce. So, this month it really is a single single scene. We move on to the albums that did not get included in the pool.

Missing The Mark

• Audio Adrenaline - Sound of The Saints 3.75 Emeralds
• Faith Child - Airborne 3.75 Emeralds
• Jerry Fee - We Are The Voices 3.75 Emeralds
• Gemstones - Blind Elephant 3.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong United - Empires 3.75 Emeralds
• Unspoken - Unplugged 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Tyscot Loud Platinum Mixtape 3.50 Emeralds

What can I say? I know I don't like Audio Adrenaline 3.0. They have made great strides in becoming a band that people will swear they've heard before, and that is the problem. They used to have a fairly unique sound. And with the exception of EDM outreach Hillsong Young and Free everything out of Sydney these days sounds pretty much mailed in. As opposed to our next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal Live In New York City 5 Emeralds
• Foreverlin - Still After 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - Exhale 5 Emeralds

Really not much to say here. Anberin (should I say the late Anberlin?) and Plumb are consistently excellent. Foreverlin is a new discovery, yet I like them. Now for those in between the extremes.

Semi-Precious Metals

• 21 Pilots - Blurryface 4.75 Emeralds
• Abandon Kansas - Alligator 4.75 Emeralds
• Blanca - Blanca 4.75 Emeralds
• Cornell Burton, Jr - The Singles EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Elim Sound - Elim 100 4.50 Emeralds
• Emery - You Were Never Alone 4.75 Emeralds
• CJ Emulous - Light It Up 4.50 Emeralds
• Chad Evans - Before and After 4.75 Emeralds
• Fedel - Flaw 4.50 Emeralds
• Mia Feldes - Ashes 4.50 Emeralds
• Fireflight - INNOVA 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderland: Sunlight EP 4.75 Emeralds
• J Han - Tower Ivory 4.75 Emeralds
• Haste The Day - Coward 4.50 Emeralds
• Lonnie Hunter and Structure - #GETITDONE 4.50 Emeralds
• Illuminate - Charismata 4.25 Emeralds
• Kingdom - Acoustic Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Morgan Harper Nichols - Morgan Harper Nichols 4.50 Emeralds
• Jimmy Needham - Vice and Virtue 4.50 Emeralds
• Northwest Collective - Rejoice: Live From Seattle 4.50 Emeralds
• Pioneer - Passive Agression, Volume 1 4.50 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Outback Worship Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Freddy Rodrigues - Amazed 4.75 Emeralds
• SPEC - Vacancy 4.50 Emeralds
• Gracie Schram - I Am Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Jonathan Singh - City Love Music 4.75 Emeralds
• Wolves at The Gate - Reprise EP 4.75 Emeralds

I am going to do the same thing this month. I will get this posted now and link it up Monday. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

We Are The Brave

Deena Jakoub. Remember that name. I predict you'll being hearing a lot about her in the future. Right along with Amy Lee, Lacey Sturm, Sarah Anthony and Dawn Michele. That's Evanescence, Flyleaf, The Letter Black and Fireflight for the rest of you.

Welcome to the World of Female Fronted Rock and Roll, which is one of the fastest growing areas of Christian Music, and believe me, that is a very good thing, and not just from the eye candy point of view. Face it, the male fronted bands are getting kind of predictable and all sort of sound the same, and that's the truth.

Truth, from the latin Veritas. From Nashville, Tennessee we bring you Veridia, which is a variation on Veritas. It means truth seeker. And the truth these days that the girls can rock better than the guys. They have deeper resonant voices (a side effect from the hair metal days), and a wider range. They can hit the high notes without their voice cracking. And they're gorgeous. Sorry guys, I know, the truth hurts.

As anyone knows, the Truth and I are Inseparable. And that's one of the reasons I love this band. More than just the music is the message. The album is chock full of message. We Are The Brave is about facing fear. Disconnected is about the power of words. Furious Love is for the girls who feel they have to remake themselves in a guys image or never have love. The last song is Mystery of The Invisible is about being lost in God. My favorite though, is track four. Mechanical Planet is written from the P.O.V. of Regret, and has this awesome bridge.

The truth is I work day and night to keep the gears grinding in your mind.

To keep you from knowing you are worth more than gold.
Not some assembly line rusted shell of a person that I try to remote control.

