Customer Reviews

Counting Stars

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4 star:		(2)
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Prime Cuts: Many Roads, Fool with a Fancy Guitar, The Magic Hour

"If you step inside this great glass elevator it will take us up above the city lights" are the first words of invitation Peterson cordially issues at the start of this disc. "Counting Stars" is a ruminative sonic journey whereby Peterson offers us to take us to the top of life's tower and offers us a panoramic view of life. From the top, we are able to make sense of the intricacies of life and the things that matter to us and God. It's also from such height we are able to count the stars of God's blessings as Abraham did all those years ago in the Bible. And what makes this pilgrimage such an endearing one is that Peterson is a writer of the heart. With carefully crafted narratives, well-chosen images and scripturally informed messages, Peterson is never a soporific tour guide. This may also be attributive to the fact that Peterson is more than just a Contemporary Christian artist he's also a Christian writer of children and young adult books. Even the song titles like "The Magic Hour," "Fool with a Fancy Guitar" and "Dancing in the Minefields" are rifle with a C. S. Lewis-esque intrigue that makes you want to listen to them.

Sonically, Peterson holds his very own well. Instead of giving in to the cookie cutter and sounding like the next Steven Curtis Chapman or Caedmon's Call, Peterson has carved out his own niche. Unbounded by convention, Peterson would often experiment with rustic instruments (like the banjo) to the lush arrangements of strings. Yet, most of the time, he keeps things simple with a folk and country slant to most of the songs' execution. And such simplicity in arrangements in no ways dilutes the powerful messages of the songs. Case in point is the piano-led ballad "Many Roads." "Many Roads" is a fine illustration of Romans 8:28 whereby Peterson sings about how the various roads of our lives are not serendipitous but they are God-ordained. Gentle and soothing to the soul is "The Magic Hour" a worship hymn to God's creativity in creation packed with picturesque lyrics that is just adoringly sweet.

While many contemporary Christian artists are reticent to speak boldly about Scriptural truths, Peterson knows no such restraints. "In the Night" strings together the stories of the Bible whereby God interceded in the midst of the most trying times with the song culminating in the Cross. This is a magnificent epic that sums up the consistency of God's sovereignty perfectly. Also, affective is the autobiographical "Fool with a Fancy Guitar"--here Peterson explains that without Christ empowering all he does, he's just a "fool with a fancy guitar." While the guitar-driven anthemic "The Reckoning" (though quite weak in its melody) is heart's cry to Christ's second coming in the face of suffering.

Peterson has not cast his sight so lofty that he does not deal with everyday relationships. The ethereal "Dancing in the Minefields" addresses the need to persevere in the midst of the ups and downs of a marital relationship. On the other hand, the average sounding "Planting Trees" speaks of the need to make a difference by investing in our people's lives. Perhaps, the major weakness of this CD is that Peterson has fallen into the same trap as many singer-songwriters. Some of the songs suffer from a lack of identity melodically, so a few songs tend to flow into each other. Other than this quibble, "Counting Stars" is a worshipful sonic experience that will get us to count the stars of God's blessings with repeated listening.

I can't get past being taken up in the Great Glass Elevator and being left there to enjoy the journey through thought and scene, place and time.
You are brought in closely to Andrew's marriage at the same time made to look at what you hold dear to your heart, to their kids at bedtime, then to a back seat of a van/car with all the young Square Pegs with their dreams and hopes full of expectation, to a ground level view of the woman caught in adultery and then to cry for the Lord Jesus' return. You are comforted by Andrew's admittance of his faults but yet still somehow given the promise of how God views you as one of His children.
This is a very intimate album both from Andrew's point of view and the tone of the music. It is traveling music for the heart, mind and soul.
I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO IT.

I've only heard this album through twice, and Andrew's music takes many more listens to fully appreciate, but I think this album will replace 'Love and Thunder' as my favorite AP album. It's so full of beauty and truth. Almost every song can move you to tears. The best song is 'Dancing in the Minefield', about the covenant of marriage. For any one that loves music that will speak to your mind, your heart and your soul, please, please buy this album. 5 stars aren't nearly enough.

