Night Beat Rewind: April 2019

We are slightly behind schedule here at Night Beat HQ, but we have things under control. The April edition of Rewind is underway.

The Singles Scene

• Jared Anderson - Keep Your Eyes On Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• Apollo LTD - On The Way Up 2.0 4.75 Emeralds
• Building 429 - Fear No More 4.75 Emeralds
• Landry Cantrell - Beyond 4.75 Emeralds
• Celldweller - A Matter of Time 5 Emeralds
• Celldweller - A Matter of Time (Instrumentals) 5 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Backwards 4.75 Emeralds
• Amanda Lindsey Cook - Still 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - With You (Paradoxology) 5 Emeralds
• Lou Fellingham - Our God Is For Us (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Conor Flanagan - Steal My Joy (ft Ruslan) 4.50 Emeralds
• Foldinglights - American Jesus 4.75 Emeralds
• For All Seasons - Just For Today 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - God Only Knows (R3HAB Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
  
• For King and Country - God Only Knows (Robin G Acoustic Mix) 4.75 Emeralds
• James Fortune - I am (Radio Edit) ft Deborah Carolina 5 Emeralds
• Danny Gokey - Love God Love People ft Michael W. Smith 5 Emeralds
• Goshen Sai - Neo Mass Exodus 5 Emeralds
• Jason Gray - I'm Gonna Let It Go 4.75 Emeralds
• Tori Harper - Revival 5 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Far Kingdom (Reimagined) 5 Emeralds
• Influencers Worship - Fathers Love 5 Emeralds
• P Lo Jetson - My Life Is In Your Hands ft Ed Williams 4.75 Emeralds
• KB - DNOU2 5 Emeralds
• KB - Hold Me Back 4.25 Emeralds
• Legin - Mad Luv ft Daniel Olsson of Citizen Way 4.75 Emeralds
• Elle Limebear - Find Me At Your Feet 5 Emeralds
• Steven Malcolm - Even Louder ft Natalie Grant 4.75 Emeralds
• Kevin Max - Be Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Memphis May Fire - Faint 5 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - God Gave Me Horses 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Kiss Me (20th Anniversary Edition) 4.75 Emeralds
• Newsboys - Only The Son (Yeshua) 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - I Choose You (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Plassix and Puso - Holding Hands 4.75 Emeralds
• Bryan Popin - All Back 5 Emeralds
• Scott Ralley - He Rise Up 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Reddick - You Keep Hope Alive 4.75 Emeralds
• Sanctus Real - Unstoppable God 5 Emeralds
• Allan Scott - Living Hope 5 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - King 5 Emeralds
• Martin Smith - Iron Lung 5 Emeralds
• Stars Go Dim - Invisible 5 Emeralds
• Tenth Avenue North - Greater Than All My Regrets 5 Emeralds
• Terrian - God With Us 5 Emeralds
• Cade Thompson - Voices 4.75 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Like You Do (Ft V.Rose) 5 Emeralds
• Trinity - Anthem of Love 4.50 Emeralds
• 29:11 Worship - Roses 5 Emeralds
  
• Kim Walker-Smith - Just Be 5 Emeralds
• Wande - Blessed Up 4.75 Emeralds
• JJ Weeks - Choices 5 Emeralds
  
• Tauren Wells - God's Not Done With You 5 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - You Cannot Be Stopped ft Chris Quilala 5 Emeralds
• Woodlands Worship - Maker 5 Emeralds

Now on to the Albums. We begin with those that will not make #PVX

Missing The Mark

• Brandtson - Letterbox (1998 Re-Issue) 4.25 Emeralds
• The Sinapi - Beyond the Stars 3.75 Emeralds
• Social Club Misfits - Mood EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - God You Reign (Vineyard Community Church Pomona) 4.25 Emeralds

Only four albums miss the mark. Must be feeling generous. The next group needs no help or generosity.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Death Therapy - Voices 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - Paradoxology 5 Emeralds
• Danny Gokey - Haven't Seen It Yet 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong United - People (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - III (Studio Sessions) 5 Emeralds
• Kings Kaleidoscope - Zeal 5 Emeralds
• Mike Mains and The Branches - When We Were In Love 5 Emeralds
• Starflyer 59 - Young In My Head 5 Emeralds
• TobyMac - Scars (Come With Livin Remixes EP) 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metals

