Justified In Light: The 2020 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Quarter - Instrumental

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.

Wolves Unleashed: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - The Megapost Edition

Welcome to the final quarter wrap for #PVX (aka Platinum Vinyl 10). Ten Years of Excellence is in the books. Sounds like I could make a book of it.

We begin our quarterly wrap with a or several megaposts. These are multiple genre posts for those genres which fail to make the minimum bar of 5 entries in this case. Electronic-Industrial Had no entries this quarter and Instrumental, Children's Music, Folk Music, Dance-Synthpop, and Remix all failed to meet the minimum bar. Altogether they account for 9 entries. Let's get to it.

Instrumental Music

• Dear Gravity - The Pilgrimage Series: Wayfaring

Children's Music

• Caleb and Kelsey - Sing Over Me: Songs for Parents and their Little Ones
• Rend Collective Kids - Sparkle Pop Rampage

Dance-Synthpop

• Attaboy - Wild
• Transform - Jericho

Folk/Folk Rock

• Foldinglights - Subterranean Hum
• Reflect Love Back (ft Lacey Sturm) - Soundtrack, Volume 1

Remix

• Meredith Andrews - Faith and Wonder Alternate Versions
• TobyMac - The St Nemele Collab Sessions

That does it for the Megaposts for this quarter. We begin our single genre posts with a three way tie. Compilation is up first. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Reckoning: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Alternative Instrumental Pop

We begin our Wrap of The 2nd Quarter Entries for PVX (or Platinum Vinyl 10 for those new to abbreviations). We begin, as always, with at least one megapost for those genres which fail to attain the minimum bar of 5 entries to get their own blog post. We will have three such posts this quarter. We begin with Alternative Rock, Instrumental Music, and Pop Music.

Alternative Rock

• Switchfoot - Native Tongue

Instrumental Music

• The Creak Music - Still, Volume 3
• Brady Novotny - Passions Collide

Pop Music

• Matt Hammit - Living Room Sessions
• David Leonard - The Wait
• Natasha Owens - Warrior
• Dave Pittman - Different Kind of Love

The Wrap Has Begun. Our next megapost awaits. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Phoenix Rising: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Instrumental

Without Words. Instrumental music is the next up in our 1st Quarter wrap. Here no words are needed to make a giant impact.

Instrumental Music

• Celldweller - Remixed Upon A Blackstar Instrumentals
• Color Theory - The Majesty of Our Broken Past Instrumentals
• Hammock - Universalis
• Andy Hunter - Presence, Volume 3
• Scandroid - The Darkness
• Mark and Sarah Tillman - Morning Sun, Rising Tide Instrumentals

The industrial genius of Celldweller, the 80's synth of Scandroid and Color Theory, and the contemplative styles of Hammock and Andy Hunter. Just sit back and enjoy the mood. Alternative is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Backmasking Number Nine: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Electronic Instrumental Children's Compilation

The final of our megaposts is upon as we roll out our final reveal of the 2018 Platinum Vinyl Award Eligibility Year Reveal. From here on out it is all single genre posts. 

Children's Music

• Hillsong Kids - Can You Believe It?
• Ellie Holcomb - Sing: Creation Songs EP

Compilation Album

• Various Artists - God Bless The Broken Road (Music From and Inspired by The Original Motion Picture)
• Various Artists - God Hears Her

Electronic-Industrial

• Celldweller - Wish Upon A Blackstar Remix Contest Compilation
• Narrow Skies - Seasons: Remixed
• Rivers and Robots - Discovery

Instrumental

• James Gardin - Until It All Makes Sense Instrumental

That does it for the megaposts. The first of the single genre posts is Dance-Synthpop, which clears the bar with 5 entries. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Don't Stop Believing: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Qtr - Alternative, Folk, Instrumental

We have come upon the end of the 3rd Quarter of 2018, at least here at Night Beat HQ. Our Platinum Vinyl Eligibility Year goes from October 1- September 30. In honor of our Summer Time Travel we have given the quarter the title "Don't Stop Believing" in honor of the 1981 Song by Journey of The Same name. Just listening to the song on the internet I thought "This Will Preach", which is funny considering one of the authors, Jonathan Cain, is a Christian and married to Paula White, evangelist.

We start with the genres that didn't get enough eligible entries to merit their own post. We will make two of these mega-posts this quarter, seven genres being combined. First up is Alternative Rock, Folk/Folk Rock, and Instrumental Music.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Christafari - Original Love
• Christa Wells - Velveteen

Folk tends to be a dumping ground for "ethnic" sounds. I really don't know where to put Reggae, Jazz and other unique sounds. There are never enough of them to justify a separate category. Christa Wells is more of the standard "girl with guitar" folk artist. 

