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

Alternative had six entries this quarter. A very good showing, and nearly enough for its own finals if we had not other judging process.

Alternative Rock

• Josh Garrels - Chrysaline
• The Rocket Summer - Sweet Shivers
• Strangeher - A Marginal Sea
• Tenth Avenue North - No Shame
• John Van Deusen - (I Am) Origami pt 3: A Catacomb Hymn
• Wilder Woods - Wilder Woods

A pretty much veteran lineup (Wilder Woods is a side-project of Needtobreathe's Bear Rinehart). Next up is Adult Contemporary with 8 entries. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: August 2019

We are late, we are late for a very important date. It's almost October and I'm just getting the August Posts settled. Tomorrow Platinum Vinyl 11 Begins, and from what I have heard is coming it is going to bust down all the doors. Let's get to it. We start with the songs.

The Singles Scene

• The Afters - Well Done (Acoustic) 5 Emeralds
• Pat Barrett - Canvas and Clay (Live) (ft Ben Smith) 4.50 Emeralds
• Francesca Battistelli - Defender (ft Steffany Gretzinger) 4.75 Emeralds
• Jermaine Bollinger - Turn It Over 3.75 Emeralds
• Bridges Nashville - Start Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Mack Brock - Greater Things(Live)/I Am Loved + Do It Again (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Aaron Bucks - I Got You 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - Father 5 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Lifesong (New York Sessions) 4.75 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth (New York Sessions) 4.50 Emeralds
• Riley Clemmons - Free 5 Emeralds
• Noah Cleveland - Warriors 4.75 Emeralds
• Marci Coleman - How You Love (Dan Pruzina Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Avian 4.75 Emeralds
• J. Crum - Unfamiliar 4.75 Emeralds
• Disciple - Play To Win 5 Emeralds
• Disciple - Reanimate 4.75 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - See A Victory 4.75 Emeralds
• Embassy - Make A Way 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - God Only Knows (ft Dolly Parton) 5 Emeralds
• For King and Country - God Only Knows (Ruslan Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Travis Green - Won't Let Go 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - King of Kings (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Chris Howland - Live and Move (ft Aaron Cole, Mr. Talkbox and Phil J) 5 Emeralds
• Tommy Iceland - Impact 5 Emeralds
• Hillary Jane - God of Always 5 Emeralds
• Judah Band - I Believe 5 Emeralds
• Rachael Lampa - Side of My Heart 5 Emeralds
• Leeland - Waymaker (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Legin - Add A Blessing 4.50 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - Dance + You 5 Emeralds
• Lifepoint Worship - Change to Good 4.75 Emeralds
• Elle Limebear - Call On Your Name (BCee Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Anna Ly - I'm Walking With You 4.75 Emeralds
• LZ7 - Forever Young 5 Emeralds
• Derek Minor - Whole Team Winning ft Byron Juane and Canon 3.25 Emeralds
• Plassix and Puso - Let's Go 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Quilala - Nothing But Good 4.75 Emeralds
• Courtney Ramirez - Perfectly Loved 4.75 Emeralds
• Reach City Worship - Lost In Your Love 5 Emeralds
• Reclaimers - Already Over 4.50 Emeralds
• Red - From The Ashes 4.75 Emeralds
• Charlie Rey - Now 4.50 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - Peace In The Storm ft Jameson Nathan Jones 5 Emeralds
• Shane and Shane - Power of The Cross 4.75 Emeralds
• Kierra Sheard - Don't Judge Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Kierra Sheard - Don't Judge Me ft Missy Elliot 4.75 Emeralds
• Social Club Misfits - Believe 4.50 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - Talk It Out (Laudr8 Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Stillman - Shook 4.50 Emeralds
• JSteph - Waiting For You ft Moflo Music 4.75 Emeralds
• Terrian - In The Arms 5 Emeralds
• Thrive Worship - I Still Believe (faithful always) 4.75 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Look at Me Now (ft Stephen Malcolm and Nobigdyl) 4.75 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - Everything 4.75 Emeralds
• We The Kingdom - Dancing on the waves (Live) 5 Emeralds
• White Collar Sideshow - Break on Through (To The Other Side) [Doors Cover]  5 Emeralds
• Zach Williams - Walk With You 4.75 Emeralds

