Customer Reviews

Love & Thunder

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is coming from the guy who has written off the vast majority of Christian music wholesale, finding it to be feel-good tripe. I confess that Peterson would be seemingly be the last one on the list to change one's mind about this, most of Love and Thunder's offerings appearing benign, gentle if not for the nasal delivery.

Yet this is an album that will make you weep. Somehow Peterson manages to address the core human crisis in a way that is quietly but relentlessly God-centered. "Canaan Bound" is a pure effusion of faith, "High Noon" is a perfect encapsulization of Jesus' victory, "After the Last Tear Falls" is the quiet, confident assurance of the Christian hope.

A much better integrated album than his previous efforts, the only thing the CD lacks is "Holy Is the Lord," his Abrahamic sequel found in the final City on a Hill compilation.

Ironically, the people I've found most resistant to Peterson's music are the ones most obsessed with the genre. They want the immediate gratification of a M.W. Smith, the various shining jewels of Christian music. The pearls of great price are less flashy, but something more miraculous, simple without being simplistic. Peterson has produced just this, something true enough to be redeeming.

Put this CD on in the background and find something else to do and you'll have lovely background music...but if you happen to listen closely...then magic happens. The melodies are of the sort that seem unexceptional until you find yourself humming them throughout the day. The lyrics...ah, the lyrics. Peterson's gift is to say very profound and deeply thoughtful things (and I am not intentionally exagerating) in the simplest way. A lovely phrase here, a lovely phrase there and suddenly things are in slightly different places than they've ever been before and there is a tear on your cheek and your thinking of something in your life or your relationship with God that has been there all along, but now in one incisive moment you realize how desperately beautiful it is. I'll not go on about all the songs I love, except to say...Canaan Bound. Yes, its about Sarah and Abraham going forth in faith to Canaan, but the brilliance of it is the way its clear that Sarah and Abrahams ancient biblical story is our going forth (or not) story right here and right now.

This CD was my intro to AP, as he calls himself. His strength is in his lyrics, and what poetic pictures he paints!
Canaan Bound (with Alison Krauss) is nostalgic, a sweet ode to Abraham and Sarah. I've ended many days listening to this song.
Family Man gives fathers points to ponder, and The Silence of God is wonderful.
I found After the Last Tear Falls is one of the most powerful, unexpectedly haunting songs I've ever heard.
His voice is, well, distinctive. If you prefer flawless vocals like Vince Gill, for example, maybe AP is not your man. Frankly, I'd have loved more duets.
But if insightful lyrics and pleasingly poignant melodies are more your style, you'll find him a masterful storyteller who delivers in memorable fashion a timeless message: Love never dies.
As a bonus, AP's liner notes are superb to read, and in parts so funny I've read them aloud. I've caught him in concert, he's entertaining and engaging, and that experience led me to purchase this CD, and for that I'm blessed.

Rick

At first listen, I didn't have much of a second thought about it, except that I liked some of the musicality on the album. It wasn't until I really listened that I realized how incredible Peterson's songwriting skills are. The lyrics are simple, yet exact. They pour forth imagery, depth, profundity, and always remain accessible. His music reflects the lyrics he pens, and are ripe with melody, harmony, and emotion. The cd takes the listener through the lifespan of a man who is thoroughly convinced in the bedrock of God's love.

Canaan Bound is one of the most beautiful songs I have encountered. The simplicity of the lyric initially dissuaded me from perceiving the message of the song. It speaks of Sarah being led to Canaan. Many landscape images are portrayed as Sarah approaches Canaan, and a haunting line always remains with me: "how barren Sarah bore a son." I wondered for a long time what Peterson meant by continually referring to Sarah as being "barren," until it finally hit me that Sarah is representative. Sarah's story shows that regardless of how people try, they cannot have a child without God producing him or her. Her womb was barren, like our souls are barren without God producing life in them. Yet Sarah did bear a son, and Peterson responds, "So come to Canaan, come." It can't hurt that Alison Krauss is on background vocals, either. This may be my favorite song on the album.

