Frosty Got Flattened By a Mannheim Steamroller

The third edition of Night Beat Noel is upon us, and I think I'm going to try having just four this year. Sort of like Quarterly Nominations for the PVA's four has a nice symmetry to it. Plus I think I would go nuts if I had to do anymore.

I thought I would mix things up a little bit by making a few recommendations of a Night Beat Approved Christmas Celebration. Now I've been known to enjoy "traditional" Christmas Carols done in the "Traditional" Way, up to a point. Too much tradition and I go into scrooge mode. No, I do my best with non-traditional "holiday" music. If you do to, then I think you have some of these artists on your iPod already.

• Trans-Siberian Orchestra - One of two Christmas Supergroups out there (the other has the initials M.S.) Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 You'll understand completely. Christmas Eve and Other Stories or The Christmas Attic should get you started.
• Mannheim Steamroller - Chip Davis and Company are the undisputed "Kings" of the Christmas Music season. (Well, except for Jesus of course, but he is "King of Kings", so I guess that M.S. is one of the under-Kings). Even though I thought they stumbled with their Christmas Symphony, for the most part these guys are Platinum. Pat a Pan, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Rock), Hark the Herald Angels Sing, even Rudolph shines with them. A must have in any collection. If the local radio stations would just play TSO and MS non-stop all December, things would be cool.
• Denver & The Mile High Orchestra - Timeless Christmas - If you like your Christmas Music with a touch of Al Capone or Speakeasies, then Denver is for you. Just kidding on the Capone, but seriously, Big Band Swing Christmas. Frosty the Blues Man is worth it alone. Ladies, I highly recommend This Christmas All I need is You.
• Barlowgirl - Home for Christmas: Guys, this one is for us. One of CCM's top FFR (That's Female Fronted Rock) bands ditches the electric guitar for some absolutely heavenly three part harmonies. Yes, I know, Jesus is the reason for the season, but these ladies are melt the snow HOT. Hearing Alyssa sing "I'll be home for Christmas" you really wish for it.
• Kathy Troccoli - Christmas Songs: Another one for us guys. KT was just starting out when your favorite blogger was spinning vinyl, and while she could always break the gages when she hit the high notes, this album makes the most of her sultry voice. This is the sensei. Barlow girl went the torch song route as well, but KT is the Flamethrower to their match. Listen to Christmas time is here and admit it, you're thinking "Charlie Who?"
• Annie Moses Band - This Glorious Christmas: Parents remember, you may be able to make your kids take violin, cello and harp lessons, but they'll still find a way TO ROCK. And when dad plays a mean Jazz/Honky-Tonk piano, you get the AMB. If you love Mannheim Steamroller. This is what Chip Davis was trying for but failed with Christmas Symphony. It's mostly instrumental.
• Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas A must have, and not just because of the TV Special. Jazz up your Christmas. Okay, how about this for a Christmas Playlist. TSO, Mannheim, Denver, Annie Moses and Vince.
• Rivertribe - Christmas Three words. Christmas. Australia. Didgeridoo. Enough Said. Not really. These Aussies mix the Didgeridoo with Trance and Pop. You will never hear Christmas Music like this anywhere. Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. Except for some guest vocals, it's all instrumental.

Now, for the second part of my post. This one is long, but I think it is necessary. We also have some entries this year. KT was in my previous post.

• Jason Bare - Have You Heard EP 3.75 Emeralds
• Jim Hitchcock - Coast Highway Christmas 3.5 Emeralds
• Hillsong - Born is The King 4 Emeralds
• David Ian - Vintage Christmas 4.5 Emeralds
• Jadon Lavik - Christmas 3.75 Emeralds
• Hawk Nelson - Christmas 4.5 Emeralds
• Our Hearts Hero - Love is Breathing 4.5 Emeralds
• Smalltown Poets - Christmas 4.25 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Rockin Around The Christmas Tree 4.5 Emeralds This one needs a little more said about it. A lot of albums have this title. It was released on the First of November and has music by Anberlin, August Burns Red, Ivoryline, Demon Hunter and others.

That does it for now. I think I can finish up the rest of the Christmas Releases in one more post since December seems to be quiet. I won't have to have an Epiphany Edition. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Post Thanksgiving Musings

Now that Black Friday has passed, both yours truly and the voters in my poll agree that it is now O.K. to start with the Christmas Music. And it is Christmas Music,People. Like most bastions of Liberalism and Political Correctness, my town has a "Tree Lighting". And what kind of tree might that be? It's not even a blah "Holiday Tree" lighting. It's just a tree lighting. I think that is usually done with matches and may need a permit.