59 Entries in a month. WOW. On to the albums, and we begin with those that don't make the cut.

Missing The Mark

• Ghost Ship - To The End 4.25 Emeralds
• House, Bethel Church Worship - House 4.25 Emeralds
• Andy Mineo - Work In Progress 4.25 Emeralds
• Sanctus Real - Untoppable God 4.25 Emeralds
• Shane and Shane - Hymns Volume 2 4.25 Emeralds

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Caleb and Kelsey - Sing Over Me: Songs for Parents and Their Little Ones 5 Emeralds
• Elevation Worship - At Midnight EP 5 Emeralds
• James Fortune - Dream Again 5 Emeralds
• Josh Garrells - Chrysaline 5 Emeralds
• Dear Gravity - The Pilgrimage Series: Wayfaring EP 5 Emeralds
• Travis Green - Setlist, Volume 1 (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Vashawn Mitchell - Elements 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Rain Part 3 (Live) EP 5 Emeralds
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (You Will Be My Song) (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Rend Collective Kids - Sparkle Pop Rampage 5 Emeralds
• Skillet - Victorious 5 Emeralds
• StrangeHer - A Marginal Sea 5 Emeralds
• Various - Hitsville: A Motown Gospel Celebration EP 5 Emeralds
• Various - Overcomer: Music From and Inspired by The Original Motion Picture 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - Hello My Name Is: Greatest Hits 5 Emeralds
• Wilder Woods - Wilder Woods 5 Emeralds
• BeBe Winans - Need You 5 Emeralds

Seventeen Pure Platinum to finish off the year. This is year 10.

Semi Precious Metal

• Pat Barrett - Canvs and Clay (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Building 429 - Fear No More EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Catch The Fire Music - Revival 25 (Live) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Not By Chance 4.75 Emeralds
• E58 Worship - Make Way (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Jason Gray - Order EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Listen More EP 4.75 Emeralds
• David Leonard - The Wait: Silence The Noise (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Maranatha Music - Heart of Worship - Tremble 4.75 Emeralds
• Paul and Hannah McClure - The Way Home (Deluxe) 4.75 Emeralds
• Gene Moore - Tunnel Vision 4.50 Emeralds
• Narnia - From Darkness to Light 4.75 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Abundantly More EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Random Hero - Tension 4.75 Emeralds
• The Rocket Summer - Sweet Shivers 4.75 Emeralds
• V.Rose - Forth 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Talley - Glorious God: Songs of Worship 4.75 Emeralds
• Lauren Talley - Loudest Praise: Hymns of Mercy Love and Grace 4.75 Emeralds
• Tenth Avenue North - No Shame 4.75 Emeralds
• TobyMac - The St Nemele Collab Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - Simple Hymns: Songs of Redemption 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - Sozo Playlists: Top Christian Hits 4.75 Emeralds

That does it. August is in the Books. On to September, and October is beginning. Never a Dull moment at Night Beat HQ. Until next time I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Peace Signs

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. We share the best videos in Christian Contemporary Music and the Fringe here. And we seem to be in a every other week schedule. Hopefully we will get on an every week session soon.

It is the Summer, and it will be a Rocket Summer. The band will be releasing a new album entitled Sweet Shivers on August 2, and he has been dribbling out the singles, and Music Videos. So, in the spirit of laziness, we shall do an all Rocket Summer edition.

We begin with the Music Video for Shatter Us, which came out a month ago, and was the first song released.

The Second Song, which Missed My attention (I Know, Shocking), is Morning Light.

And the final song for the week is Peace Signs. In the every other week pattern we seem to be in I caught the release for this one.

That does it for this week. Let's try to keep it all on track. We will return with other artists next week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter- Alternative

We are back to the "real" genres. Alternative Rock served up a half dozen nominees, which would almost fill a final if they were all taken. What it does mean is there will be a good deal of judging to fill the final 7 in this category. Let's get to it.

