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.
Continuing with our rollout (late) of the 2nd Quarter Nominees, we have our second of three multi genre posts. This time we have Electronic-Industrial and Gospel/R&B. Let's get right to it.
Electronic-Industrial
Future of Forestry - Union
Narrow Skies - Awakening
Salt of The Sound - Lent, Volume 1
Gospel/R&B
Bee Ardoin - The Truth About Waking
Todd Dulaney - Your Great Name
Jonathan McReynolds - Make Room
Various Artists - WoW Gospel 2018
One more multi-genre post to go. Instumental Rock and Alternative are last to go, and then it is all single genre from then on.
The Second Quarter of 2018 is in the bag (and because of a number of reasons the 3rd Quarter is almost done as well). We are finally ready to get the Second Quarter Wrap underway. We begin with our multiple genre posts. First up is Live Recorded Album, Remix Album, and Folk Music.
Live Recorded Album
Pax 217 - Live 6/3/17
Remix Album
Jordan Feliz - Witness (The Remixes)
Hillsong Young and Free - Love Wont Let Me Down (The Remixes)
Folk/Folk Rock
Eufaula - Between The Hills
The Oh Hellos - Eurus EP
Andrew Peterson - Resurrection Letters, Prologue
Andrew Peterson - Resurrection Letters, Volume 1
Sorry no links right now. Still looking for new affiliate possibilities as Amazon is going downhill. Next up Electronic Gospel. Until then I am Awaiting Your Reply.
The end of the 2nd Quarter is upon us, and what a quarter it has been. Being a one-person operation at present it is easy to miss a few releases, and I missed a few this quarter. Strangely enough, most of the missed material has come from a long dormant artist that has had somewhat of a resurrection. Let us get right to the wrap.
The Singles Scene
Austin and Lindsey Adamec - Victorious 4.75 Emeralds
Geoffrey Andrews - O Praise The Name 4.50 Emeralds
Danielle Apicella - Why Oh Why ft WHATUPRG 4.50 Emeralds
The Belonging Co. - Isn't He (This Jesus) ft Natalie Grant 5 Emeralds
Life of Carter - Brand New (DAVII Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Celldweller - Andromeda (Instrumental) 5 Emeralds
Celldweller - The Great Divide (Matt Lange Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Celldweller - The Great Divide (Matt Lange Remix)(Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Celldweller - Last Night on Earth (Nigel Stanford Remix) 5 Emeralds
Celldweller - Last Night on Earth (Nigel Stanford Remix Instrumentals) 5 Emeralds
Circle of Dust ft Celldweller - Embracing Entropy (The Plague Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Circle of Dust ft Celldweller - Embracing Entropy(The Plague Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Neurachem (Voicians Remix) 4.50 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Neurachem (Voicians Remix)(Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Citizen Way - Wavewalker ft Bart Millard 5 Emeralds
Color Theory - In Motion 4.75 Emeralds
Crusoe - Standing on Lightning 5 Emeralds
Israel Houghton and New Breed - Reckless Love 4.75 Emeralds
Catie Hurst - Nothing To Hide 4.50 Emeralds
Prafit Josiah - My God Is Dope 3.75 Emeralds
Spencer Kane - Pieces (Amanda Cook Cover ) 4.50 Emeralds
Tori Kelly - Help Us To Love ft The Hamiltones 5 Emeralds
All The Pretty Lights - Hallowed Ground 4.75 Emeralds
Chris McClarney - Hallelujah For The Cross
Narrow Skies - Chasing The Sun 4.75 Emeralds
Needtobreathe - Bridges Burn 4.75 Emeralds
Hawk Nelson - Never Let You Down ft Hunter and Tara 4.75 Emeralds
Hawk Nelson - Right Here With You ft MDSN 4.75 Emeralds
Count them up. That's 32 Singles for the month. And three artists (1 actually. You have to love the electronic music. It makes making a band very easy) account for 10 in the list. On to the album ratings. We begin with the releases which will not make the pool.
Missing The Mark
Ty Brasel - Destined for Greatness (Side A) EP 3.50 Emeralds
Light The Way - False Memory Syndrome 4.25 Emeralds
Trossthegiant - Misanthropics 3.75 Emeralds
Not many Missed The Mark this month, but as long as they somewhat balance out the next grouping, things are okay.