ALthough I'm not a fan of any god, nor of many of their followers, it doesn't mean I don't recognize beautiful music of people who believe otherwise. Peterson writes poetic lyrics, sings beautiful melodies and the sincereness of his words and voice makes it a joy to listen to.

I am a huge fan of Andrew Peterson, having almost all of his releases. Counting Stars may be his best yet and my personal favorite. What is somewhat surprising is that this is a little more acoustic and folksy than some of his recent recordings that were more rock oriented. For those who favor the latter, and want to hear Peterson cut loose, this could be a slight disappointment as the songs tend to be mellower.

The two songs that are driving, "You Came So Close" and "The Reckoning (How Long)" differ stylistically from the others in that they employ more electronic sounds and percussion. They almost don't fit, but they do provide contrast.

Most of the songs are mid-tempo and are awash in beautiful acoustic sounds. "The Magic Hour" and "Isle of Skye" are piano-driven and bathed in minimal but gorgeous accompaniment. Perhaps Peterson was signaling this intention with the opening "Many Roads," which starts with nothing but strings.

That's not to say that this is sparse. Produced by Ben Shive with Andy Gullahorn, who also perform on piano (Shive) and guitar (Gullahorn), there is a rich blend of sounds. The prevalence of warm acoustic tones gives this a timeless quality.

Peterson's songwriting is as good as ever. It's interesting that though there are no songs written specifically for "praise and worship," this leads me to such a peaceful place that I want to look up in wonder at the stars that are too numerous to count. The lyrics are mature and poetic communicating hope and encouragement. As he typically does, Andrew weaves thoughts and stories about family life together with lofty spiritual themes.

On "World Traveler" he surprises with lines about a personal journey, "I walked the hills of the human soul, a tender girl / I'm a world traveler /She opened the gate and took my hand, led me into the mystic land where galaxies swirl / So many mysteries I never will unravel / I want to travel the world."

His first music video, something he promised himself that he would never do, also pays tribute to his wife. Peterson said he gets emotional every time he sees the older couples dancing in "Dancing in the Minefields." You can watch the video on YouTube. It's so well done that I hope he does this again.

I'm sure that a lot of work went into this, but the flow makes this feel like this is more than just Peterson striving to come up with something. The Psalmist reminds us that "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1a ESV). God must have had a hand in this because Peterson's labor has not been in vain. It has little of the edginess heard in some previous work, but that's part of what makes this so inviting. God's peace runs through it like a river. This is a masterpiece of folk, pop and spiritual reflection.

Andrew Peterson is a wordsmith extraordinaire. Like others have written, this is not bubble gum music, but deep, riveting, funny, true music. For me, You Came So Close brought me to tears, and I nearly had to pull to the side of the road, the intensity of the words and of AP's voice was just heart rendering. Thank you, Andrew, for your calling and for loving God so much!

Sometimes when I'm having a rough day I just listen to this CD all the way through. Certain songs really speak to me and it's just beautiful. I can't even tell you, you just have to listen to it. If you like folk, quiet thoughtful lyrics and melodies that move you, please try this album, it's wonderful. I know this review is not specific at all but I wanted to chime in on how much I love it. :)

For those moments when words fail, Andrew Peterson fills in the blanks, and he does it for God. Peterson's worship overflows in a way that makes listeners desperately thirst to do the same - his new album is like a master painting that inspires others to pick up a brush and try to paint, too.

I've never heard the likes of Peterson - he truly wields his acoustic guitar and smooth voice like a paintbrush as he sings to life the spiritual and emotional beauties that overflow in the life of one who knows God. Counting Stars, the title of his most recent album released in July 2010, is an appropriate one. The collection of songs whispers of the treasures of unseen worlds, and reaches out an invisible hand to brush the edge of the infinite and flawless.