It definitely is an anti-Christian bent. I mean, nobody insists that Muslims be "tolerant" by putting a Star of David in their Ramadan displays (Are there Ramadan displays?, Doesn't Ramadan involve fasting? I digress.) Tolerance used to mean "I let you do your thing and you let me do my thing and if we never talk we can't fight, so all is cool." Now, at least when a liberal is talking, tolerance means "Undying Love and acceptance of me, and nothing for you, after all, I'm wonderful and you are a hateful S.O.B." or something like that. So You wish me a happy holidays all you want, I will wish you a Merry Christmas. Of course if you really want diversity we can go HannaRamaQwanzMas on you. I don't want that, and I don't think you do either. One further thought. If you're Jewish, I have no problem wishing you a Happy Hanukkah, and I hope you don't have a problem wishing me a Merry Christmas. That's supposed to be the fun of it. We're all supposed to be able to enjoy our holidays without being offended that someone else has a different holiday. You know that first amendment, it was meant to make sure there wasn't a State Religion, not as a hammer to bash others beliefs.

On to music matters. New Release Tuesday is taking an extended Christmas break, so one of my full album sources is out until January 10 (That's even better than Government Work). With a reduction in new material, I am thinking of going back over a few older releases and catching up on Rewind and a few other thoughts like I did with Small Business Saturday. Of course the Christmas releases keep coming in so I will have a few more Christmas editions coming.

Thanks for staying with me all through the season and beyond. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Beware of Small Business Saturday

Today I am compelled to pass on news regarding a diabolical plot by the multinational corporations to control the world. Now this information has been provided to me by the peaceful folk at Occupy Wall Street, so we can be assured of its reliability.

Like all diabolical plots, this one has an innocent name. It's called Small Business Saturday. It has an equally innocent slogan "When we all shop small, it will be HUGE!" I have found numerous examples to show just how huge.

• In 1902 Real Estate Agent George D. Dayton opens Dayton's Dry Goods, a small retail store on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, MN
• In 1962 Sam & Helen Walton open a discount retail store in Rogers, AR. Unable to find investors for their one little store, they are forced to put up 95% of the money on their own.
• In 1965 Leonard Riggio establishes Student Book Exchange in Greenwich Village. The small bookstore is devoted to providing low cost textbooks to college students. 
• In 1971 English Teacher Jerry Baldwin, History Teacher Zev Siegl, and Writer Gordon Bowker start a small coffee shop at 2000 Western Avenue in Seattle, WA
• In 1976, in a garage in CA., two hippie kids build a computer circuit board with a fruity name. It has a CPU of 1MHz, 8kb of Ram, and 1kb of VRam, and sells for the beastly sum of $666.66
• In 1978, 25 year old college dropout John Mackey and 21year old Rene Lawson Handy borrow $45,000 from family and friends and open Safer Way, a small natural foods store in Austin, TX

Now these are all small businesses, the backbone of America, and deserve our support. You would think so, and people did support them, and look what happened. They turned into the monsters Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks and Apple, responsible for destroying main streets across this land.

 What about the last example? That is the worst of all, for only three years later, when they only had 19 employees, Gaia herself, in her infinite wisdom, attempted to wipe this great evil out by unleashing the worst flood in Austin in 70 years. Without insurance, Mackey and Handy, with nearly a half million dollars worth of damage, would have closed, except that neighbors and customers volunteered to help them clean up the store, and vendors and creditors gave them time to pay their obligations. This allowed them to reopen after only 28 days, and they became Whole Foods Market, responsible for shutting down small natural food markets everywhere.

I think it is obvious. I implore you, Do Not Support Small Business. It WILL Grow.

Happy Thanksgiving From Night Beat HQ

As you enjoy family, food, football and faith. Not necessarily in that order, just remember this. We celebrate a day in October 1621 When the Pilgrims (not the dour Puritan, these were real Elizabethan Englishmen) gave thanks, first to God, and then to the Wampanoags for their survival of the first year. Massasoit arrived with 90 of his tribemates plus 5 dressed deer and a dozen wild turkeys. There were also gun and arrow shooting contests in which both Wampanoag and Pilgrim participated. Plus foot races and wrestling contests. It lasted three days. And it paved the way for a treaty between the two which lasted for forty years. The Pilgrims were people of their word, unlike some of their descendants. So, if you see news items of protests against Thanksgiving, just remember, as is usually the case of anything in the MSM, it doesn't stand up to the facts of history. HAPPY THANKSGIVING everybody.

 

Night Beat Noel: The Second Coming of Christmas Music

The Second Christmas Edition is upon us. As we said the last time, the ratings are for reference only because we have no Christmas Music category at the PVA's.