Alternative

• Anchor and Braille - Songs for the Late Night Drive Home
• John Ball - By Declaration and The Death
• Colours - Ivory
• Gungor - One Wild Life: Spirit
• The Rocket Summer - Zoetic
• Steve Taylor and The Danielson Foil - Wow To The Deadness

All I have to say here is that Anchor and Braille has stepped in to fill the void left by the departure of Anberlin from the scene. They were rewarded with a Perfect Album. This is going to be a good year.

One final note. While going about the making of this post we found out about the untimely death of Prince Rogers Nelson (aka Prince) at the very young age of 57. Since it is my birthday tomorrow and I will be 50, I say very young. The Music World, including the Night Beat, has lost a legend too soon. I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Night Beat Rewind: December 2013

In the last edition of rewind, I predicted that I would not have a Rewind for December. I had one in 2012 but not in 2011. Obviously I'm no Nostradamus, because here we are. 9 releases came across my desk this month. We start with Christmas Music, which doesn't pass into the PVA Pool.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Falling Up - Silver City 5 Emeralds
• The Rocket Summer - Christmas Madness EP 4.50 Emeralds

Bryce and company are good in this Christmas EP, but you have got to get Falling Up. A Christmas Album unlike any other this season.

Now onto the non seasonal music. As always, we begin with those which

Missed The Mark

• Schematic - Color (n.) Inside The Lines 3.75 Emeralds
• Vineyard Music - Wonderful 3.75 Emeralds

As is usually the case, these are pretty good albums that just missed the PVA pool. You will not go wrong adding them to your collection. You just might not have them on auto repeat.
You will with the next album, it is December's

Pure Platinum

• Seth and Nirva - I Need You 5 Emeralds

Part of Toby Mac's Diverse City stepping out on their own. A good mix of R&B, Hip Hop, Rap and Gospel. It improved with every listen. 

Finally, we move on to the music in the middle. Those albums which are

Semi-Precious Metal

• Acquire The Fire - Epic Truth 4.75 Emeralds
• Benjiman - Can't Stop 4.75 Emeralds
• Everything in Slow Motion - Phoenix 4.75 Emeralds
• My Epic - Behold 4.75 Emeralds

That wraps up 2013. 2014 is right around the corner, and I hope to see you all there with me as the 5th Platinum Vinyl Award Season starts to heat up. Until the New Year, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

  

MVM Special Edition: Cover Me - Awake and Alive

Welcome to a special edition of Music Video Monday on Tuesday, as I mentioned in my previous post, we are celebrating the recent release of Satellites and Sirens mp3 only (at least for now) release of The Covers by sharing the videos that started it all.

We will begin this edition with Maroon 5. This is Payphone, something you don't see every day.

From mainstream to Christian, we continue with So Much Love by The Rocket Summer.

Taking the Train for our next song. This is Drive By, something you will not do on a train.

Back to Christian Music once more. This is the cover of Skillet's Awake and Alive.

We conclude this special edition of Music Video Monday with Coldplay singing about Paradise.

Once again I wish to remind you to click on the highlighted link and buy any of the songs on The Covers or indeed the entire album, and support The Night Beat at the same time. Until next time, when we will share covers of Katy Perry, Chris Tomlin and others, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Bema Seat

Hope everybody is enjoying their Labor Day Holiday. There is no rest here at The Night Beat (actually, there is, due to the miracle of automatic scheduling). So even though there is nobody here in the offices of the WENC Night Beat, our regularly scheduled Music Video Monday will go out. Something like the Pony Express (you know, neither rain, nor snow...).

If you have been with the last few weeks, you know that an abundance of entries in the Hard Rock and Rock Genre have forced us to have two posts for each of those genres. This marks the second week of Rock, and the end, finally of the 3rd Quarter. We can now begin the 4th Quarter on September 10 and get some in before the 4th Quarter ends on September 30). Last week we had videos by Big Daddy Weave, Children 18:3, Deluge, MxPx and Mercy Me. This week we crank things up just a bit.