Pure Platinum Perfection
Jordan Feliz - Future 5 Emeralds
Future of Forestry - Union (Instrumental) 5 Emeralds
Mercy Me - I Can Only Imagine: The Best of Mercy Me 5 Emeralds
Andrew Peterson - Resurrection Letters, Volume 1 5 Emeralds
Semi-Precious Metals
All Sons and Daughters - The All Sons and Daughters Collection 4.75 Emeralds
Pat Barrett - Pat Barrett EP 4.75 Emeralds
Beacon Light - Loud Drive Home 4.75 Emeralds
Antoine Bradford - Dear Struggling Christian EP 4.75 Emeralds
Bright City - Still, Volume 2 (Instrumental) 4.75 Emeralds
City of Bright - Fearless EP 4.75 Emeralds
Travis Cottrell - The Reason 4.75 Emeralds
My Epic - Ultraviolet EP 4.75 Emeralds
FF5 - El Compadre 4.75 Emeralds
Jerry Fee - The Bigger Picture 4.75 Emeralds
5ive - Me Against The World, Volume 2 4.50 Emeralds
Flame - God Knows 4.50 Emeralds
Steffany Gretzinger - Blackout 4.75 Emeralds
I Am They - Trial and Triumph 4.75 Emeralds
Marc Martel - My Way, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
Jonathan McReynolds - Make Room 4.75 Emeralds
Narrow Skies - Awakening EP 4.75 Emeralds
River Valley Worship - Million Lifetimes 4.50 Emeralds
The Rock Music - Your Love Remains 4.50 Emeralds
Heather Schnoor - All In EP 4.75 Emeralds
T-Bone - Broken English 4.75 Emeralds
Various Artists - God's Not Dead: A Light In The Darkness - Songs From and Inspired by The Motion Picture 4.50 Emeralds
That does it for this month. Now I need to update some of the earlier rewinds. On to the third quarter. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome Back to an all new edition of Music Video of Music Video Monday. We are expecting (or dreading, depending upon your opinion) another nor'easter. Predictions are from 3-18 inches, which could mean anything. The only thing that is certain is that POLAR BEARS, WOOLLY MAMMOTHS AND SABER TOOTH TIGERS WILL SOON BE ROAMING OUR STREETS AS THE WORLD TURNS TO A BLOCK OF ICE (sorry, I started channeling the Weather Channel Report. What do they know, they are in Atlanta). We should get an inch and a half. On to the music. We begin with the Future of Forestry. Eric Ooyoung thought he could slip a release past The Night Beat, but we found it just in time. We start out with the video for Seer. Next up we move on to a little Darkwave 80's electronica. Scandroid has been hot lately, and this is the Music Video for Afterglow, which is on Monochrome, which slipped under our radar (it came out October 27, 2017) And finally, we end with Stryper. They are about to make the Christian world nervous with the soon coming album God Damn Evil.(They had a fit over THWTD). This is Sorry. Time to hunker down. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
Welcome to a very special edition of Music Video Monday. Today we say goodbye to one of the legends of Christian Music. Third Day was a pioneer of Southern Rock. Before they arrived on the scene in 1993, Southern Rock was known only mainstream music fans with bands such as Bad Company and ZZ Top. With Third Day's departure two remain, Disciple and Decyfer Down. There are probably others, but they haven't cracked into the limelight. The band started in 1993, and lead singer MacPowell began in a bleach blonde mode. It wasn't his best decision. Their self-titled debut album released in 1996 and it is chock full of memories. Blackbird, Thief and, one of the best known Praise songs of the band Consuming Fire. I wasn't there at the beginning, but I discovered the band at the inaugural Inside Out Soulfest in 1998. By the time they played the concert they had released their second album Conspiracy No. 5 (1997). This is You Make Me Mad Moving into the 21st Century we jump to the album Move (2010). The band wasn't known for its Music Videos, which is a shame. All great songs deserve a Music Video, and Third Day had a lot of greatsongs. This is Lift Up Your Face. Miracle came out two years later. This is I Need A Miracle. And finally, in 2015 they released a worship album entitled Lead Us Back. This is Soul On Fire.