Serve Hymn/Holy is the Lord is a song of praise to God, which speaks of man's sin and God's redeeming love. Our response is to "seek his face, and serve him." Matthew Perry Jones, from the Indelible Grace albums, sings backup, and the track ends in an acapella round, intertwining three different melody lines together. This is one of the most immediately accessible songs on the cd, with it's driving rhythm and acoustic instrumentation.

Just As I Am is the first song that hit me, lyrically. The song begins with Peterson singing of his heart being broken, and God picking up the shards, planting them, and then Peterson seeing them grow into new life. One line that stays with me is found in the second verse: "All of my life / I've held on to this fear / Its thistles and vines / Ensnare and entwine / What flowers appeared / It's the fear that I'll fall / One too many times / It's the fear that His love / Is no better than mine / (but He says that) / Just as I am and just as I was / Just as I will be He loves me, He does." In the end of the song, Peterson refers back to the growth from the shards of his heart that God planted, reaping the harvest. He pens this line from God's perspective: "He's glad for the crop / But it's me that He loves." My walk and witness God is thankful for, but it's not where His love is founded. I can't say enough about the richness of this song's content. It is an upbeat track, which, so simply communicates beautiful truth.

The Silence of God addresses the times in life where all seems bleak and God seems absent. The lyrics are sensitive to suffering, "When he's bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod / And the heaven's only answer is the silence of God." Peterson resolves, showing Christ's tears in the Garden, that Christ cares for the sorrows of his own enough that he took them on himself. Absolutely breathtaking.

In After the Last Tear Falls, Peterson goes through all of the hurts and pains of this life, showing the fallenness of this world, and how we know that there is something else our souls are longing for. The images are quick, but powerful, and he concludes with his theme of resting in his Savior's love, concluding "'Cause after the last tear falls / There is love."

Everything about this cd is so simple, yet so profound. The melody is straight-forward, with nothing too unexpected, resting on the harmonies and beautiful instrumentation. The lyrics are accessible, and yet there is so much more than several listens would get you. Peterson seems so unassuming and sincere, and even his music reflects his resting in the love of God. I usually don't listen to cds over and over, but I can't seem to get over this one.

Buy it. For your own sake.

Wow. From the notes facing the disc when I first opened the case, I was hooked. Some people knock this project for having more slow, contemplative songs than usual, but I love it for that. The far-from-typical depth of these lyrics necessitates a bit of a downshift if you really want to chew on them.

I'm suprised that nobody has mentioned "Let There Be Light" as an upbeat, enjoyable track. Celebrating the miracle of subordinate creation, this song highlights the "music" in whatever you do, when you do it with all your might to the glory of God.

"Tools" is probably the weakest musically, but it will find many kindred spirits among our generation, who love and respect and miss their grandfathers... those fine men who served in WWII and had such a hand in making us who we are today.

"High Noon" still makes me want to grin (or just laugh out loud) at the irony of the ultimate defeat which won the ultimate victory; the theme here is stronger than -- but still reminiscent of -- Ginny Owens' "I Am", where God is neither surprised nor daunted by the designs of men. Maybe we'll get some Joseph on the next project?

The entire album tells a story which started ages ago... and when it ends, we will find that it is just beginning (illustrated simply and perfectly at the end of "After the Last Tear Falls", which will make you weep for both the effects of sin and the promise of its ultimate banishment).

One last thing: the more I listen to LaT, the more I am impressed at the vocalist that Peterson has become. Distinctive he may be, but there is no lack of ability here. Buy it, rip it, digest it; this is something far deeper and more beautiful than the "Christian" music market normally allows.