We begin, somewhat ironically, on the Holiday celebrating the End of Summer, with The Rocket Summer. From their new release Life Will Write The Words, this is Revival.

We crank it up with Thousand Foot Krutch. This is a lyric video of Be Somebody off of their independent release The End is Where We Begin.

Continuing with the audio assault. Write This Down sings of their Lost Weekend. This is Crash and Burn.

Toning it down just a notch, here is Willet, a band that was privileged to play during the Olympic Games. This is the lyric video for Love on the Outside.

We conclude by going old school. This is Petra, which just released a Best of the '80's album. This is a video from one of my favorites (I don't have too many non favorites when it comes to Petra). This is Bema Seat.

Next week we begin the 4th Quarter with an all new Music Video Monday. Summer may be officially over, but we are just Heating Up. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: June 2012

July is just getting underway and already I have completed rating the June Releases. I love it when things are going my way. It's time for the June Rewind, a quick hits column where I pick the perfect, the not so perfect, but still contending, and those that miss Platinum Vinyl Consideration. As always, we begin with those releases which

Missed The Mark

There were a few of those this month. You can't only mention those you think are worthy of a Platinum Vinyl Award and still maintain credibility. The also rans

• Altars - Conclusions 3.75 Emeralds
• Beautiful Eulogy - Satellite Kite 3.75 Emeralds
• Maria Jenkins - The Journey of A Worshipper 3.75 Emeralds
• Looking Forward - Down With The Ship EP 3.5 Emeralds

As I state in each Rewind post, these aren't necessarily bad albums (since my minimum bar is 4 Emeralds, absolutely not. These just missed being under Platinum Vinyl Consideration by a hair. Try 3 Emeralds and below for ones to avoid. Don't worry. I'll let you know about those. In the meantime, there occasionally pass our desk those releases which are

Pure Platinum

And there was one this month, sort of. I say sort of because it was a best of release, and that is sort of fudging it. You already have tons of material to sort through. You should be able to pick a 5 Emerald release from it. Especially when you, like Petra, have 5 decades of work to go through. They did limit themselves to their most memorable decade though.

• Petra - Best of the 80's 5 Emeralds

As is the case every month, most of the releases are neither perfect platinum or non-contenders. Though that is probably because I really don't want to give a bad review, the fact is that most releases are simply.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Bellarive - The Heartbeat 4.75 Emeralds
• Regina Belle Higher-  4.5 Emeralds
• Canopy Red - Wake Up 4.5 Emeralds
• Children 18:3 - On The Run 4.5 Emeralds
• The Devil Wears Prada - Dead & Alive (CD+DVD) 4.5 Emeralds
• Amy Grant - Rock of Ages: Hymns of Faith 4.25 Emeralds
• Israel & New Breed - New Season 4.75 Emeralds
• Natalie LaRue - Even Now 4.5 Emeralds
• Lovelite - In Three Persons 4.5 Emeralds
• The Overseer - We Search We Dig 4.5 Emeralds
• Page CXVI - RE: Hymns 4.75 Emeralds
• The Rocket Summer - Life Will Write The Words 4.5 Emeralds
• Various - Maranatha! Top 25 Praise Series Classics 4.25 Emeralds
• BeBe Winans - America America 4.5 Emeralds
• Write This Down - Lost Weekend 4.75 Emeralds

A few notes on this final list. Amy Grant isn't new, while it is good, it is a re-issue. The original album came out back in 2005. Israel Houghton is also a re-issue, his is from 2001. And of course BeBe Winans is a 4th of July Patriotic release. I may still stick it in in Inspirational, but it's final status is yet to be determined.

That does it for June. Hooray. Good thing things start to get quiet on the release front as the Summer months heat up. It's festival time. Get out to Cornerstone before it ends. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Run and Don't Stop

It's Monday, and that means that it is time for Music Video Monday, where we at The Night Beat Share the Best Christian and GRAC Music Videos out there. Before we begin today, I wish to give a shout out to all my friends on Triberr for bearing with me as the Platinum Vinyl Awards commenced. You all helped make it a big success. I guess I should also give a shout out to the google blogger team for fixing the scheduled post issue in time. Never mind last years marathon posting, even this could have been a disaster.

