The Drive To Five: The Class of 2012

We are back live here at the +The WENC Night Beat after the Storm of The Millennium, The Blizzard of 2015 or (gag) Blizzard Juno. No, No, I will not name a storm (Blizzard Joe Bob). You do that with Hurricanes because usually more than one will hit. Not so with Major Blizzards.

One thing the Class of 2012 had with Hurricane's and Blizzards. They are usually named after women. Don't ask me why, though that is changing. 2012 was the ladies year. Marlene Brehm, Rachel Chan, Moriah Peters, Holly Spears, and Lindsay McCaul dominated New Artist and were joined by tokens Jeremy Horn and Jordan Lara. Sorry guys, it wasn't your year. Three of the five are fairly active (Peters, McCaul and Holly Spears) and the rest are resting on their laurels. Hey, it has only been two years. I expect new works from all of them soon.

Of course there were other "new" artists, and I have already spoken of my creation of the Undiscovered Gem Awards. I am not really talking about that. Aaron Gillespie had his "debut" in 2012, yet it was a solo debut. Before that he was the drummer and clean vocalist for metal band Underoath, which broke up in 2011. Abel would have been an undiscovered gem, except that they took their award and broke up. A severe lack of Gratitude in CCM I tell ya.

When we return to our Drive to Five, we will touch on the Comebacks, one of which was very big, at least to me. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bad Moon Rising: The 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Pop

We move on with our announcements of the #PlatVnyl5 pool entries for the 4th Quarter. Pop Music was next on our genre ladder with eight entries. Since our aim is to whittle each genre down to seven entries, when a quarter has that number you know we will have a lot of judging to do.

Pop Music

• Lauren Daigle - How Can It Be
• David Dunn - Crystal Clear
• Group 1 Crew - #Faster EP
• The Lasting Hope - Sunsets and Second Chances
• Moriah Peters - Brave
• Plumb - Need You Now Deluxe
• Brian Weaver - Motion
• Ayiesha Woods - It's time

The only comment that needs to be added here is that both Plumb and Moriah Peters are in the final 7 because they both garnered Perfect 5's. Of course, when the judging occurs there may be more than 7 in the final. Next up is rock. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Celebrate

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. We endeavor to show the best Christian Music Videos out on the web right here every Monday.

We begin with a rap video. This is J.T. and Celebrate.

Next up we go on to Pop Music, with the return of Moriah Peters. This is the lyric video for the title cut on her upcoming album Brave.

Finally, we have, maybe not a new video, but a new band. Hearts Like Lions just released their debut album, and this is the video for Once Dead, Now Alive.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We will be back next week with more videos. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl3 - Female Vocalist of The Year

Though the same rules apply to the Female Vocalist as the Male Vocalist, the fact is that the shenanigans are not as present here. Usually because most of the ladies record under their own names and not under a band. That is changing though: (i.e. Amy Lee of Evanescence; Hayley Williams of Paramore, etc), so shenanigans may abound in the future.

Since there are more ladies recording under their own name, that usually means there will be a bigger nominee pool for FVY. There were, but we managed to narrow it to 7.

• Audrey Assad
• Sara Groves
• Lara Landon
• Sarah Macintosh
• Lindsay McCaul
• Moriah Peters
• Beckah Shae

Both McCaul and Peters would be classified as New Artists as well, so you can't accuse us of holding out until someone "proves themselves". We recognize talent up front.

Of course, one can't help it when the judges almost literally "fall in love" with an artist. And who can disagree anyhow? A "voice" that can carry off any style of music they choose, soar above the loudest instruments or whisper with a sultry style that best is described as "torch singer." That combination carried her above the unique Macintosh, the Powerful Peters, the powerful vocals of Assad. Their time will come. This year, however, the Female Vocalist of The Year in the Platinum Vinyl Awards goes to Lara Landon.

I have a few more wrap-up posts to go. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Sonic Awakening: 3rd Qtr Nominees - AC/Inspirational

Continuing our revelation of the nominees to the initial pool of Platinum Vinyl Award contenders for the Third Quarter of 2012. Yes that was torturous, but it's the truth. All this does is admit you to contention. You still have to survive initial voting to get to the Seven Final Nominees (the only exception to the rule is if you get a Perfect 5 rating. Those go straight through to the final seven).

This time we go with a new and growing category. Adult Contemporary/Inspirational started last year as simply Inspirational, and it seems a nice home for those albums that aren't pop or rock enough, as well as those that aren't exactly worship either. This category did very well this quarter.

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Fike -The Moment We've Been Waiting For
• Amy Grant - Rock of Ages: Hymns of Faith
• Lara Landon - Overcome
• Natalie LaRue - Even Now
• Dan Macaulay - From You For You
• Moriah Peters - I Choose Jesus
• BeBe Winans - America America

There are a few caveats to this list that may prevent them from going on. Amy Grant is a reissue of an album, not a current album. There are a bunch of them this year and I'm not sure how to treat them yet. BeBe Winans is definitely inspiring, but it is also a special 4th of July Music album, and since I don't award Christmas Music, I'm wondering how to treat this one. Feel free to chime in by commenting. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Will You Love Me

Welcome back everybody. I hope you all enjoyed your long fourth of July break. (Yes, I know the 4th was on a Wednesday and that supposedly trashed all the 4th of July Weekend plans, but we must remember our Government Bureaucrats. They Made it work.)

As I said last week, we begin with the third quarter videos this week. If you've been following me for any length of time, you know I'm not a big fan of Country Music or Southern Gospel. However, if you can push it to Folk or Folk Rock, I will go for it. You have to like good banjo picking talent.

We begin with one of those talents. The Vespers, two brothers and two sisters with some great writing and some awesome bluegrass style rock. I believe the two sisters are Morgan Cryar's kids but don't quote me on that, though their names are Callie and Phoebe Cryar. We begin with the music video for Will You Love Me, from their recently released album The Fourth Wall.

One more from The Vespers. This is Close My Eyes, done live at the Music City Roots Festival.

We must move on, and we move on quickly, because there really aren't that many videos out yet for these new releases. One of my favorite female singers these days happens to be Lara Landon. When I heard her debut Beloved a few years ago, WOW. The girl has pipes. She is the prototypical Torch singer. Noisetrade says her voice "smolders". Trust me it ignites. Still looking for that DDMHO/Lara Landon Speakeasy Tour. This is The River.

I'm torn on the concept of Lyric Videos, which are kind of like the follow the bouncing ball songs on old movie shorts. I think this one merits. Straight from the Veggie Tales patch, here is Vanna Banana (sorry, Moriah Peters) and I Choose Jesus.

That seems like a good way to end a post. We usually fly through the early genres (Nothing for Children's Music, only a few for folk, and Landon and Peters are AC/Inspirational). For further information on the Vespers and Lara Landon, click on the links to my original reviews. Also, for news that doesn't make the blog, be sure to like The Night Beat on Facebook.Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.