Love and Thunder is an amazing album with deep lyrics that will change the way you look at God, the world and yourself. Andrew Peterson is my very favorite Christian singer/songwriter because rather than just telling you about his faith he invites you to walk along beside him and experience it for yourself. This album is no exception to the excellence I have come to expect from Andrew. While every song on this album is good, there are some GREAT songs that really stand out. The gorgeous ballad "Canaan Bound" (with lovely guest vocals from Allison Krauss) takes us into the hearts of Abraham and Sarah as they head off into the unknown and struggle to trust God's promises. "Just As I Am" is a joyous reassurance that God loves us and wants us to grow, but loves us - always - even if we mess up (I think this is one of Andrew's most honest songs). "Family Man" is another beautiful song about what it means to Andrew to be a husband and dad. My two very favorite tracks are the last two - "The Silence of God" and "After the Last Tear Falls." I have cried more to these two songs than any others. The first looks at the low times in your life when God is distant and silent. You can hear Andrew's heart breaking at how much we hurt, but how honest we need to be with ourselves; and you can hear Jesus' heart breaking, too (this is one of Andrew's most powerful vocals). "After the Last Tear Falls" is a perfect pair with "The Silence of God" because it examines the same kind of themes through the promise that "After the last tear falls there is love." If you are looking for feel-good Christian pop, this is not it. Andrew challenges his listeners to go deeper in their faith by sharing his own struggles and joys. I can't think of a more powerful witness to the deep, true, real love and happiness that come from a life lived in Christ.

AP is by far my most favorite artist of all genre's or times. This CD is nothing less than exceptional Christian folk music. Andrew is probably the greatest Christian songwriter at capturing stories and people from the Bible and putting them into enlightening, appreciative and beautiful songs. The first and last tracks, "Canaan Bound" (which includes some background vocals by Alison Krauss that blend perfectly with AP) and "After the Last Tear", are piano driven with a very melancholy, yet hopeful feel. In between these are some more typical AP tracks, guitar driven, with the typical bluegrass instrumentation (mandolin's, dulcimer's, etc). Andrew has a way of giving every track such a full and rich sound, probably because of all these bluegrass flourishes. Another of my favorites worth mentioning is "Family Man". In this song, AP gives an intimate and eye-opening look at life from a father's perspective. I love the line where he says he "traded in my Mustang for a minivan". Powerful and deep yet simple...AP trademark I reckon.

This album survives on thought-provoking lyrics and (in some places) fabulous production, but as a whole, it is somewhat of a disappointment.

The album opens with "Canaan Bound", a simple, beautiful portrait of Abraham and Sarah's journey to the Promised Land.

"Serve Hymn/Holy is the Lord" is definitely the musical highlight of the album, with a full bluegrass band complementing Peterson's mellow folk style. If only this instrumental lineup had been used elsewhere in the CD.

"High Noon" is the only song here that could be called upbeat. It contains some powerful lyrics, but unfortunately, it is produced rather blandly, without any colorful instrumentation.

From a lyrical standpoint, AP is as fresh and poetic as ever; but musically, this CD just doesn't measure up to his last two. Peterson was never a rocker, but he is even more mellow here than we've seen him in the past. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it more difficult to hold the listener's attention through the entire album. This is a good CD for loyal AP fans, and those who are tired of loud music, but I'm hoping Peterson kicks it up a notch with his next project.

Andrew Peterson has accomplished what all too few Christian musicians do: deep, meaningful, timeless truths expressed in a beautifully creative way. Love and Thunder is my favorite among his albums. In it, Peterson has captured a number of ways to evoke the love of God through talented singing and songwriting. Peterson goes a long way in making up for the large vacuum in contemporary Christian art. Thank you Andrew, and God Bless!

I bought this CD as a gift for a friend. She had seen Andrew perform one of his songs and loved it. She sent me a link to the song I loved it too so I got one of his CD's from the library and listened to it. I really liked it so I shared it with my friend who also fell in love with the music. Her birthday was coming up so I purchased 2 of his CD's and she plays them all day long while working around the house as background music. We have both become very big fans of this artist.