We're going to start out with a fresh video. Bryce Avery (aka The Rocket Summer), is coming out with a new album tomorrow entitled Life Will Write The Words. As a matter of full disclosure The WENC Night beat is an Amazon Associate, and if you click the highlighted link above and purchase the CD or downloads, a portion of the sale will come back to help The Night Beat. Thank You for your support. Here is the music video for Run and Don't Stop.

One More fresh video, though shorter. Write This Down releases Lost Weekend tomorrow, and this is the album teaser, just like in the movies.

You can listen to Lost Weekend in its entirety this week on AOL Music

Now onto the regularly scheduled videos. First up is Eisley, which recently released the Deep Space EP, which will be considered for a Platinum Vinyl Award next year. This is a live performance of Deep Space.

For King and Country is next. This is Joel & Luke Smallbone, RS James Brothers. This is the music video of Missing.

Sarah Macintosh came out with Current in March, and Oh what an album. Perfection. These are live studio videos. I would love to share them all, but I will chose Damaged.

And finally, we close it out with Sidewalk Prophets. This is the Video of the Title Cut of their new album, Live Like That.

That concludes this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next Monday, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Alternative

If the Gospel genre had a good showing this quarter with four entries, then this one was excellent with six. Pop, to nobody's surprise, had the best showing, but I shall hold off the reveal until it's time.

Forget Double Dip, try quadruple dip for the first entry. Alt-Ambient band Future of Forestry thrilled its fans with the Travel EP series. This quarter they combined the three EP's in the series into one CD. So if you loved Traveler's Song, Protection, or Working to Be Loved, it is all here on a single CD (or, of course, mp3). A near perfect combination, TCTS received 4.75 Emeralds.

Sometimes all it takes is the right album. A few years ago everyone was all gaga (not lady) over John Mark McMillan and The Medicine. When I heard the album I wasn't that impressed. Actually, I didn't like it at all. Fast forward two years (one actually, but two PVA eligibility years) and he comes out with Economy. Maybe it was the fact that it was a bit more rock and roll and a little less experimental, maybe he was just growing on me, or maybe I was (gasp!) becoming part of the CCM Elite! (Naaah!). Either way I liked it and gave it a passable score of 4 Emeralds.

We also had a release from a Tooth and Nail artist, which should be no surprise by now. You think you would be able to detect a bunch of Patterns by now. And by that I mean Patterns by Run, Kid, Run, who have been compared to The Rocket Summer, which is quite a compliment. I thought the album deserved a respectable 4.5 Emeralds.

New artist Caleb went To the ends of the World and received 4.25 Emeralds for it. They certainly didn't have to go that far, but such is the life. I would have given it to them without all the Travel. Deas Vail had their self titled release garner the same rating without the additional road miles. Finally, we waved at Wavorly as their EP garnered 4.25 Emeralds as well.

Because of some astute combining of categories, we only have four more to go, but they are all well stocked, with one having almost two years full of possible entries. We drive on. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

P.S. The New Releases are available to stream. Check out Live Riot by Worth Dying For, Feel The Power by Tooth and Nail artist Blessed by a Broken Heart (Classic Metal) and The Essential Kirk Franklin. The Last two are out now, WDF comes out February 7. Check them all out and enjoy the music.

2012 Wishlist: Alternative

When I started this wish list I knew that I wasn't going to be able to complete it before the New Year Emerged. But I thought I would be able to move things along quicker than I have.

2010's big Alternative Releases included Fair, the Aaron Sprinkle Side Project. According to the band's official website we will have to do without any new project in the foreseeable future. However, we are given a teaser regarding another side project entitled Subways on the Sun. I am sure there will be more news on this soon.