That does it for this very special edition of Music Video Monday. There wont be a band like this on the scene for quite a while. They will be missed, but after 25 years on the scene, they can be forgiven for wanting a break. I only wish it wasn't now. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
We are two thirds of the way through the Second Quarter of 2018, boy time sure flies quickly. We are quickly getting deluged in New Releases this year. If this trend continues we shall be judging #PlatVnyl9 well into #PlatVnyl 11 (I don't like the space, but I think it's the only way to make it readable. At least we have two years to figure it out).
The Singles Scene
Lincoln Brewster - Here I Am 4.75 Emeralds
Bradley Bridges - Jesus Is King 4.50 Emeralds
Caves - More of You 4.50 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Circle of Dust - Contagion (Sebastian Komor Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Jonny Diaz - Define Me 4.75 Emeralds
Fireflight - I Wont Look Back 5 Emeralds
Hillsong Young and Free - PEACE 4.75 Emeralds
Lawren - Mood 3.50 Emeralds
Toby Mac - I Just Need U (Capital Kings Remix) 5 Emeralds
Derek Minor - It Is What It Is 4.50 Emeralds
Nine Lashes - Breaking Out 5 Emeralds
Smalltown Poets - You'r My Shepherd ft Mac Powell 4.75 Emeralds
Scott Ralley - Way That You Do 4.25 Emeralds
Sarah Reeves - Feel The Waters 5 Emeralds
Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
Scandroid - The Veil (Synthatiger Remix Instrumentals) 4.75 Emeralds
Kaden Slay - The Mercy of Jesus 4.50 Emeralds
Greg Sykes - No Greater Love 4.75 Emeralds
We sliced the single scene by over 50% this month. Still, this is shaping up to be quite the year. We turn to the albums, and once again begin with those that will not make the #PlatVnyl9 Pool.
Missing The Mark
Listener - Being Empty: Being Filled 3.75 Emeralds
Rockstar JT - Streets Signed Me 4.25 Emeralds
Gerry Skrills - Pray For Me 3.75 Emeralds
Only three entries missing the mark makes my work a bit tougher, but overall it is a good sign. On to the perfect.
Pure Platinum Perfection
Audrey Assad - Evergreen 5 Emeralds
Brad and Rebekah - Sound of Heaven 5 Emeralds
Elevation Collective - Evidence 5 Emeralds
Charlie Peacock - When Light Flashes Help is On The Way 5 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - Surrounded 5 Emeralds
Zealand - Liberated 5 Emeralds
I am always pleased when the Pure Platinum and Missing The Mark somewhat balanced. The Biggest category is always those in the middle.
Semi Precious Metals
All Above Me - Return to The Battlefield 4.75 Emeralds
Bee Ardoin - The Truth About Walking 4.75 Emeralds
Paul Baloche - Ultimate Collection 4.50 Emeralds
Dave Barnes - Who Knew It Would Be So Hard To Be Myself 4.50 Emeralds
Pastor Brad - Highway 2 Heaven 4.75 Emeralds
Chasing Victory - Friends, Volume 1 EP 4.75 Emeralds
Elevation Worship - Do It Again EP 4.75 Emeralds
EQ Worship - Push Out The Dark 4.75 Emeralds
Eufaula - Between The Hills 4.75 Emeralds
The Oh Hellos - Eurus EP 4.50 Emeralds
Hillsong Young and Free - Love Wont Let Me Down The Remixes 4.50 Emeralds
Jaxon - The Journey EP 4.75 Emeralds
Samuel Lane - The Difference 4.50 Emeralds
Off Road Minivan - Spiral Gaze EP 4.75 Emeralds
Passion - Whole Heart Live 4.75 Emeralds
Salt of The Sound - Lent, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
Michael W. Smith - A Million Lights 4.75 Emeralds
Social Club Misfits - Into The Night 4.75 Emeralds
Swoope - Sonshine 4.75 Emeralds
Various - The Cross Was Meant For Me: Worship Songs For Easter 4.50 Emeralds
Various - Samson: Songs From and Inspired by The Motion Picture 4.75 Emeralds
That does it for February, and March has just begun. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.
