The Reckoning: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 2nd Qtr - Metal Rap

Rap/Hip-Hop and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal finish off our three megaposts. From here on in it is all one genre per post.

Rap/Hip-Hop

• Heesun Lee - Flying Cars EP
• Steven Malcolm - The Second City
• Tedashii - Never Fold

Hard Rock/Metal

• August Burns Red - Phantom Sessions EP
• Demon Hunter - War
• The Persuaded - Dawn of Destruction
• Within Temptation - Resist

Those who are solely familiar with the CCM Market may be unfamiliar with Within Temptation. They are a mainstream symphonic metal band from The Netherlands. They belong to the fringe. Their lyrics are full of Spiritual meaning, like LEAH, U2, Evanescence and others. And if you are wondering what happened to Demon Hunter's other album Peace, wait for the Rock section. Our first single genre post is Folk Music. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 2016 2nd Quarter - Rap

We are quickly approaching the end of our 2nd Quarter 2016 Pool Entry Announcements. We are actually down to the final two. Rap is the penultimate post. They had a very good quarter with 17 entries. That would be enough for 2 plus years of finals if they all made it. A lot of "snubs" will be made. Here we go.

Rap/Hip-Hop

• Jor'dan Armstrong - Confident
• Beautiful Eulogy - Selected Songs
• CTZN Collective - Almost Home EP
• D-Will - Project #M.O.G.
• Datin - The Roar
• Mr Del - Love Noize
• Deraj & B. Cooper - For The People
• 5ive - Flight 393
• Canton Jones - I Am Justice
• K-Drama - The 8th
• Lecrae - Church Clothes 3
• Young Noah - Young Forever
• Prodigal Son - Way Up EP
• Propaganda - Selected Songs
• S.O.C.O.M. - The Experience
• Tedashii - This Time Around
• Thi'sl - Against All Odds

If you haven't figured it out already, our last genre and big winner is Modern Worship, which had a whopping 26 entrants this past quarter, enough for almost four years. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: March 2016

We are doing well here at Night Beat HQ. We have completed the March ratings, which means we will soon compile the 2nd Quarter, just as the third quarter is underway. We have also gotten the announcements of the #PlatVnyl6 nominees for the Video Music Awards announced. So we are riding high for the moment. We get underway with the song releases, or what we playfully call

The Singles Scene

• Fearless BND - Love Like Fire 4.50 Emeralds
• Deitrick Haddon & Big Boi - Sinners (Saved by Grace) (Remix) 4.50 Emeralds
• Icon For Hire - Here We Are 4.50 Emeralds
• Melissa Lischer - Color Explosions 4.50 Emeralds
• George Moss - Take On The World 4.50 Emeralds
• Union of Sinners and Saints - Christ The Lord is Risen 4.75 Emeralds
• Hezekiah Walker - Better 4.75 Emeralds

I am appreciating the return of Icon For Hire after their breakup with Tooth and Nail. For those not in the know, the Union of Sinners and Saints are members of Petra and Whiteheart in a new side project. Wonder which ones are the sinners? On to the releases which

Missed The Mark

• City Side Music Ministries - Christian Dictionary A1 3.25 Emeralds
• Joey Jewish - Beautiful Solitude 3.75 Emeralds
• Judah and The Lion - Folk Hop N Roll 3.75 Emeralds
• Kishon - Voices 3.75 Emeralds
• Tyson Motsenbocher - Letters to Lost Loves 3.75 Emeralds
• Nine Lashes - Ascend 3.25 Emeralds
• Tal - The Great Struggling 3.75 Emeralds

All that I will say about this grouping is I am really disappointed in Nine Lashes. I will not go into all that here. Click on the link to go to my full review. It brings to mind AD and the lyrics "Progress, we are marching backward". No snark for the next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Jonathan Nelson - Fearless 5 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - Rest (Without Words) 5 Emeralds

