Customer Reviews

Clear to Venus

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This is my most played album over the last two years. Andrew Peterson is in a league of his own with his blend of lyrics and music. He is in a class with Rich Mullins. Clear to Venus is impressive to say the least. There isn't a bad track and the hidden track is worth the price of the CD. Mary Picked the Roses was an unreleased Rich Mullins song put to a new melody. Isn't it Love is upbeat. Loose Change is profound if from a penny's point of view. Venus is touching. Great cover of Why Walk When you can Fly?

Rare is the day when you can actually like every song on a CD and Andrew Peterson hasn't had a bad album. GET THEM ALL---you will not be disappointed. His new Christmas CD is definitely worth getting too. It is not your traditional songs, but an incredible journey through Scripture leading up to Christ.

While a number of people are familiar with Andrew Peterson's first album, Carried Along, his sophomore effort may actually be a better album. Continued from the first album are the heartfelt and insightful lyrics and rich acoustic music that helps Peterson's music rise up from the muck that is much of secular and Christian mainstream pop.

What lifts this album to a higher level in my mind is Peterson's willingness to speak more clearly to the issues in his personal life. What you get is sense of a real person working out his faith through his art and in his life. Song range from the hopeful "No More Faith" to the whimsical tune taken from a Jesus told called "Loose Change". My favorites are "Isn't it Love", "Venus" and the two song track called "Why Walk When You Can Fly".

For those who liked Peterson's first album, get this work. You won't be disappointed at all. There is no second album letdown here and you get drawn more deeply into the artist's faith though the music.

andrew peterson's sophmore album is by all means his best and most beautiful work, slightly better than 'love and thunder'.
i love it most of all because i find this cd just so comforting. whether it's a stormy, rainy day outside, or i've had a hard time lately and am really stressed, i can always put this cd on and all my troubles fade away and my faith is always reassured.
some folks might complain about his kind of nasal, unusual voice but to me its just perfect for the music he plays. 'song and dance' is utterly undescribable it is so beautiful. i love the picture it paints of my favorite Psalmist, David.
overall it's definitely some nice, sometimes haunting, melodic, folk/bluegrass, acoustic music.
one other note i like is the excellent instrumentation throughout. if you love folk music i would recommend....hell i would recommend it even if you hate music its that good.

AP continues to develop his acoustic folk sound, and on this album it is more diverse and more polished, but still fresh; never to the point of sounding overproduced. Emotions range from the witty, lighthearted "Loose Change" to the introspective, "No More Faith". The music is mostly mellow, with a couple semi-upbeat spots in "Isn't it Love" and "Hold Up My Arms". Don't let that make you think it is monotonous, though. There is always a surprise around the corner, and I won't spoil it for you by telling you all of them. AP's voice continues to be just a tad unsettling at times. You have to wonder if someone should teach him to sing from his diaphragm, but it's no big deal, because you don't need an angelic voice if you've got good music.

Very well done and beautifully executed work of musical art. Peterson's work here is a much needed maturity amongst the typical formula that is pushed through Contemporary Christian Music. It is insightful and rich; I am so thankful for finding this treasure and heartily recommend it. His follow-up "Love and Thunder" is on equal par.

I saw this CD @ a $2 sale, noted it, looked up the reviews here & went back for the disc the same afternoon. From 2001, "Clear to Venus" is my introduction to this Christian artist. The opening track "No More Faith" is a pure pop confection with Peterson's voice being very expressive as Peterson explores a future time when absolute knowledge of God replaces belief by faith, "Have you heard it said that Jesus is the answer & thought about the many doubts you hide? Have you wondered how He loves you, if he really knows how dark you are inside?" It is a beautiful statement of faith, but is also a gorgeous melody. "Isn't It Love" has to be one of the most delicious pop tracks I've heard recently. Peterson's voice sounds personal & intimate as he contemplates universal love to a hook-filled tune, "Lost my luggage out in Kalamazoo same way I tend to lose my conscience too." While these two tracks are the absolute gems, "Mary Picked the Roses," "Let Me Sing" & the closer "Why Walk When You Can Fly" are also excellent. "Clear to Venus" is an absolute delight that I'm so glad I found. Bravo!