• After Grace - You Knew EP 4.75 Emeralds
• American Arson - Rise and Fall EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Erskin Anavitarte - Love Moves EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Anthem Lights - Hymns Medleys 4.50 Emeralds
• Antioch Music - Live At World Mandate 4.50 Emeralds
• Bright Ones - Bright Ones (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 4.75 Emeralds
• Brinson - Reversing Tomorrow 4.75 Emeralds
• Caleb and Kelsey - Hymns 4.75 Emeralds
• Embassy - Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
• Lou Fellingham - Made For You (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Free Worship - Already Done 4.50 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - To The Dawn: Reimagined EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Mallory Hope - Out of My Hands 4.75 Emeralds
• Sarah Kroger - Bloom 4.75 Emeralds
• Local Sound - The Free World, Volume 1 EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Branan Murphy - Coming Home (Remixes) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Dave Pettigrew - Faith and Gasoline 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Rain Part 2 EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (No Other Love) (Live EP) 4.75 Emeralds
• Lacey Sturm - Reflect Love Back Soundtrack, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
• Paul Wilbur - Roar From Zion: Recorded Live In Jerusalem 4.50 Emeralds

Finally. April is in the Bag. And Tomorrow is the last release day of May. The work is never done around here. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Falling Rocks: The 2018 Platinum Vinyl Awards 1st Qtr - Adult Contemporary

The second genre in our three way tie is Adult Contemporary (which we pair with its twin sibling Inspirational). It was a good quarter for elevator music (sorry).

Adult Contemporary/Inspirational

• Anthem Lights - Painted Skies
• Jeremy Camp - The Answer
• John Ellis - Growing Silent
• Sara Groves - Abide With Me
• Matt Hammitt - Matt Hammitt
• Aaron Powell - My Heart Belongs
• Abigail Sloane - Reason and Rhyme

I am getting things together for auto pilot in case our office is impacted by snow. Next up is our final tie, Pop Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

MVM Special Edition: #PlatVnyl7 Folk Video Nominees

We are trying to pull ourselves up out of a hole here at Night Beat HQ. One of the best ways to do that is to get going on the Platinum Vinyl Awards. This year (we are behind schedule) is #PlatVnyl7. We always use the Music Video Monday format to announce the Video Awards Nominees. Since we have narrowed a few of the categories to the final 5 nominees, I think it is high time to begin the announcement process.

We begin with Folk/Folk Rock Video of The Year. The nominees for #PlatVnly7 are Signal by Sara Groves; Beloved One by Jenny and Tyler; The Dream Alive by Vocal Few; What Do You See? by Mr and Mrs Something; and Band of Gold by The Grey Havens. Here is the video playlist.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We will try to keep this up daily. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

The 2016 MVM Christmas Parade: My Family's Crazy

Welcome to a very special Music Video Monday. It's time for the 2016 Christmas Parade. From now until the new year we will be handling Christmas Videos exclusively. Hopefully the supply of music videos will be replenished by then.

We begin with a classic song, though a fan video. Sara Groves is singing about Toy Packaging. Never mind the dynamite.

Well go with a bit of Classic Romance for the next video. We've got a little bit of Dave Barnes. I think I could stay in for Christmas Tonight if I had a girl like that.

Anyway, they say that the Holiday Season is a time of great stress. Toy Packaging not withstanding. It usually has something to do with relatives. Of course I wouldn't know that, because I really don't have an extended family. But things have gotten askew for Tim Skipper (House of Heroes) and his wife Stephanie (Smith) Skipper. They know that My Family's Crazy (At Christmas Time).
The 2016 edition of The Night Beat Christmas Parade is under way. We will be posting at least on Monday, depending on how many videos I can scare up. Until next time, Ho Ho Ho and I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Blankets of Night in a Hammock

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday, where we share the best music videos in CCM, and a bunch that skipped their notice. We are going to start off today with one of those bands that get skipped. It almost skipped my notice as well, except I have sources.  Of course sometimes things come in down to the wire and force a rewrite, and a missed deadline. Such is the case this week. Anyway, as to the band. Their name is Hammock, and it is a two piece electronic effort. One of The two members is Marc Byrd. Now Marc is married to Christine Glass and they released an album together under the name of Glassbyrd. He also has ties to The Choir and was part of the Alt/Rock Effort Common Children. So needless to say the bonafides are there. Hammock released Everything and Nothing back on April 1. This video is Blankets of Night from the 2015 Remastered Kenotic.
Next up is Fearless BND, or the Band Formerly Known as Worth Dying For. Sorry for the Prince reference, but I couldn't resist. They have been putting out a lot of singles lately in anticipation of an album, and some videos have come down the pike as well. This is Jump Around.
And finally we go on to Sara Groves and Signal.
That is all for this belated edition of Music Video Monday. We will be on time Next Week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.  