Our final grouping is usually the largest, and it remains so this month. With over 35 releases however, I think it is one of THE LARGEST. Without further ado.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Austin and Lindsay Adamec - Austin and Lindsay Adamac 4.75 Emeralds
• Kris Allen - Letting You In 4.50 Emeralds
• Dave Barnes - Carry On, San Vincente 4.50 Emeralds
• Bethel Music - Have It All 4.75 Emeralds
• Beautiful Eulogy - Selected Songs 4.50 Emeralds
• Charles Billingsley - Right Here 4.75 Emeralds
• Steven Curtis Chapman - Worship and Believe 4.75 Emeralds
• The Church Vessel - Rekindle 4.50 Emeralds
• Citizen Way - 2.0 4.75 Emeralds
• Covenant Church Worship - All This Light 4.50 Emeralds
• Mr. Del - Love Noize 4.75 Emeralds
• 5ive - Flight 393 4.75 Emeralds
• Christon Gray - The Glory Album 4.75 Emeralds
• Gungor - One Wild Life: Spirit 4.50 Emeralds
• Hope For The Dying - Legacy 4.75 Emeralds
• Jarmone - Leap EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Dustin Kensrue - Thoughts That Float on a Different Blood 4.50 Emeralds  
• Twilight Meadow - The Worlds We Discovered 4.75 Emeralds
• Paper Lights - Great Escape 4.75 Emeralds
• Young Noah - Young Forever 4.50 Emeralds
• Pearl City Worship - We Wont Be Silent 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Momentum: Live In Manilla 4.75 Emeralds
• Tommee Proffitt and Brook Griffin - Even So Come EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Propaganda - Selected Songs 4.75 Emeralds
• River Valley Worship - Edge of Heaven 4.50 Emeralds
• Jordan Smith - Something Beautiful 4.25 Emeralds
• Tedashii - This Time Around 4.25 Emeralds
• Temple Veil - Give His Love Away 4.50 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - Against All Odds 4.50 Emeralds
• Stuart Townend and Keith Getty - In Christ Alone: The Songs of Stuart Townend and Keith Getty 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - God's Not Dead 2 (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture) 4.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - WoW Hits 20th Anniversary 4.50 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - All The Earth Shall Worship: Live From The Vineyard Global Family 4.75 Emeralds
• West of Hope - The Journey 4.50 Emeralds
• Adam Young - RMS Titanic 4.75 Emeralds

That does it for the March releases. Next up, more #PlatVnyl6 announcements, and the 2nd Quarter Wrap. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.                 

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Rap

Continuing on with our announcement of the Third Quarter Releases for the 2014 Platinum Vinyl Awards. There are only three album genres left. We are on to Rap and Hip Hop. After that there is only Gospel and Modern Worship. Which one is the big winner? Stay tuned.

Rap music was very well represented this time around, with a dozen entries. The genre itself is still in a state of flux, and between the rock influence and the dance influence, it will be interesting to see if there is a split in the genre soon.

Hip Hop/Rap

• +5ive Official  - Ain't Supposed to Be Here
• Headz Up FM Presents - Christian Hip Hop 2014
• +Chad Jones  - Keep Up
• +Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology Pt. 2: Doxology
• +Mali Music - Mali Is...
• Propaganda - Crimson Cord
• Serge - Off Season
• Social Club - Misfits 2
• Tedashii - Below Paradise
• Thi'sl - Fallen King
• D-Tropp - Away from Home
• +Da TRUTH - Heartbeat

I have attempted, when feasible, to include the artists G+ Page as well as the Amazon Links. As I said before, I encourage you to buy through the included links and support the Night Beat while you get some great music. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Nothing I Can't Do

Welcome back everyone, to our regularly scheduled edition of Music Video Monday. We have some all new videos up today, and we begin with +TedashiiVEVO . A little different, this doesn't feature the artist, yet it isn't a lyric video. This is a Dance Video for Nothing I Can't Do.

Next up we have another departure from the norm. This is an electronic press kit from one of the greatest and most original bands of our time, +AnnieMosesBandVEVO and Rhapsody in Bluegrass.

And finally, we can even set records here. KJ-52 recently made the Guinness book of world records. The longest freestyle rap. Didn't know there was a category for that, but a Christian Artist holds it. It's over an hour long.

