Andrew Peterson
It’s a tired comparison, but I could care less. I’m going to use it anyway.
Rich Mullins. There, I said it. Yawn, right? So does everyone else. But there’s no way to listen to Resurrection Letters (or anything else in the Andrew Peterson discography, for that matter) without the legendary songwriter coming to mind. Mullins’ torch was one that burned bright for the kingdom of Heaven while living here on earth. Music was simply a comfortable, gifted outlet for words that evoked a heart’s longing for somewhere, something else for Mullins. And Peterson eerily embodies this same inspiration.
For the uninitiated (which is criminally possible considering that dime-a-dozen songwriters receive 10x the radio spins that someone like Peterson will), Andrew Peterson is a Godsend of a songwriter, an under-the-radar half poet, half town crier who has released album after album of thematic beauty. The Far Country wrapped itself around the subject of Heaven and the afterlife. Behold the Lamb of God is arguably the greatest Christmas album ever penned. And now, the theme of resurrection and finding life is the topic of choice on his first release for Centricity Records.
Resurrection Letters starts in familiar string-laden territory with help from friends Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn with “All Things New.” The subject is made clear with this straightforward pop/folk track’s line of “He makes all things new.” Later, the simple refrain of “All You’ll Ever Need” echoes meaningfully as the bard sings, “When it’s all you have, it’s all you’ll ever need.” Through slight Biblical anecdotes of Elijah, the widow’s mite and others, Peterson reminds from his front porch of the centrality of the song’s subject.
The sparse, slightly arrhythmic piano that shoves the ship of “Invisible God” away from the dock is pitch perfect for the subject at hand. The notes create an unexpectedly beautiful, tender melody, appearing as the first random stars at the dusk of a summer night. The track finds God at work all around in acts of nature and baptism and yet longs to truly see God face to face.
Resurrection Letters’ most triumphant moment belongs to “The Good Confession,” which explodes into a rapturous chorus of belief of the basics of our faith. Peterson sings, “So when my body’s weak and the day is long / When I feel my faith is all but gone / I’ll remember when I sang this song / That I believed / I believe that he is the Christ / Son of the Living God.”
However, the album’s highlight (among many) would be “Don’t Give Up On Me,” a driving acoustic request that features Peterson at his best lyrically and musically. “The road is long that leads me home tonight / It disappears into the distant light / My love, don’t give up on me / You know I love you, but I’m just a man / And I don’t always love you the best that I can / Just don’t give up on me,” are just some of the heartfelt words within this desperately beautiful song. Ultimately, Peterson admits, “I’ve felt the holy fire of love / I’ve been burned by the holy fire of love / Made clean by the holy fire of love.”
Peterson’s worldview of faith and culture makes an unnecessarily shy appearance on “Windows in the World.” Beginning with a setting of a local movie theater, Peterson speaks to finding the greater elements of God’s story within our stories here on earth – finding God in culture around us. On the song, he sings, “It’s a window in the world / A little glimpse of all the goodness getting through / And all along the way, the days are made of little moments of truth.” It’s the ability to make your point without getting into any level of culture wars and shows Peterson’s songwriting ability to tap into nearly any subject with grace and truth.
Resurrection Letters’ songs inhabit both heaven and earth – with the divine and mundane meeting somewhere in a glorious middle ground. It’s a collection of tracks that call home exactly where we live and yet earnestly look above to what’s to come – pointing the way for us to do the same.
Matt Conner is the Editor in Chief of Soul-Audio.com. He would give himself a 5/10 for this article.
Monday Oct 13th, 2008 • View all posts by Matt Conner • View all posts in Album Reviews
↓ 5 comments
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[...] really an incredible listen and much more than a simple listening experience. You can read the full review here. Leave a Reply Name [...]
First of all I simply enjoy Andrew Peterson. He has a folksy style, clear voice and his songs tell a story (or sermon if you will) My fave is “All You’ll Ever Need.” Makes me ponder our world today, with its economic woes. We all have all we ever need, but so many are worrying over money becuase of the markets and “oh my gosh, how am I going to buy more stuff”
Maybe, these days of market crashes, high gas prices, rising prices on literally everythiing God is telling us what we really need is to enjoy the abundance we have, give some of it away to the needy and chill. We have all we really need.
And I like Andrew Peterson!!!!
Couldn’t care less. Could care less means there’s a possibility you’d care less if circumstances were different. Sorry, had to get that out.
[...] Read another review by Matt Connor, chief editor of “Soul-Audio.com“. [...]
[...] captivating (that great folk sound) and lyrically brilliant. I love it! Here is an actual review from someone who knows about music. And here is a link to listen to the story behind it; Andrew [...]
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