Through the ages, poets have been often misunderstood, yet they are regarded as profound in their musings. Poesies only strive to express their evocative feelings creatively, and Andrew Peterson glistens as one. Since coming across his poetic style of worship music with the CD Love and Thunder (2003), I’ve always kept a keen eye out for his works. Besides singing/songwriting, Peterson is also an award winning book author.
Meanwhile, Nashville will be hosting one of the most unique creative conferences this summer at Hutchmoot 2010, which is being presented by The Rabbit Room and hosted by none other than Andrew Peterson. The event is scheduled to take place at the Church of the Redeemer, 920 Caldwell Lane, over the weekend of August 6-8.
However, with this week's release of new album Counting Stars, his second effort since joining Centricity Records, Peterson yet again produces an arrangement of melodic songs with deep meanings relevant for now.
The singer/songwriter's new 12-track project was recorded within eight days in the company of his partners in crime, Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn, and with their guitars and piano. They managed to put everything together without ever leaving home. The allegory behind Counting Stars stems from the themes depicted in the tracks between his relationship, heritage and hope, combined with the hope of God’s promise to Abraham.
Starting off in the background with the calming melodic blend of the horn-guitar and the piano, chiming out that country feel, "Many Roads" invites the audience on a journey back to being sensitive in our walks with God through “the many paths and fields we come across that may have been trying to tell us a story, in case we missed out on the essence of purposeful walking.”
This intro to the album ushers in a steady pop beating with next track "Dancing In The Minefields," a song based on reflections from the school of love, relationships, family, and perseverance, which involves periods of joy, sailing through storms, and how harder than anticipated it is, though this is the essence of the promise. But holding on to the Son of Man is our only anchor to sail through all these periods securely.
"Planting Trees" is a reminder about the legacy we’d need to leave, which is our love for God lived out as the love for people. With the piano chiming enters "The Magic Hour," which is an invitation to come apart away from the noise and tumults into that timeless place of fellowship with the Creator.
Article comments