The Rocket Summer (aka Bryce Avery) had a PVA Contender in 2010 with Of Men And Angels. This year they are also contending again with a live acoustic release Bryce Avery: His Instruments, Your Voices. A lot of Live Albums serve two purpose, to satisfy fans while giving the artist a breather and time to get into the studio. I have a suspicion that is exactly what Bryce is up to. I think we shall see another studio album sometime this year.

The Classic Crime is rumored to be coming out with a new album either this year or next, and Emo band Future of Forestry released Travel III in 2010, followed by the all inclusive Travel series CD this year. I think we are all waiting for a non-travel related release from the band.

Ivoryline took home the Inaugural PVA with Vessels. Actually they split the award with The Choir. Neither has anything in the rumor mill at present.

One Alternative band that does is 12 Stones. Their long awaited release Only Human is slated to drop on March 27. Considering that I loved The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, it's safe to say that I am stoked.

The Wishlist Continues. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Night Beat Best Albums of 2011

This isn't a Ten Best List, if only because I came up with thirteen entries. No, I'm not giving up on the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Most of the albums on this list are among the nominees for the PVA's (I say most because the PVA's extend Oct 1, 2010-Sept 30, 2011 and this is straight up Jan 1-December X, 2011 - Yes, I'm cheating a bit, but not as much as the others. I am sure regular readers of The Night Beat will figure out number one before I get to it.

Just Missing the Top 10

• 13 - Stryper - The Covering
• 12 - Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome to The Masquerade, Fan Edition
• 11 - Chevelle - Hats off to The Bull

The Top 10 Albums of 2011

• 10 - Red - Until We Have Faces - The third release by the Masters of Melodic Metal prove that this band has reached that upper echelon of "Super Group", where you can turn out a Grammy Nominee in your sleep. I had heard a few tunes from their debut, enough to be impressed and want to hear more. Innocence and Instinct knocked my socks off. That was a Career Defining CD, and not many bands can put out two of them in their career. As I said in my review
  

  The album is an almost non stop adrenaline rush. Wisely though there are two rest stops. Red has always been know for awesome ballads and here there are two. Not Alone, which is the string heavy sixth track, could almost be interpreted as a modern worship song, but it doesn't quite fit that mold. It really is a plea from Father God for the Prodigal to return, no matter what he has done, that God still loves them

  
    9 - The Rocket Summer - Bryce Avery: His Instruments, Your Voices - This is the Way Live Albums were meant to be. Audience Participation was excellent, perhaps we even had rabid fans. Though the recording was helped by a small venue, all live recordings, except this one, suffer from "Dead Air" whenever they want you to hear the audience sing along. Sometimes they even drown out Bryce. That is quite an accomplishment.
•   8 - Denver & The Mile High Orchestra - Groovy - On their first Children's Album, Denver and the band simply cut loose. The energy is contagious and you can feel that they are having as much fun as the children who are the target audience of this album. Grab Your Fedora and Swing along with your kids.
•   7 - Jackie Evancho - Dream With Me - One of four Possible CROSS/over artists on the list (The other three being The Civil Wars, Switchfoot and Evanescence). Children's voices aren't supposed to sound this good. I'm not much of a fan of Opera, but this girl puts Sandi Patti To shame.
•   6 - Mandisa - What if We Were Real - The American Idol misses again. Mandisa was one of CCMs Many signings of AI castoffs, and her early work had me scratching my head at their decision. (She was no Chris Sligh, but there was plenty of room for improvement. What if We Were Real is What we were looking for. This is a gospel/dance album that is sure to compete with Beckah Shae for the Platinum Vinyl Award
•   5 - The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow - The first 5 Emerald ratings awarded this year, and it's a folk album. There really isn't much more that can be said from my perspective.
•   4 - Various - Music Inspired by The Story - I can count on one finger the number of times a"Various Artists" album would make a 10 Best List, but that would be before this one came out. Top Notch Artists, Production Par Excellence, and a soundtrack worthy of Cecil B. DeMille himself are brought together in this exquisite package.
•   3 - Switchfoot - Vice Verses - No Dark Horse in this music race. A Show still wins you some good money at the track. A lot of CCM Ten Best lists this year have this album number 1. While we at the night beat are somewhat less impressed, even we have it in the top 3.
•   2 - Beckah Shae - Destiny - Come on Give Us Good Music. If the rest of the industry doesn't want to, Beckah Shae has no problem picking up the slack. For the squeamish CCM fan, be warned. This is UN-apologetically a DANCE Album, however it is combined with the same epic composition and strings, and Beckah's both haunting and soaring vocals. While I had the same feeling listening to Music Inspired By The Story, the fact that this comes from ONE ARTIST and not many is testament enough to its higher rating.