• Deborah Bradley - Tis The Season 3.5 Emeralds
• FFH - One Silent Night 4 Emeralds
• Keith and Kristyn Getty - An Irish Christmas 4.75 Emeralds
• Kathy Troccoli - Christmas Songs 4.75 Emeralds
• Kids Choir - Songs Kids Really Love: 17 Christmas Songs 4.25 Emeralds
• Various - The Best Christmas Carol Album in the World...Ever 3.5 Emeralds
• Various - Great Worship Songs: A Moments Peace Christmas 4.5 Emeralds
• Various - Great Worship Songs for Christmas, Volume 12 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Maranatha Christmas: Christmas Classics 4 Emeralds
• Various - Maranatha Christmas: Songs for the Season 4 Emeralds
• Vineyard UK Worship - Christmas from the Vineyard 4.25 Emeralds

I'm deciding to do this in bite sized bits for my own sanity. So, until later in the month or maybe even early December, we will put the Christmas Edition Under Wraps as it were. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Bask in the Glory

I Love Instrumental Music. I Hate Instrumental Music. Really, it's one of those dilemma's that St. Paul Had. In Philippians Look it Up (Philippians 1:21-25). Maybe I exaggerate slightly. The reason I have this love/hate relationship with instrumental music is that most of it is so darn relaxing that one is likely toooo Oh sorry, I must have dozed off there. Let's just say don't play this on a long nighttime drive. If you're home and want to chill, this is perfect.

Instrumental music, when it is done right, can be very mood affective. Otherwise it's just background noise.

I once did a presentation in College (a long time ago, we used slides) and used Phil Keaggy's The Wind and The Wheat as my soundtrack. I just let it play. If you've never heard the album, download it, get the CD. It is a must have for any music lover.

Michael W. Smith is like that. When he first appeared on the scene in the '80's he was known already for his Synthesizer/Keyboard skills. The Whole Pop Star thing came later. When Wonder came out last year I was elated. Not because I am a huge Smitty fan. I'm not. I only have Project and Project 2 on vinyl. I was elated because this was the Smitty I liked, the Composer in all his Teshian goodness. Most of the tracks were worthy of a soundtrack.

Glory is fifty minutes worthy of an Epic Movie like The Lord of The Rings Trilogy or The Ten Commandments. It's like a Christmas full of Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra and not a Grandma Got Run over in sight.

This review is a bit light, but in one sense so is an instrumental album. It's hard to say "So and so can't sing worth beans on this album when they're not singing. So let's do it this way. If you're at home and you want to Crank up the stereo and relax with symphonic excellence, well this album is 4.75 Emeralds of greatness. If you want Smitty Pop, it's only worth about 3.75 Emeralds. 

That should do it for this post. So far it was my toughest to write. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply. 

Night Beat Rewind: October 2011

The first edition of Night Beat Rewind for the 3rd Platinum Vinyl Awards Eligibility Year is now upon us. My how things fly by. At least it seems like it here. Either that or I just get distracted a lot. Once again I will now split things into three categories.

October 2011: Missing The Mark

• Marc Chopinsky - Israel's Hope 3.5 Emeralds
• Mark Harris - Stronger in the Broken Places 3.75 Emeralds
• Immortal Souls - IV: Requiem for the Art of Death 3.75 Emeralds
• Robin Mark - Fly: Live From Ireland 3.75 Emeralds
• No Other Name - The Other Side 3.75 Emeralds
• The Waiting Kind - The Waiting Kind 3.75 Emeralds

Please, hold the jokes. I used this title last month as well. It just happens we have three "Marks" this time around (one a last name). And no other name, no it's a coincidence as well. It just so happens that all four failed to wow me enough to give them 4 Emeralds or over. Next time, guys. Moving on.

October 2011: Perfect Platinum

• Evanescence - Evanescence 5 Emeralds
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome to the Masquerade Fan Edition 5 Emeralds

No big surprise here. TFK is always solid, and the recent Masquerade version once again rises to the top. An as to "What you want", what could any rocker want more than "The Return of Amy Lee."

October 2011: Imperfect Platinum

• Casting Crowns - Come to the Well 4.5 Emeralds
• The City Harmonic - I Have a Dream 4.5 Emeralds
• Close Your Eyes - Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts 4.25 Emeralds
• Code - Beautiful Time 4.5 Emeralds
• Deas Vail - Deas Vail 4.25 Emeralds
• Keith Elgin - Keith Elgin 4.5 Emeralds
• Emery - 10 Years 4.5 Emeralds
• Family Force 5 - III 4.25 Emeralds
• Future of Forestry - Future of Forestry 4.75 Emeralds
• Sara Groves - Invisible Empires 4.75 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Deeper 4.75 Emeralds
• Lights - Siberia 4.75 Emeralds
• Pavilion Towers Worship -Crisis Worship 4.25 Emeralds
• Kerrie Roberts - Once Upon a Time 4.25 Emerald

At last. Done With October. Not that it was bad, just that as things have gone recently, I had gotten a bit backed up. I didn't get through September until the middle of October and I thought that October would be Joining November sometime around Christmas. It's good to get back on top of things. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.