That does it for this unusual Music Video Monday. We will be a bit more traditional next week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The Nominations Begin: Rap Video of The Year

Now that the electronic categories are completed, we move on to Rap Music, and its more rock like (and Dance Like) sibling, Hip Hop. The Nominations for Video of The Year in the genre of Hip Hop and Rap are:

Fighter by +Manafest 

Goodbye by +JSon

I'm Good by +trip lee 

Lord Have Mercy (Feat Tedashii) by +Lecrae Moore 

They like Me by KJ-52


That concludes this category. Next up is more hard stuff, as the nominations for Hard Rock or Metal Video are next. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Nominees

I had hoped to have my list of nominees for the 2nd Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards out before the Dove Awards were announced, but it soon became obvious that that would not be the case. No big problem when you are only a one man job. Apart from their being two categories for Inspirational Album of the Year (a complete mystery) they seemed to do a lot better picking nominees this time. Not enough to cede them the playing field, however. Competition keeps one sharp.

It would stand to reason that the Dove's would improve greatly if they would just add a dance category. Or at least something called Electronic. Right now some of the contortions they pull off in putting people in some categories would astound a Cirque du Soleil gymnast.

We will begin with the album of the year categories, since that is where I am strongest (I am starting to get a handle on Song of The Year this time around).

Rap/Hip Hop Album

• Blacklight - Tedashii
• Captured - Flame
• Culture Shock - Jai
• Rehab: The Overdose - Lecrae
• The Whole Truth - DA T.R.U.T.H.

The GMA hit this one out of the park. With the exception of Lecrae's choice of album (I went with Rehab: Deluxe Edition over Rehab: The Overdose) It was Five for Five with my picks, at least artist wise. Oh, one minor tweak. Jai is Dance not Hip Hop and I have rewarded her accordingly.

Rock Album

• Control - Abandon
• Until We Have Faces - Red
• Vice Verses - Switchfoot
• What I've Become - Ashes Remain
• With Shivering Hearts We Wait - Blindside

Red and Switchfoot are no brainers, though having no hard rock category really means some deserving artists are left out in the cold. While Abandon, Ashes Remain and Blindside had good albums, I thought some others were better. Sorry folks, no spoilers here.

Pop/Contemporary Album

• A Beautiful Life - Mikeschair
• Blessings - Laura Story
• Hundred More Years - Francesca Battistelli
• One Song at a Time - Jamie Grace
• What if We Were Real - Mandisa

This is where the GMA's and I part ways. While I had Mandisa among my picks, I thought that What if We Were Real fit squarely in the Gospel/R&B genre, at least to this DJ's ears. Francesca, Laura and Jamie, at least in my opinion, were good, but just edged out by better material.

Rock/Contemporary Album

• Ad Astra Oer Aspera - Abandon Kansas
• Come Home - Luminate
• Crazy Love - Hawk Nelson
• Mountains Move - Kristian Stanfill
• The Reckoning - Needtobreathe

This will be the last category for this post. Luminate was the only one nominated for a Platinum Vinyl Award among this bunch, and they went into Modern Worship. Even busting the limits in nominees couldn't get the others in. Someone will always be robbed, that's just the way it is.

That concludes the first post of the Night Beat Dove Awards Nominations Coverage. Predictions will be made at a later time, closer to the April Awards. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Mission To Massachusetts: Part Two

Intermission Finally ended, and we are back to the concert. NRT and newsound have arranged things so that there are a series of intro acts and then the headliner. In this case it is Intro, Into, Headline 1, Intermission, Intro, Intro, Intro, Headline 2, Headline 3. In my last post I handled everything up to and including the intermission.



The One That Got Away

 First Up was the new band from Minneapolis called Hyland. I had earlier reviewed their album Weights & Measures. I really enjoy this band, and they lived up to their albums potential in their live performance. They did A four song set of Jumping the Gun, The One That Got Away, Til Death, and Never. They are bound for good things in the future.



We are Children of The Light

 Time for a little Rap. The Featured Rapper was Benjah. Pretty much unknown to the CCM world as a rapper, he is better known as a Writer/Producer, having produced, among others, Lecrae, Tedashii, and Sho Baraka. His debut album The Breakup should be debuting soon.



Sitting In Mikeschair

 A Rock Worship Set finished the three lead in acts. Mikeschair was the final band here. It was a quick three song set of worship tunes and then we had to prepare the stage. As they say Good things come For those who wait. Stay tuned for the rest, I am Awaiting Your Reply.