Mistletunes: The 2016 1st Quarter - Folk/Folk Rock

We continue with our announcement of the #PlatVnyl7 or 2016 1st Quarter Pool Entrants. Our second single genre post is Folk and Folk Rock, called by some Singer/Songwriter, which is tremendously confusing, since it can be any genre. At least the ubiquitous "girl with guitar" was somewhat more descriptive.

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sara Groves - Floodplain
• Jenny & Tyler - Of This I'm Sure
• Andrew Peterson - The Burning Edge Of Dawn
• Mr. and Mrs. Something - Setting Sail
• Vocal Few - The Dream Alive - EP

There are the standard artists here, with Sara Groves, who put out a perfect album, and Andrew Peterson, among the leaders. The Dream Alive and Mr. and Mrs. Something are among the new crop. Or at least new to me. Gospel is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 10 Best Albums of 2015

This is a very special Christmas Season here at Night Beat HQ. Not because we love Christmas, but because, for the first time in a while we have actually managed to put out a Top 10 List at the end of the year. That's what happens when you hand out roughly 50 perfect albums per year. It gets a bit crowded. (Full Disclosure: 2015 had 49). Looking for the "WOW" that struck me the first time got me down to 18. I gave it one more listen and came up with some sort of ranking. I ranked 1-10. 11-18 will be in an honorable mention with no emphasis on rank.

• #10 - Falling Up, Falling Up - I grew up in the 80's, which happens to be the Best Decade of Music Ever, for both the Mainstream and Christian Music Scenes. A Band which I say is "my band" is The Choir, with its Chiming Guitars. Everything has an "ethereal sound". Falling up has always reminded me of them. Unfortunately, one of their best ever is also their last. I guess I will have to stay with The Choir.
• #9 - One Love Revolution, Pillar - Personally tied for "Best Pillar Album Ever" with Fireproof. Yes the recording was sub par on that one, but the in your face rap core was refreshing. It is telling that the original lineup, which was on Fireproof, was on this album.
• #8 - Come In, Children 18:3 - Another swan song. No you don't get a free pass when you break up. There were rumors that On The Run was going to be the final album, and while it was okay, it was bordering Pop, and that isn't what we look to this band for. This is one of the loudest album ever by the band.
• #7 - Valitus, The Ember Days - I have been a fan since they were still doing Finger Painting. They have always been an Alternative Band which swerves into Modern Worship from time to time. It's Better than the other way around. The name means "A Wailing" , though It didn't seem depressed. It was my last perfect album of the year and one of the most satisfying.
• #6 - II, Capital Kings - Our first representative from The Dance/Synthpop arena, or is it Electronic/Industrial. It is really hard to figure this time around. Once one of the pack of Synthpop bands, they moved into the front through both their remix album, and this their second album, which moved into a harder edged sound
• #5 - This Is Not A Test, Toby Mac - Toby Mac is Back. His music has never been bad, it's just that for a while now he has simply fulfilled expectations. This is not a test Smashes them, with a little help from Capital Kings, I might Throw in.
• #4 - Empire, Derek Minor - The Only Rap Album to Make the list, but only because I did my best to get down to ten. 4 Rap Albums made a Perfect 5 (6 if you include TobyMac and Rapture Ruckus). All hail the king and the Title cut get things on to an explosive start
• #3 - Invader (Deluxe), Rapture Ruckus - This is one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I was not exactly impressed by the two invader EP's, but when he put it all together into an album, it was an entirely different matter.
• #2 - Science Fiction, Jonathan Thulin - The Too Lean Brothers (that's the pronunciation) continue to mine Platinum). While EDM brother David takes to the Reconstruction of Radio, Jonathan has taken the Alternative Path, though he does simply Press Play and dance from time to time. Enough of the name drops. We Start out as a Time Traveler, dance with Jekyll and Hyde, and even go dark with Cry Wolf. The Picture is complete.
• #1 - Of Beauty and Rage, RED - EPIC. Red has always been the master of the Symphonic. The Darkest Part is definitely Song of The Year Material. They say repentance is a sincere Change of Mind. They have definitely repented for Release The Panic, which only threw their fans into a Panic. If you love EPIC, soaring orchestration, ballads, and hard driving rock and can only afford to get one album, this is it.