Peterson was born in small-town Florida in the 1980s, where he dreamed of adventure as he poured through fiction books like those of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Eventually, he moved to Nashville, where he began his career as a musician. His song "Nothing to Say" became a Top Ten radio hit in 2001. In addition, Peterson received a Dove Award nomination for his single "Family Man," and has since garnered much respect among other Christian musicians. Peterson is also an accomplished fantasy novelist as the author of the On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree. (The Wingfeather Saga), which won the 2010 Christy Award for best young adult fiction. He is married with two sons.

Peterson has frequently been compared to Rich Mullins, and rightly so. The self-proclaimed Mullins aficionado writes profound, yet conversational lyrics and plays with a mellow, folk-like sound that hearkens back to older Mullins songs like "Here in America." However, Peterson drops the early 90's flair and sticks to simple, effective instrumentation with acoustic guitar, piano, bass, light percussion, and occasionally strings and a french horn. The result is a sound that lends itself to quietness of mind, and simple consideration. Peterson invites us into this mindset in his charming opening song "Many Roads" - "If you'll step inside this great glass elevator/ It'll take us up above the city lights/ To where the planet curves away to the equator/ I want to show you something fine."

There's more to Peterson than just good sound, though. Clearly, he knows why he's doing what he's doing - God has given him a gift, and he wants to squeeze every last bit of joyful worship out of it to give back to his Lord. A listener will never get the impression that Peterson threw his lyrics together quickly or carelessly. The words are consistently thoughtful and thought provoking, simultaneously ministering to listeners in a raw, human-to-human way as in the song "You Came So Close," and leading them past the wall of the mundane to the realm of the invisible God as in the more melancholy "The Last Frontier."

Counting Stars covers a rich range of themes, from fidelity to the fear of God - basically, anything that stirs up Peterson's bone-deep emotion. However, the songwriter's central concept is that beauty saturates human experience, which he speaks extensively of in "The Magic Hour." Though Peterson is too subtle to out-and-out state that theme, it's incredibly clear. Just as the promise that Abraham's descendants would outnumber the stars (Genesis 15:5) began with God, every statement about life that Peterson makes points to God, its origin.

No matter where a Christian listener is in life, Counting Stars will renew the childlike wonder of the listener's soul. Peterson is an artist worth commending and supporting as he continues to use his talent to glorify God.

I've been an Andrew Peterson addict since I first heard "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" from "Behold the Lamb of God" nearly a decade ago. I own every one of his albums -- I think that's the only artist for whom I can make that declaration -- and, as such, I was eagerly anticipating the release of "Counting Stars". As I expected, I was not disappointed once I made the purchase.

As with AP's other releases, the music and lyrics speak to the listener in a deeply personal, intimate way. But this release even steps it up a notch, with the music and lyrics more beautiful than ever. I've never met Andrew, and yet I feel like we could meet up for an afternoon latte in a coffee shop and trade stories of the joys and sorrows of life, family and faith long into the dark of night -- and I know that I'd walk away from that encounter enriched and encouraged.

I turned on "Counting Stars" during a road trip with my wife last week (it was probably, by that time, my tenth or so listening of the album), and I commented to my wife, "I don't know why, but every time I listen to this CD (and ALL of AP's music) my heart is warmed and I literally feel moved...". Her reply was that AP "sets the poetry of life to music", and that's why it connects so well with his listeners. How true.

If you have a passion for life, a passion for Christ, and a passion for music, you won't want to miss "Counting Stars". Just the latest -- and arguably the best -- example of Andrew Peterson's God-given gift of setting the poetry of life to music.

As the five earlier reviewers said, this is an outstanding album. Peterson's music it isn't cheesy, fluffy, or watered down as are most Christian singers/groups. This is deep music shot through with more biblical imagery than you can imagine. If you liked Peterson's earlier albums, you will most certainly like this. He is maturing as he goes, and it shows in this great music. I love how his imaginative and lyrical music fights against the tendencies of our culture to trivialize things and neuter them to the lowest common denominator. This is Christian music at its profound and wonder-ful best.

For more info, read the earlier reviewers' notes. I do want to say that if you were thinking about getting this one, I highly recommend it. It is solid and faith-strengthening. Prepare to be wrestled around, challenged, and then brought to tears by the gracious message of God's sovereignty, love, and forgiveness.