Alternative Rock

• The Choir - Bloodshot
• Kevin Max - AWOL
• Kevin Max - AWOL Deluxe Demo Sampler EP

Not much to say here. Two veterans (actually, one pioneer). Both deserve to win, one may.

Instrumental Music

• Amman/Josh -- Pieces
• Salt of The Sound - Meditations, Volume 3
• Scandroid - Dreams In Monochrome
• Somniscape - Calm, Volume 1

A little explanation here. Amman/Josh is a new group signed by Hammock, consisting of Amman Abbasi and Josh Varnedore. They are a sort of trance instrumental. Somniscape is a instrumental side project of Eric Ooyoung aka Future of Forestry, to showcase his instrumental side. The vocals side will stay Future of Forestry. Next up is our final megapost with Adult Contemporary, Children's Music, Heavy Metal and The Remix. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Musical Industrial Complex: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr (Jan - Mar 2018) - Alternative Instrumental Rock

The final of our multi - genre posts combines Instrumental Music, Rock, and Alternative. From now on all the represented genres meet the minimum bar of 5 entries in a quarter. Let's get it going.

Instrumental Music

• Bright City - Still, Volume 2
• Future of Forestry - Union
• Charlie Peacock - When Light Flashes, Help Is On The Way

Alternative Rock

•  My Epic - Ultraviolet EP 
• Samuel Lane - The Difference
• Off Road Minivan - Spiral Gaze
• Cameron Moore - Alpenglow

Rock Music

• All Above Me - Return to the Battlefield
• Pastor Brad - Highway To Heaven
• Pax 217 - Live 6/3/17
• Mark Lee Townsend - 1919: The Ballad of Rexford 

It's time to Dance. That's the first single genre post. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

 

Falling Rocks: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Children's Folk Instrumental Compilation

We continue with our reveal of the 2018 1rst Quarter. This is our last multiple genre post. From this point onward it is all single genre posting. This post will combine Children's Music, Folk/Folk Rock, Instrumental Album, and Compilation Album.

Compilation Album

• Various Artists - The Star: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Children's Music

• Josh Lovelace and Friends Present - Young Folk
• Sojourn Music - Clap Your Hands, Stomp Your Feet
• Tommy and Me - What Every Child Should Know About God, Volume 1 - Joyful
• Tommy and Me - What Every Child Should Know About God, Volume 2 - Peaceful

Folk/Folk Rock

• The Gray Havens - Ghost of A King Live
• Sam and Samantha Mc Cabe - Through The Night
• The Welcome Wagon - Light Up The Stairs

 Instrumental Album

• Andy Hunter - Presence, Volume 2

We are done with the multi-genre posts. We go now from least to greatest in single genre posts. First up is Gospel (The Real Kind, not the Southern Version). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Diamond Rain: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr -Children's Instrumental Compilation

Well it's that time of the year again. It happens 4 times a year. The Quarterly Wrap. And once again we begin with the world famous multi-genre post. Our first post combines compilation album, Children's Music and Instrumental Music. Let's Get to It.

Compilation Album

• Various - My Utmost for His Highest 

Children's Album

• Christy Nockels - Be Held: Lullabies for The Beloved
• Tim Timmons - Who I Am  

Instrumental Album

• Hammock - Mysterium
• Brian and Jenn Johnson - After All These Years Instrumental

And we are off and running. Two more multi-genre posts to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Venus and Mars Are Alright: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Qtr: Instrumental Folk Compilation

Welcome to the 3rd Quarter wrap. This covers the music releases for the months of April, May, June of 2017. And we begin with those genres which failed to meet a minimum threshold which we have determined to be 5 entrants. We combine those genres into a series of multi-genre posts. There will be three this quarter. Two genres were not present at all this quarter, those were Children's Music and Remix. Our first multi-genre post will consist of Instrumental Music, Folk/Folk Rock, and Compilation. Let's get to it,

Instrumental Music

• Lowercase Noises - The Swiss Illness

Folk/Folk Rock

• John Ellis - Tells
• Southern Raised - Another World

Compilation Album

• Various Artists - Christian Dance Music Volume 1 (Remixed by FreeG and Emasound)
• Various Artists - Top 25 Praise Songs 

We are underway. Our second multi genre post is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
 

Copernicus Rocks: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr: Instrumental Alternative Gospel

I can see some heads exploding with this title. Sometimes I like to tweak my audience (He Left Jesus, He's in favor of an Alternative Gospel. It really is too easy to egg on the easily offended). This multi genre post is comprised of Instrumental Music, Alternative Rock, and Gospel and R&B. (Urban Gospel - You should worry if it was Southern Gospel). Anyway, let us get on with it.