I never want you to believe that when you're down on your knees
that someone is actually listening
If you were undistracted for even a moment I  lose my hold
and you would notice that you have never been alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
Never Have You Ever Fought Alone.
On This Mechanical Planet.

Like I said. Powerful words. I encourage you to listen for yourself, courtesy of The Night Beat, HM Magazine and Soundcloud.
And since I want you to get this album, I want you to go to iTunes. It's got an exclusive right now, so I won't get a penny from the sale. I'm giving Inseparable 4.75 Emeralds. I'd give it a perfect 5, but it is a debut and an EP, and I want more. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Stay Close

Indecision wreaks havok with the schedule. Astute readers of The Night Beat will have already wondered "What happened to Flashback Friday?" All last week I was torn between two different Flashback Friday posts, and before you know it, Friday was Saturday.

Here is the amended schedule. We shall have Music Video Monday as usual. Tomorrow will be the post that should have happened Friday, and then we will have a special Independence Day Post Scheduled for Wednesday. After that we shall see.

Welcome to Music Video Monday. As promised last week, we finish with our 2nd Quarter 2012 Videos in the Rock Category. We begin on a soft note, with Kutless, and the Lyric Video for Carry Me To The Cross, from Believer.

Now we Crank it Up with new Tooth and Nail band Nine Lashes. This is the Anthem of The Lonely  from The World We View.

Next up is Sent By Ravens, who tells us to Mean What You Say. That can be hard to take when they say that We're All Liars.

Last year Worship Rockers Worth Dying For were out to Destroy. This year they know, what was destroyed, they must now Rebuild, from Live Riot.

And Finally we close with one of our favorite bands, Fireflight. Dawn and company urge us to Stay Close.

That brings this edition of Music Video Monday. Next monday we will start with the 3rd Quarter releases, and we will have a special MVM Style post Wednesday in honor of Independence Day. Fireworks (video style) will be provided for those whose communities have cancelled them. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Frozen Chosen: Rock

Well this is it. The Winter Announcement of the qualifying Platinum Vinyl Award nominees in Rock. This finishes the announcements for the Winter. There were a lot of Rock nominees this time.

• Dave Barnes - Stories to Tell
• Jeremy Camp - I Still Believe: #1's Collection
• Evan Craft - Giants
• David Crowder Band - Give Us Rest (A Requiem Mass in C) [The Happiest of All Keys]
• Fireflight - Now
• Hawk Nelson - The Songs You've Already Heard
• Kiros - Lay Your Weapons Down
• Kutless - Believer
• Cory Lamb - Safe In Your Arms
• Nine Lashes - World We View
• Samestate - The Alignment
• Sent By Ravens - Mean What You Say
• Worth Dying For - Live Riot
• The Wrecking - So Much For Love

That finishes it. David Crowder Band goes out with 5 Emeralds and a place in next years PVA's. It stands on its own and wont be a lifetime achievement award. I will return with another edition of Music Video Monday. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: March 2012

We have reached the halfway mark of the eligibility period for the Third Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards (the year is Oct 1 - Sept 30). My how time flies. So far things are pretty good except we are back to a very slow year for Children's Music. As always, we begin these rewind posts with those albums which

Missing The Mark

• The Burial - Lights and Perfections 3.75 Emeralds
• Leaders - Now We Are Free 3.75 Emeralds
• Don Moen - Uncharted Territory 3.75 Emeralds

As I say every time, these aren't bad albums, just not Award Worthy. I'll let you know if a release stinks up the joint. Don't worry.

Last month there were no releases that rose to the Pinnacled Heights of Greatness, but this week there was one result which qualified to be called

Pure Platinum

• Sarah Macintosh - Current 5 Emeralds

Was there really any question? There wasn't if you read my review. The former Chasing Furies front-woman takes fans of the late 90's band remembers her old fans in her latest release, and introduces new listeners to her memorable voice. While Current was the only perfect album of the month, there were plenty of releases which would qualify as

 

