Light for the Lost Boy

Andrew Peterson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2012)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Centricity Music
• ASIN: B008HPZWMQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,239 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Light For The Lost Boy emerged as a chronicle of the ache that comes from deeply loving something that has been lost, and
from daring to hope that it will one day be restored. It s the recognition that any pain we now feel is somehow inseparable
from the joy that was intended for us. Light For The Lost Boy pulses with the hurt of the human condition, it s a grief permeated
with light and hope and beauty and love.
Andrew Peterson s journey as an artist, author and disciple is one that he s long attempted to make openly and in community,
using his songs and stories as an invitation to others walking the same road. Light For The Lost Boy artfully and stirringly
documents the last couple years of that journey with his children, and in so doing, is likely to give thousands of new listeners a
point of connection with his music.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, rich, and powerful August 28, 2012

By Trevor F.

Format:Audio CD

Light for the Lost Boy sounds immediately new and different, especially for someone who has cherished every one of Peterson's albums to this point. This newness is exciting, and at first also a little scary. My ears have become so accustomed to the sound of Andrew Peterson's music that I was almost preparing myself for a let down after the first few moments of the first song, "Come Back Soon".

Instead, I have found my favorite album of 2012, and possibly my favorite Andrew Peterson album of them all. I consider Andrew Peterson the best songwriter in Christian music today, so the 5 star score seems barely sufficient.

I would prefer that listeners discover for themselves every nugget of goodness contained in these songs. I will simply say that every one of these 10 tracks has a line (or three) so true, so powerful, or just so well written, that it could be framed and put on the wall. Peterson's way with words has found a new depth, a new high, and there is no going back now.

Musically, this is, by far, Peterson's most epic work this side of "Behold the Lamb of God," and it features a sound that attempts to match the richness of his words. I am not saying I am ready to give up the comparatively simple folk style of his past records, but this new work is a true feast for the ears, without ever compromising the clarity or integrity of the lyrics. The single, "Rest Easy," is probably one of the more simple arrangements on the album, and there is more going on even in it than in many of Peterson's songs. This is good, good stuff.

After several listens, one evident fact is that this very generous album will give back as much as the listener puts in. Its layers will be revealed with each listen. Any Christian musician brave enough to put a 10 minute song on his album (The brilliant final track "Don't You want to Thank Someone") is already facing an uphill sales battle, but something tells me Peterson was listening to the Holy Ghost more than the holy dollar with this work.

It's funny that Peterson sings the line "stick to the old roads, and you'll find your way", as he has somehow managed to take a brand new road with this album, while at the same time tapping into something ancient and sacred and unquestionably good.

5 stars? Well, yeah.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great AP Album August 28, 2012

By Shane VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

While I'm not a fan of contemporary Christian music, I do appreciate Andrew Peterson's work because it is deep, rich, theologically robust, and dripping with biblical imagery (contrary to most CCM). His music is not cotton candy for the consumer! That's why I own all of AP's albums.

This one is no exception. The lyrics are outstanding and helpful for Christians who want to be strengthened in an intellectual, biblical way. These are not "7-11" songs (7 notes and 11 words repeated over and over). In this album, you'll find biblical themes like justification by faith alone, Christ's return, sin, the curse, Christian lament, creation, marriage, sadness, and joy. You won't be disappointed with the content of this album if you're looking for rich, biblical, and imaginative lyrics.

The reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because, in my opinion, the music isn't quite as good as Peterson's earlier work. The tempos of songs on this album are much faster than his previous albums. Peterson shines in the slower-to-middle tempo range - the folk style of his earlier albums complements his voice to make a perfect match. However, some of the music on this album is quite busy and hurried; there's a lot going on in these songs. There are some slower "old school Andrew" songs but a few are incredibly fast (i.e."Day by Day"). In fact, in some songs the music overpowers his voice and puts the lyric in the background rather than the foreground (i.e. "The Cornerstone", which is a very odd blend of music styles). Maybe my critique here is that the music has a little more "pop" music in it than Andrew's earlier albums (again, that's my opinion). Or maybe this album has more drums on it than the earlier ones. Or perhaps there is too much background music and not enough vocals. Finally, maybe I'm critical because I prefer the AP songs that include his voice along with just a few instruments rather than a background montage. I'm open to dialogue here!

Either way, I do appreciate this album and I'm certain that the more I listen to it, the more the words will challenge, prod, poke, and push me onward in the Christian faith. After all, in this album Andrew does point us to the Light of the world, the Cornerstone in whom we can "rest easy."
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EDIT August 31, 2012: After listening to "The Voice of Jesus," many times, I must say that Andrew's daughter's background vocals are superb and beautiful. They bring a depth to the song that is hard to describe.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Come Back Soon August 28, 2012

By Daniel Houghton

Format:Audio CD

Light for the Lost Boy is a concept album. In a way it is a reflection of what was lost when Adam and Eve fell in the Garden. There are great lines and imagery throughout the album that make reference to the fall and how this world is broken and bent (i.e. animals kill each other, people grow old and die,etc).

Andrew Peterson takes a child's loss of innocence so that it is easy to connect immediately at an emotional level. It leaves you shaking your head saying something is not right here and the neat thing about this is that universally deep down everyone would concede that is true.

Andrew doesn't leave us there but by the end of the album in the distance you can see Eden once again and the Hope that things will be restored once again.

My favorite songs in order would be:

The Ballad of Jody Baxter (Based on the book the Yearling)
You'll Find Your Way (I can imagine this being played at commencements and High School Graduations)
Don't You Want to Thank Someone (This puts it all together)
Carry the Fire
Rest Easy

Bravo Mr. Peterson, Bravo