Instrumental Music

• Rivers and Robots - Still, Volume 1

Gospel/R&B

• Anthony Evans - Back To Life
• Ce Ce Winans - Let Them Fall In Love

Alternative Rock

• Acceptance - Colliding By Design
• Hearts Like Lions - If I Never Speak Again
• Devin Shelton - Sensation
• Young Fox - Sky Beats Gold       

Our third and final multi-genre post is next. 4 this time. Children's, Electronic, Metal, and Remix. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Siren: The 2017 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Megapost 2

Welcome to our second and final megapost in this 1st Quarter 2017 Wrap. For those of you new to the process, a megapost is a post which combines the entrants of a genre when that genre has fewer than 5 entrants. 5 is my minimum bar for a genre to have its own post. This time around three genres; Instrumental, Electronic-Industrial, and Dance-Synthpop, failed to meet that bar. From this point they all cleared it. Let's get to it.

Instrumental

• Scandroid - Scandroid Instrumentals

Electronic-Industrial

• Circle of Dust - Machines of our Disgrace
• The Digital Age - Galaxies
• Future of Forestry - Awakened to the Sound

Dance-Synthpop

• Ocean Calling - Quiet Magic
• Matthew Parker - Adventure
• Satellites and Sirens - Tanks
• Scandroid - Scandroid

Future of Forestry, Ocean Calling, The Digital Age and Satellites and Sirens all mined Perfect Platinum. The others fell just short. Let that sink in. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Perfect Scale: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Quarter: Instrumental Gospel Folk Children

Do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do. That's the scale in question, just sayin. (What were you thinking I meant?). The musical reference is to announce that, for I believe the very first time ever (at least since the current genre expansion) had a quarter with at least one entry in every genre. Actually, that's part of the reason for the delay. I found out that NewReleaseToday and other sites aren't exactly reliable sources when it comes to Children's Music. So I had to do my own digging on Amazon. I found a bunch, including four for this quarter. The genre will be updated as the days go on, beginning with this one.

As is our custom, we roll out the quarters in ascending order starting with multiple genre postings for the orphan genres (those that don't make 5 entries. We have two of these this quarter). As is also our custom, these will be linked to Amazon for easy purchase to support The Night Beat. Do it. On to the nominees.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - God's Highway

Instrumental Music

• Salt of The Sound - Meditations, Volume 2
• Adam Young - Miracle In The Andes

Gospel/R&B

• Eddie James - Magnify
• Donnie McClurkin - The Journey (Live)
• Tamela Mann - One Way
• Candy West - Candy West Live

Children's Music

• Bible Jams - Bible Jams, Volume 1
• Colin Buchanan & Karen Pang - Living On The Rock
• Keith and Krysten Getty Kids - Getty Kids Hymnal: In Christ Alone
• Village On The Rise - Knowing God

We are off and running. One more multi-genre posting to go and then we are on to the single genre posts. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Seven Soundtrack: The 2016 Platinum Vinyl Awards 3rd Quarter - Live Instrumental Dance

This is the second of three multi-genre posts as we wrap the 3rd Quarter of 2016 in #PlatVnyl7. Things are going to get very interesting by the time this eligibility year is in the tank, you can be sure of that. 

Instrumental Music

• Hammock - Everything and Nothing
• Adam Young - Omaha Beach
• Adam Young - The Spirit of St. Louis

 Live Recorded Album

• Emery - Acoustic: Live In Houston
• Onething Live - Love Makes Us Strong
• Travis Ryan - Heartbeat
• Travis Ryan - Until My Voice Is Gone

Dance-Synthpop

• 1GN - Unite
• The Fifth Service - Proven
• DJ Kirk - Awakening
• Joel Vaughn - Kinetic

Next up is our final multi-genre post. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter - Instrumental Electronic Dance

We are finishing our multiple genre posts with Dance-Synthpop, Electronic-Industrial, and Instrumental. No more than four entries made it in any category. Let us get to it.

Dance - Synthpop

• Hillsong Young and Free - Youth Revival
• Matt Price - Dream

Instrumental

• Beckah Shae - Rest (Without Words)
• Adam Young - Apollo 11
• Adam Young - RMS Titanic.

Electronic-Industrial

• Colorfair - Hurricane Rain
• Twilight Meadow - The Worlds We Discovered
• Paper Lights - Great Escape 
• Urban Rescue - Wild Hearts EP

Just a few comments here. The Adam Young (Owl City released under his real name) releases are "Soundtracks", though the Motion Pictures are old. He just did a new soundtrack based on how he felt watching the movie. We begin the single genre posts next time with Rock Music, which met the minimum bar of 5 entries. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Children's Electronic Remix

The entry pool is closed, and it's time to announce the nominees for the Final Quarter of #PlatVnyl6. You may have noticed I like to poke fun at things in the title of our quarterly wraps. This quarter is no exception. The religious community as well as the Gold Brokers rallied around the "Shemitah Year" It's a Hebrew Word meaning seventh or sabbath year. You know, 2015, 2008, 2001. Well even though 9/11 happened in 2001 and there was a stock market hiccup in 2008, that doesn't mean the world would end in 2015. Trust me folks, I've been dealing with this flakiness since 1980. The Word of God is the only sure thing, and there's no worldwide financial collapse predicted in the Bible. On to the music.

