Siberian Siren: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Pop

We begin our single post genres with a tie, and the first up with 6 entries into the pool, is Pop Music. You wouldn't believe who they are tied with. They don't usually scrape the bottom of the barrel. They usually win the quarter hands down. Let's get to it.

Pop Music

• Dez Childs - Work of Art
• Consumed by Fire - Giving Over
• Meleana - White Walls
• Britt Nicole - Britt Nicole
• Ginny Owens - Love Be The Loudest
• B. Reith - Heart on my Sleeve

A nice mix of new and old. B. Reith went pop after a long residence at Rap. I think it was an inspired choice. Modern Worship is next. (I told you that you wouldn't believe). Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Psychosocial

Welcome to our Thanksgiving Week edition of Music Video Monday. Due to the magic of scheduling I should be able to create a full week of posts. We begin with our video tour. Things are slowing down, but it looks like I can avoid the Christmas Videos until next week, which is the plan.

Our first video comes from +brooke fraser. This is Psychosocial, from her latest release Brutal Romantic. 

Up next we have +Ginny Owens one of the best voices in Pop Music. This is No Borders. It's about love, not illegal immigration. 
Finally, we have a video Gospel legend Fred Hammond. This is I Will Trust.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Enjoy the turkey, be thankful, and I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Heating It Up: Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees- Pop

We come to Pop Music. Now this is an overloaded category if there ever was one. Just about everything, if it is not obviously Rock & Roll, could be categorized as Pop Music. If you use a true definition, as popular music, then just about anything people like fit here. For sanity's sake, of course, I use the more restrictive, non rock definition.

Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter Nominees

So Basically, the definition is, if it's not Rock (loud), but still bouncy, it's Pop. But if it's too bouncy, it's dance, and if there are heavy use of Synthesizers, it's not only dance but Techno. You Can see how this can get confusing.

Pop Music

• Jessa Anderson - Not Myself Anymore
• Big Daddy Weave - The Ultimate Collection
• Steven Curtis Chapman - Re: Creation
• Jason Gray - A Way to See In the Dark
• Shaun Groves - Third World Symphony
• Matt Hammitt - Every Falling Tear
• Mat Kearney - Young Love
• Dara Maclean - You Got My Attention
• Matt Maher - The Love In Between
• Jon McLaughlin - Forever If Ever
• Manic Drive - Epic
• Geoff Moore - Saying Grace
• Ginny Owens - Get In I'm Driving
• Andrew Peterson - Above These City Lights (Live)
• Robert Pierre - I'm All In
• V.Rose - V.Rose
• Selah - Hope For the Broken World

Eight down and only three to go. Whew. Stay with me as I complete the fourth quarter roll out of the initial nomination pool of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. As always. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

This Weeks Listening Parties

Just a quick post to keep everybody up on the availability of Some Full CD Listening Parties. New Release Tuesday has Jason Gray: A Way to See in The Dark (Out 9/13). This week Hearitfirst.com has Two Listening parties at their site Darlene Zschech:You Are Loved (Out Today) and a debut release Jessa Anderson: Not Myself Anymore (Out 9/13). Nothing on JesusFreakHideout.com or AOL Music.

One Other Note: Tonight is the Album Release Party for Ginny Owens, at least as far as Hearitfirst.com is concerned. It is still scheduled for Tonight at 8:00 P.M. Eastern. If you haven't registered at live.hearitfirst.com for a previous Live Event, you'll have to do it before you can watch, so come a few minutes early. It's quick.

That's it for today. I promised a live post, and I delivered. Oh, One More Thing. The listening party for Jessa Anderson seems to be missing a song. Fireflies (Track #2) is there but is mislabeled as Everybody Has those Days. All the songs are one off (except for Track #1), so The Return appears to be the one missing (Track #10 at hearitfirst, actually Track #11). You've been warned. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Get In, I'm Driving

Good Music is Easy to Find

I don't know why that phrase terrifies me (Kidding). Maybe because the person who picked this title for her new CD, Ginny Owens, Is Legally Blind. Of course that doesn't mean that she can't sing. The girl can sing. In some respects the album reminds me of Lara Landon's Closer. There are some definite Torch Singer possibilities here, though not as many as Landon.

Still, this is an impressive album. Get In, I'm Driving is forty-two minutes of exquisite vocals. There are rock voices, soul voices, Gospel voices, but rarely is there an artist that can sing whatever he or she wants to sing and carry it off to perfection.  We are Blessed in today's market considering there are Three that I know (Landon, Owens, and Crystal Lewis) who can carry this off. Some of my favorites are Better That Way, the title cut, and The Song.  The Album doesn't come out until September 13, but you can Preorder Through The Night Beat.

The track listing:

1. Get in I'm Driving
2. Mystery of Grace
3. Before You Fly
4. Rain
5. Joined at the Heart
6. Better Off
7. Lay it Down
8. Higher Ground
9. Daughter of Destiny
10. Better That Way
11. The Song

Quick Review and Listening Options

This week you can catch the entire album Streaming at New Release Tuesday. The Album fits in the Pop category for most of the songs, so that is where it will go. I really don't have a torch song category. I am giving the CD 4.75 Emeralds. It is near vocal perfection with minimal instrumentation. Mostly piano, and some strings. Next Tuesday Hearifirst is giving an Album Release Party. That's September 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Now they like to do things a little early since most lists have the album out the 13th.