That's the Top 10 of The Year 2015.  You can see that this was a great year. Here are the Albums that failed to make the top 10. But They Were Still Perfect. 

• We Are, The City Harmonic
• Floodplain, Sara Groves
• Broken Temples (Deluxe), Kevin Max
• Anxiety, NYVES
• Exhale, Plumb
• Renegades Never Die, Skrip
• Echoes of Wonder, Salt of The Sound
• Fallen, Stryper

I think you would agree that this would make an excellent list on its own. My List is up, now it is time for you all to take your shots. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. Merry Christmas to All. 

Night Beat Rewind: November 2015

We are just about done with 2015 folks. December looks to be a bit sparse, so we may get that rewind done before January. That's wishful thinking and we still have to get through November. Here We Go.

As it is the season, we begin with our:

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Copperlily - A Very Copperlily Christmas 5 Emeralds
• TaRanda Green - Spirit of Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• John and Valerie Guerra - It's Almost Christmas 4.25 Emeralds
• Gungor - O Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Vernon Hill - Great Joy 4.75 Emeralds
• Jaime Jamgochian and Tyrus Morgan - Christmastime 4.25 Emeralds
• Brothers McClurg - Goin Back To Bethlehem 3.75 Emeralds
• Justin McRoberts - Christmas Songs, Volume 3 4.25 Emeralds
• Various - Christmas Goes Gospel, Volume 2 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - Dream Christmas, Volume 3 4.50 Emeralds
• Various - Vital Christmas: Dance of Joy 4.50 Emeralds

The Singles Scene 

• Color Theory - OBE 4.75 Emeralds
• Fearless BND - We Lift You Higher 4.50 Emeralds

Now we move on to the non-seasonal album listings. I have decided to be scrooge this year, and I am branding a fairly good amount as 

Missing The Mark

• Bridge Worship Band - My Great Need 3.75 Emeralds
• Michael Bahn - Before Our King 3.75 Emeralds
• J Monty - Second Born 3.75 Emeralds
• NomiS - Socially Just 3.75 Emeralds
• TJ Pompeo - Pompeiion 3.50 Emeralds
• Promise - Falling Rain 3.75 Emeralds
• Talkie - Hablas 3.50 Emeralds
• Yaves - Prince Among Thieves 3 3.50 Emeralds

Most of the releases just missed, but a few either didn't impress at all or irritated me quite a bit. Such was the case with TJ Pompeo. One of the White Hip Hop contingent (or should I say Plain White Rapper), he seems to be buying into the Police Officers Are Hunting African Americans to Beat Up and Kill because it amuses them line that the liberals are slandering people with these days.  Fortunately that is only one song, but the rest of the album is only so-so. Yaves and Talkie were "meh", I believe the phrase is.

Our next group needs no excuses. It is simply

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Falling Up - Falling Up 5 Emeralds
• Kirk Franklin - Losing My Religion 5 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - Floodplain 5 Emeralds

Most of the releases fall between the two, they are:

Semi Precious Metal

• Alache - The Chronicles of The Mrs. 4.75 Emeralds
• Audile - Am I 4.75 Emeralds
• Benjah - Motives 4.50 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - A Live Worship Experience 4.50 Emeralds
• Consumed By Fire - Lean on Me 4.50 Emeralds
• The Exchange - Compass 4.50 Emeralds
• Family Force Five - Time Still Stands 4.75 Emeralds
• Adam Layne Fisher - Live at Barnet Park 4.75 Emeralds
• Five Iron Frenzy - Between Pavement and Stars EP  4.50 Emeralds
• Gloriam Dei - The Covenant 4.75 Emeralds
• Natalie Grant - Be One 4.75 Emeralds
• GuvnaB - Secret World 4.50 Emeralds
• Deitrick Haddon - Masterpiece 4.75 Emeralds
• Kutless - Surrender 4.75 Emeralds
• Phillip LaRue - You 4.75 Emeralds
• MH Eternal - Songs For Tomorrow 4.50 Emeralds
• Dre Murray - 34 4.75 Emeralds
• Mutemath - Vitals 4.75 Emeralds
• Joshua Price - Elevate 4.50 Emeralds
• Puntin - Gold 4.50 Emeralds
• Seeker and Servant - You Alone Forever 4.75 Emeralds
• Vineyard UK - Hear The Sound 4.75 Emeralds
• Wilkes - Shells EP 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for this month. 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.