We do our announcements from least to greatest. Of course we also put in a minimum threshold to avoid having posts with just one or two entries. We have settled on 5 here at Night Beat HQ. So that means that the sparsely represented genres get combined into one post. There will be three such posts this time. Our first post combines Children's Music, Electronic-Industrial, Remix, and Instrumental. Let's get this party started.

Children's Music

• Scripture Snacks Kids - Fun Size, Vol. 1

 

Electronic-Industrial

• Saint Esprit - Saint Esprit

Remix

• Colton Dixon - Storm EP

Instrumental

• Bethel Music - Without Words: Synesthesia
• Tony Tillman - Camden (Instrumentals)

We are under way. Next up, another multi-genre post. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Industrial Folk

The 3rd Quarter of 2015 is in the bag. The Temperatures are heating up and so is the competition for the honor that is #PlatVnyl6. There were no eligible entries (that I know of, others could be discovered) for Children's Music, Dance/Synthpop, and Remix this quarter. We also combine genres that had too few entrants to merit a seperate post. This quarter we are combining Folk/Folk Rock, Instrumental, Electronic/Industrial, and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. The combined genres amount to 10 potential nominees. So from least to greatest here we go.

Instrumental Music

• Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are (Instrumental)

Electronic/Industrial

• NYVES - Anxiety
• Rapture Ruckus - Invader Deluxe

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - Psalms 
• Shane and Shane - The Worship Initiative
• Joy Williams - Venus

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• August Burns Red - Found In Far Away Places
• Haste The Day - Coward
• The Ongoing Concept - Handmade
• Wolves at the Gate - Reprise EP

While all these made the initial pool, their fate is uncertain. Especially ones like Joy Williams and The Ongoing Concept. They are on the bubble with a 4.50 rating. We are on our way. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Metal Remixing Instrumental

We are down to one quarter. If this were horse racing, we would be just making the final turn. In this case, the straightaway to the finish line is three months long,. Even soccer's Gooool guy can't hold a note that long.

There were plenty of entries this time around, and as usual, a few genres benefited. Only one genre (Electronic-Industrial) was left out due to no entries, but five genres (Remix, Hard Rock, Instrumental, Adult Contemporary, and Children's) has less than five entries each. Five entries is the mark I have set for a genre to merit its own post. These five will be combined.

Remix Album

• Difference United - New Day Remixes
• Various Artists - Action Bible Remixed

Instrumental Album

• My Epic - Behold (Instrumental) 
• Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology, Pt. 2: Doxology Instrumentals 

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• My Epic - Behold (Instrumental)
• Red - Release The Panic: Recalibrated
• Those Who Fear - Death Sentence
• Wolves at The Gate - Vxv 

I have linked all the listings so that you can buy the mp3 version from Amazon, of which The Night Beat is an associate. You will help us at the same time. Pretty Cool, huh. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bask in the Glory

I Love Instrumental Music. I Hate Instrumental Music. Really, it's one of those dilemma's that St. Paul Had. In Philippians Look it Up (Philippians 1:21-25). Maybe I exaggerate slightly. The reason I have this love/hate relationship with instrumental music is that most of it is so darn relaxing that one is likely toooo Oh sorry, I must have dozed off there. Let's just say don't play this on a long nighttime drive. If you're home and want to chill, this is perfect.

Instrumental music, when it is done right, can be very mood affective. Otherwise it's just background noise.

I once did a presentation in College (a long time ago, we used slides) and used Phil Keaggy's The Wind and The Wheat as my soundtrack. I just let it play. If you've never heard the album, download it, get the CD. It is a must have for any music lover.

Michael W. Smith is like that. When he first appeared on the scene in the '80's he was known already for his Synthesizer/Keyboard skills. The Whole Pop Star thing came later. When Wonder came out last year I was elated. Not because I am a huge Smitty fan. I'm not. I only have Project and Project 2 on vinyl. I was elated because this was the Smitty I liked, the Composer in all his Teshian goodness. Most of the tracks were worthy of a soundtrack.

Glory is fifty minutes worthy of an Epic Movie like The Lord of The Rings Trilogy or The Ten Commandments. It's like a Christmas full of Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra and not a Grandma Got Run over in sight.

This review is a bit light, but in one sense so is an instrumental album. It's hard to say "So and so can't sing worth beans on this album when they're not singing. So let's do it this way. If you're at home and you want to Crank up the stereo and relax with symphonic excellence, well this album is 4.75 Emeralds of greatness. If you want Smitty Pop, it's only worth about 3.75 Emeralds. 

That should do it for this post. So far it was my toughest to write. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.