Semi-Precious Metal

• Todd Agnew - How to Be Loved 4.5 Emeralds
• All Sons and Daughters - Season One 4.5 Emeralds
• Anberlin - Dancing Between The Fibers of Time 4.75 Emeralds
• Dave Barnes - Stories To Tell 4.5 Emeralds
• Before Their Eyes - Redemption 4.5 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - I Still Believe: #1's Collection 4.75 Emeralds
• Adam Cappa - The Rescue 4.25 Emeralds
• Andy Cherry - Nothing Left To Fear 4.25 Emeralds
• Evan Craft - Giants 4.75 Emeralds
• Nicole Croteau - Anchors and Silhouettes 4.5 Emeralds
• Anthony Evans - Home 4.5 Emeralds
• Fireflight - Now 4.75 Emeralds
• Flame - The 6th 4.5 Emeralds
• Gateway Next - Look Up 4.5 Emeralds
• Hawk Nelson - The Songs You've Already Heard 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Horn - Sound of The Broken 4.5 Emeralds
• Impending Doom - Baptized in Filth 4.25 Emeralds
• Cory Lamb - Safe In Your Arms 4.25 Emeralds
• My Children My Bride - Mychildren Mybride 4.5 Emeralds
• Jimmy Needham - Clear The Stage 4.25 Emeralds
• Britt Nicole - Gold 4.5 Emeralds
• Passion 2012 - White Flag 4.75 Emeralds
• Philips, Craig & Dean - Breathe In 4.5 Emeralds
• Rhema Soul - Red 4.5 Emeralds
• Ruth - Payola 4.25 Emeralds
• RMG - Welcome To The Family 4.5 Emeralds
• Sidewalk Prophets - Live Like That 4.5 Emeralds
• Take 6 - One 4.75 Emeralds
• TobyMac - Dubbed & Freq'd: A Remix Project 4.5 Emeralds
• Young Chozen - Class President 4.5 Emeralds
• Youthful Praise - After This 4.25 Emeralds

March is over, and I've finished as well. This has got to be some kind of miracle. To have the March Rewind up on the last day of the month. Here's to more surprises. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

I Love The 80's: Firing Up the Night Beat Time Machine

Now that the Christmas Season is over, the cleanup begins. Now for most people that simply means ditching the tree and lights and usually putting the Christmas Music back in storage for another year. Now for me, though I have some Christmas CD's, I have a bigger selection on mp3, and, since I have an ancient and honorable iBook at home, it is time to purge the Christmas Music from the iTunes library (I've got it all on Flash Drives) and put on the regular tunes.

Some of those mp3's are from the "Classic Rock" era, and, despite what some may think, I think the music of that era holds up well over time. Now due to improvements in technology and the like "rock" supergroups of the time now sound like pop groups of today. Trust me though, these guys rocked.

The 80's gave us the pioneers of the Modern CCM industry. Petra, though born in the 70's, didn't come into its own until the 80's, and acts like the FFR pioneer bands Servant and Resurrection Band took the slings and arrows of their fellow Christians so that groups like Eowyn, Fireflight, Flyleaf, Paramore, Evolett and Evanescence would have the success that they have.

Then there was the Coffeehouse scene. I doubt the coffee was great (I hadn't started drinking coffee yet, so I don't know, but it was a long way from Starbucks. Shoutout to my friend Coffee Lovin Mom here. I don't know why, but I thought this would make an excellent name for a bad country song. I repeat myself, I know). There were small acts focused here, and it opened up a whole new method of promotions. This was usually an excellent way to get bootleg music. Bring in the old cassette machine, put it right on the table, nobody cared. I guess the RIAA didn't exist back then.

Heavy Metal was also born in the 80's, and while it bears little resemblance to the Thrash-Metal of the 21st Century, this screaming guitar metal could hold their own against any of them, Even TDWP. One of the best metal acts of the decade was the Swedish metal act Jerusalem. This was the band responsible for the mega metal composition Sodom, which clocks in at over Twelve Minutes Long, OVER HALF of which is instrumental. I dare any of today's bands to try something like that. The labels would be screaming. The only band to come close today is IONA.

I guess it's obvious that I love the eighties. And you know, it works in the mainstream as well. Not just politically (It was the Reagan Revolution) but TV and Music in general just sounded better. This rant is brought to you by the Night Beat. I invite you to visit the website and vote on the poll in the sidebar. What was your favorite musical decade? With all honors to REZ, I am Awaiting Your Reply.