The Night Beat Christmas Parade: Toy Packaging

From the Sublime to the Ridiculous. We continue with The Night Beat Christmas Parade with a home video set to Sara Groves hilarious Toy Packaging. The song chronicles the seemingly endless battle to get children's toys out of child (and possibly human) safe packaging.

Really hoped somebody got some dynamite. That would have been cool. Oh well, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Scientists in Japan are Courageous

Welcome to the latest installment of Music Video Monday, where we share the latest video releases from the best CCM artists out there. (Of course from time to time my definition of a CCM artist may differ widely from the industry.)

Since this is a recent development, I have tried to progress to a different genre each week until I am caught up to the most recent releases. It may take a while. Right now we are on the Fall 2011 Releases in the Pop Genre.

We will begin with Folk/Worship/Pop act Shane & Shane who know The One You Need. This marks the debut Music Video by the two Shanes,

I have shared this before, but it bears another listen. This is I Have A Dream [It Feels Like Home] by The City Harmonic.

Pop/Rock/Worship Supergroup Casting Crowns is next with Courageous, which is the title soundtrack for the movie of the same name.

And finally a rarity of sorts. A Music Video from Sara Groves. Sara takes us to 1950's Sci-Fi Programs in the somewhat unsettling to watch Scientists in Japan from Invisible Empires.

That concludes this weeks edition of Music Video Monday. Next week we will go to Rock (and Hard Rock) and that will conclude the Fall 2011 Releases (or at least those video's which were released by time of this post). Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Pop

This was the mega-genre this quarter. Pop usually requires a lot of work to narrow down after the eligibility year closes and this year is proving no exception. This is only the first Quarter and already we have ELEVEN entries. Well seven if you count that four are double dippers from another category, but that is just because their music can't be pigeonholed that simply.

First up Sara Groves. The favorite of a lot of Top 10 Lists this year, Invisible Empires just missed both a perfect 5, settling for 4.75 Emeralds as well as a spot in this years Platinum Vinyl Awards. As for a Top 10 album, there were too many Perfect 5's this year. Check out my list of the Best Albums of 2011.

Pop/Worship/Unique sensation The City Harmonic released their sophomore release this past October. Entitled I Have A Dream [It feels like home], the release is a fine successor to Introducing the City Harmonic. While Things are looking up for the band musically, on a personal matter we would like to convey the best wishes and prayers of all at The Night Beat to Bass Player Eric Fusilier as he combats leukemia. Praying for a speedy healing. I gave the album a respectable 4.5 Emeralds.

Once Upon A Time marks the return of Kerrie Roberts to the CCM Market. The EP contains a few acoustic versions of songs on her debut, but she really rocks out on the opening track, entitled Rescue Me (How The Story Ends). This song could be on my list of Dance Song of the Year for 2012. Oh, and it is also the Theme Song for the ABC series Once Upon a Time. It's about time that CCM artists get recognition for their superior talent. We shall see how the EP goes, as I was only able to give it 4.25 Emeralds. That puts it in the initial pool, but it is very short and that is one of its main drawbacks. We shall see how the story ends.

Rather than have an extremely long post, I shall put the other eight entrants on a quick hits list. Without further ado, the remaining Pop entrants for the first quarter.

• Casting Crowns - Come to the Well 4.5 Emeralds
• Keith Elgin - Keith Elgin 4.5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Deeper 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Hymns and Sacred Songs 4.25 Emeralds
• Relient K - K is for Karaoke, Vol 2 4.5 Emeralds
• Run Kid Run - Patterns 4.5 Emeralds
• Shane & Shane - The One You Need 4.25 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - Response 4.5 Emeralds

Due to my combining of a bunch of non producing genres this quarter I have only two more to go. Stay with me. As always I am Awaiting Your Reply.