The 2019 Top 10 Albums: The Soft List

The Time has come for our Best of (and we try to be Top 10) List. This Year an abundance of Perfect 5 Emerald Rated Albums and EP's has led to creating multiple lists. The Albums will be split into two lists. SOFT and HARD (Based on Volume, not Theological Content), and then we will have a post for the EP's on their own. We begin with the Soft List, which is basically Adult Contemporary, Pop, Soft Rock, and Synthpop. Let's get to the list.

1. Phil Keaggy and Rex Paul - Illuminations: Multiple Listens prove the location for this album. Maybe it's my musical roots, which go all the way back to the Jesus Music Era (I Officially became aware of Christian Music in the Mid 70's). He was
   
   touring with the 2nd Chapter of Acts at the time. The Greatest Of All Time. His version of Time is worth the price of purchase.
2. Lindsey Stirling - Artemis: I am unabashedly a fan of strings, and I am not to proud to admit I just recently heard of Ms. Stirling. And for that I thank Amy Lee of Evanescence for "dueting" with her on Hi-Lo and Lindsey returned the favor on this album with Love Goes on and on. This is what heaven sounds like. It's 2, but it's really 1B.
3. Wilder Woods - Wilder Woods: The Neetobreathe side project is a mix of just about everything and is a joy to listen to.
4. BeBe Winans - Need You: BeBe and CeCe Winans were the modern generation of Gospel Family the Winans for my generation. Now at 57 Benjamin (BeBe) shows no sign of slowing down. This is a rousing Gospel/R&B/Big Band Sounding Gem.
5. Whosoever South - Back Roads and Small Towns: I was skeptical when I heard a band was going to mix Country and Rap. I hate the first and am somewhat lukewarm on the second. But they forgot to tell me the country was actually Bluegrass. This third album is the best of the bunch. The Bottom 5 without comment.
6. Zach Williams - Rescue Story
7. Out of The Dust - Now More Than Ever 
8. Hillsong Worship - Awake
9. William McDowell - The Cry: A Live Worship Experience from Chattanooga 
10. Keyondra Lockett - The Heal Reloaded: The Journey Continues

Next up: The Hard List. You Rockers will love this. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

Live Recorded Album had a very good showing this time with 18 entries, but it was still only good for second place. I think things were up because we managed to track down all the live Modern Worship Albums (not all of them are) (Oops, there goes the reveal of the winner).

Live Recorded Album

• Pat Barrett - Canvas and Clay (Live)
• Catch The Fire Music - Revival 25 EP (Live)
• David's Tent - Raise Every Voice: David's Tent Live
• E58 Worship - Make Way
• Travis Greene - Setlist, Volume 1
• JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise - Miracle Worker
• Housefires - Housefires V
• Leeland - Better Word (Live) 
• David Leonard - The Wait: Silence The Noise
• Life Church Worship - God So Good
• Matt Maher - Alive and Breathing, Volume 1
• William McDowell - The Cry: A Live Worship Experience from Chattanooga
• New Wine Worship - This Is Love
• Planetshakers - Rain, Part 3 EP
• Planetshakers - Rain
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (Live)
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (Be Still) EP
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (You Will Be My Song) EP

That's quite a list. It was made as things were released and some of the Modern Worship EP's get discontinued by Amazon once the "Full Album" gets released. That's a shame as they can stand on their own. Modern Worship (Live and Studio) is the final winner of the year and they are next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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

The True Gospel is here. Urban Gospel, not that Southern Stick In The Mud Stuff. Jesus had fun, y'all. Let's get to it.

Gospel/R&B

• Kurt Carr - Bless Somebody Else
• James Fortune - Dream Again
• Travis Green - Setlist, Volume 1
• John P. Kee - I Made It Out
• JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise - Miracle Worker
• Keyondra Lockett - The Heal Reloaded: The Journey Continues
• William McDowell - The Cry: A Live Worship Experience From Chattanooga
• VaShawn Mitchell - Elements
• Gene Moore - Tunnel Vision
• V. Rose - Forth
• Various - Hitsville: A Motown Gospel Celebration
• BeBe Winans - Need You

Live Recorded Album is next. 18 Entries for that one. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter - Gospel/R&B

We continue our revelation of the Pool Eligible Entries for the second quarter of #PlatVnyl7. Gospel had a dozen eligible releases this quarter. That would almost take care of two final awards. That's why we put all things into a pool and judge them a second time, so we can avoid one quarters dominating the year. On to the entrants.

