The Home of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Reviews of New CD releases, mostly CCM but also mainstream releases that may interest the Christian Music listener. Music News and Commentary, especially when there's a CCM connection.
. As you know I won't do a list for just one, plus, this wont be considered for #PlatVnyl6 as Christmas Music is non eligible. I gave it a mark of 4.50 Emeralds. Very good for an EP.
3.75 Emeralds
3.75 Emeralds
3.75 Emeralds
5 Emeralds
5 Emeralds
4.75 Emeralds
4.50 Emeralds
4.75 Emeralds
4.75 Emeralds
4.50 Emeralds
4.75 Emeralds
EP 4.50 Emeralds
Steven Curtis Chapman is a household name in CCM, having released his debut, First Hand
, back in 1987, when your favorite blogger was a DJ. I confess that I was not very knowledgeable of his stuff then or now. In fairness it is kind of mild. No I was more into Heavy Metal at the time, along with the usual Rock staples (D&K, Petra, Servant, Steve Taylor).
I probably heard his music on and off over the years, but I never really heard an album through from beginning to end until, while working Promotions for Sparrow Records at the Inside Out Soulfest (now simply Soulfest) at Loon Mountain in 2000, as part of the perks of the Job, I received a copy of Speechless (1999)
. Now a lot of people came into Chapman's orbit at that time, seeing that the Album went Platinum (1,150,000 Copies Sold). Now That's Good for Christian Standards, but it's no Fallen (7x Platinum U.S./17x Platinum Worldwide) or Satellite (3x Platinum).
Of the fourteen cuts on the album (not exactly unheard of on a Best-Of Release or even a studio album. For someone with his body of work, it could be somewhat short), eight are modern Re:creations. I'm kind of mixed on them. Some of them are best described as acoustic versions, and if the original was rocking, sometimes I think they fall flat. I'm more impressed with the new music, including one song recorded with his son Caleb
.
Of the trio, I am most impressed with Destiny by Beckah Shae. I was anticipating the release of this album after listening to #putyourloveglasseson which was released as a free download a few months ago. Now that the album is here, needless to say, I am not disappointed. You can check out the album this week at New Release Tuesday. If you are looking for some excellent Dance Grooves for yourself, this is definitely the CD for you, though it doesn't come out until next Tuesday. I've already listened to it twice, and I am strongly leaning toward awarding it the coveted 5 Emerald Rating. I would always hope that you would click through the title link and buy through it at Amazon. The Night Beat thanks you.
Another good album to add to your library comes from King Midas (a.k.a. Brandon Ebel, Founder/President of Tooth & Nail Records). Monoculture by Sainthood Reps is out now, and is currently a Full Album Listening Party at AOL Music. I think it is safe to say that this is not Dance Music. This is Alternative Rock, with emphasis on alternative. The folks at AOL describe it as "scary rhythms and Spooky guitars", and that gives it a "spacey" feel to it. While I'm not blown away with it like Beckah Shae, even on its initial listening I feel safe to say my final rating will be in the High fours, giving it an easy pass to the first round of the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Since it is not marketed as a Christian Release, despite being a Tooth & Nail release, it may qualify for a CROSS/over nomination as well.
Finally, an album, which while very good, will probably not be in the Platinum Vinyl Pool, though not due to content or quality. Re:Creation by Steven Curtis Chapman is sort of a Hybrid new release/best of compilation. It has some new songs, but some of the songs are new recordings of old hits. That is something done on a lot of the Best Of albums, and even though I have rated some Best-of releases, and given them ratings which would qualify them for a Platinum Vinyl Award, in the end I have dropped them in favor of a new studio release or live recording. What do you guys think. Does a best of album deserve to be honored? Should it have its own category? I encourage your thought on the matter. Oh, before I close, I should say that Re:Creation is also streaming in its entirety at NRT.