The Number One Album of 2011

• 1 - Evanescence - Evanescence

I say again, was this the worst kept secret. Every regular reader must know by now what a big Amy Lee fan this blogger is, and it's much earned. Most bands, after a six year hiatus would be quite a bit rusty with their return. There was no rust evident here. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Grammy Nominee in the cards for Amy for this album. (Fat Chance on a Dove). In the three albums they have produced (for a moment I am ignoring the Live Album, only going with the studio albums) of course Fallen is far and away Number one, but Evanescence (Self Titled) I consider a strong number two, pushing The Open Door to third place. I have my Top 10 Cross Linked to the original reviews, so check them out as well to get my initial opinions. If you think I snubbed your band, mention it in the comments. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Thief of Hearts

I thought I would do a few reviews for some Albums that have been out for a while. Sometimes these are only available via download. The Rocket Summer Bryce Avery: His Instruments, Your Voices is available free on his website. That's the entire album folks, not just a song or two. The Album is a live concert album that was done acoustic in small venues in what I can tell from verbal cues, in Hollywood and Salt Lake City. I am usually of mixed feelings when it comes to Live albums, but this one is very good.

His Instruments

Bryce is a multi-instrumentalist, which means he can be a one man band if he wants to, and in this case he does. Though he sticks to piano and guitar in this acoustic set, he does a "solo jam" which involves drums, guitar, electric guitar and some additional layering of instruments which would be impossible if not for a computer/synthesizer of some sort. Not that I'm complaining. I love techno. And all CCM one man-bands owe a lot to a man by the name of Leon Patillo. If you grew up in the 80's you may know who I am talking about.

I have two complaints about live albums, and both are addressed here. The first is that in a Live recording, "something is missing". The sound is never quite right, because it cannot be controlled. Bryce takes the K.I.S.S. Method here to achieve near perfection. Small Venue, Acoustic, not much can go wrong, and accept for an audience caused snafu (more on that in the second part), nothing does.

Your Voices

This is where the album really shines. In most live albums, when the artist/band asks for the audience to sing along is when things start to go bad. Maybe it's just that they don't have the audience miked, maybe it's the mix, and maybe we've got an audience of newbies who don't know the songs. The result is usually dead air. I liken it to those town hall meetings when they ask a question, you don't hear the question, and then you hear, that's a great question from the pol. (It doesn't matter your political persuasion, they're all equally bad.)

Such is not the case here. These fans are rabid. Not in stalker rabid, but they know all the words to every song and sing it loud and proud. This is a live experience at its finest. The fans are also responsible for a very funny moment during the show. After requesting Never Knew, they clap along at to quick a speed, throwing off Bryce's rhythm. After complaining playfully, he says "I can do this, I'm a professional" and continues the song. The energy is obvious.



Final Thoughts

I Thought I might not do this review, considering it is a free album, but it is that good, so I have to spill. In the Interest of the Night Beat making a buck, let me add that the full studio versions of the songs on the live set are on the albums Of Men and Angels, Hello Good Friend, Do You Feel, Calendar Days, and The Rocket Summer.

I played this for a family member, and after it concluded, the remark was "He stole their hearts". I agree. Now, I have a job for you the listener. As a live experience, this gets the full 5 Emerald treatment. Here is my question. Since it is a free download which may get limited circulation, should I include it in the PVA's this year? This could accomplish two things, getting more people to download and more comments for me. A Win-Win. I await your decision. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.