Gospel/R&B

• Regina Belle - The Day Life Began
• Jarmel Evans and Worship Forever - Eternal
• Christon Gray - The Glory Album
• Jarmone - Leap EP
• Marc Jay and the J Crew Band - I am God EP
• Deon Kipping - Place Called Victory EP
• JMoss  - GFG Reload
• William McDowell - Sounds of Revival
• Jonathan Nelson - Fearless
• Noel Robinson - Outrageous Love
• Various - WoW Gospel 2016
• Virtue - Fearless

That's a pretty good list for one quarter, but two genres got much more than that. Rap is one of them, and it is next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Swing Season: The 2014 1rst Quarter - Gospel

Welcome back to the roll out of the 2014 1rst Quarter Pool Eligible entries. From here on in it's all single posts. We start with Gospel, one of three genres this quarter with five entries, which is the minimum I think would make a single post.

Gospel/R&B was a mix of old an new artists this time around, including one a bit hard to classify. She's new to Gospel, but at the time she is definitely a veteran, though in the dance/disco arena.

• I Need You , Seth and Nirva
• Love Never Fails , Micah Stampley
• We Will Survive , Gloria Gaynor
• Withholding Nothing , William McDowell
• You Can Make It , Bryan Popin

Bet you never thought you'd see an album by Gloria Gaynor at The Night Beat. Neither did I, until I heard it. We are under way. We will build our way up to the big genres. Next up will be Alternative. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl3 - Album of The Year

The Album of The Year is given to the album which shone above all others. While all the winners of the Platinum Vinyl Awards contain a certain "wow factor", the Album of the Year, well, does the Big O mean anything to you? Every one of the 10 nominated albums was given a Perfect 5 Emerald Ranking.

• Arise : The Live Worship Experience, William McDowell
• Current , Sarah Macintosh
• Evanescence , Evanescence
• Feel The Power , Blessed By A Broken Heart
• Hats Off To The Bull , Chevelle
• Make It Right , Abel
• Overcome , Lara Landon
• Remembering You , Poema
• True Defiance , Demon Hunter
• Wait for the Siren , Project 86

There was no "first entry bias" as the nominees came from all 4 Quarters in a 3-2-2-3 fashion. Hard Rock had 3 nominees, Rock and Alternative each contributed 2, and Gospel, Pop and Adult Contemporary each contributed a single nominee. Also only three of the entries won their genre. These 10 would be battling to join last years inaugural winner, Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars. That's some big shoes to fill.

The first round of voting knocked out four of the contenders, and two genres. Gone was the sister act Poema and Gospel's McDowell. Hard Rock was reduced to one as both Demon Hunter and the boss's favorite, 80's Hare Metal Band Blessed by a Broken Heart. Did I ever tell you how much I love the 80's?

Destiny would not be with Demon Hunter, but it did wash over the category like a flood. A comeback album, the first release in five years. Songs that touch our darkest moments, vocals which chill spine and soul. The true Revenge of The Fallen. The Winner of This Years Platinum Vinyl Award for Album of The Year is EVANESCENCE.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Gospel

The Gospel genre is next. Despite the seasonal slowdown, Gospel hit the ground running. There were four entries this quarter. That's half the final total already. This will be a good year.

One of this quarters nominees garnered the coveted 5 Emerald rating. That album was Arise by William McDowell. It's also a 2 CD 23 Track live album (its subtitle is The Live Worship experience) so that's a double bonus. It's extremely rare to have a live album get the 5 full Emeralds. There is always something that seems to distract from the experience. There wasn't here.

Of the final three nominees this quarter we have one Compilation album Gospel's Best Praise. This was also a 2CD set. But instead of one artist, this one had lots, including Vashawn Mitchell, Forever Jones, Ricky Dillard and Kierra Sheard. It received 4.5 Emeralds back in October.

Speaking of Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, she had an album all to herself among the entrants. Free received a 4.25 Emerald Rating. The final album to make it in this category was the new release by Micah Stampley One Voice. Micah's One Voice received 4.25 Emeralds.

That does it for Gospel (for now). January already has releases from Kirk Franklin, Myron Butler and Fred Hammond to look forward to. We at The Night Beat are on the case. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.