Music Review: Behold the Lamb of God 10th Anniversary 2-Disc Set – Andrew Peterson
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I have to admit that I’m late to appreciate the music of Andrew Peterson. However, since seeing him in concert a few months ago I’m trying to make up for lost time by picking up After All These Years, his latest The Burning Edge of Dawn and this, his Christmas album Behold the Lamb of God.
This 10th Anniversary 2-disc set released in 2009, celebrates ten years that Peterson and friends have been performing the music on this album (recorded in 2004) live in annual Christmas concerts. This edition includes the original album remastered, plus the complete Behold the Lamb of God concert recorded live on the 2008 tour. See the dates for the 2015 tour on Peterson’s website.
Peterson has written that the album is a musical about the birth of Christ; an album that tells a story. The songs have the purpose of telling the true tale of the coming of God into the world. Justin Taylor of the Gospel Coalition, writes “Here are some YouTube videos for Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb album and live performance–a sort of biblical theology set to song by a talented musician and songwriter.”
He states: “What makes this bunch of songs unique is that I wanted to remind (or teach) the audience that the story of Christmas doesn’t begin with the birth of Jesus. Many people tend to forget or have never even learned that the entire Bible is about Jesus, not just the New Testament.
So the musical begins with Moses and the symbolic story of the Passover (Passover Us) and works its way through the kings and the prophets with their many prophecies about the coming Messiah (So Long, Moses) to the awful four hundred years of silence before God told Mary she’d be having a baby (Deliver Us). After the song called Matthew’s Begats, which lists the genealogy of Jesus, the story picks up in more familiar territory with Mary and Joseph and the actual birth (It Came To Pass, Labor of Love). The final song is called Behold, the Lamb of God, which ties together the Passover and the beauty and scope of the story.”
You may recognize some of the singers and musicians who contribute to this album, including Andrew Osenga, Ben Shive, Sandra McCracken, Phil Madeira, Derek Webb, Steve Hindalong (of The Choir), Laura Story and Fernando Ortega. The quality of the music (including a few instrumentals) and singing is excellent.
This is not your typical Christmas album. I look forward to enjoying this album for many Christmas seasons to come.
· Manola. Watch Trip Lee’s new video of his song “Manola”, featuring Lecrae.
· What Would People Think If They Knew That I’m a ‘Jesus Freak’ Freak? Joel Heng Hartse looks back at DC Talk’s Jesus Freak album, which he calls “the most important Christian pop album of all time”, released 20 years ago.
· Sara Groves Interview – Floodplain. Read this interview with Sara Groves about her new album Floodplain.
· Chick Fil-A (to the tune of the Beatles’ Yesterday). Enjoy this humorous song. I can only say a big “Amen” to this.
· Jeremy Camp Ups ‘Power’ to No. 1 on Christian Airplay Chart. Jeremy Camp topped Billboard‘s Christian Airplay chart on November 21, “Same Power”. The song is Camp’s eighth No. 1, lifting him into a solo share for the third-most No. 1s in the chart’s 12-year history. MercyMe leads with 13 toppers, followed by Casting Crowns (9). Camp passes Chris Tomlin and Third Day, each with seven number ones.
· Adore. Watch this video of Adore, the title song from Chris Tomlin’s new Christmas album.
· Mr. Blue Sky. Jeff Lynn of the Electric Light Orchestra, is back with a new album Alone in the Universe. He recently performed the ELO song “My Blue Sky” on The Tonight Show.
· Hello. Adele sings “Hello” from her new album 25 (already the top-selling album of 2015) with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots on The Tonight Show.
· Presidential Medal of Freedom. Congratulations to James Taylor, who will receive the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, at a ceremony at the White House.
· You Can Close Your Eyes. Watch Stephen Colbert sing “You Can Close Your Eyes” with James Taylor.
· Party Lights. Watch this lyric video of “Party Lights” from The Ties That Bind: The River Collection by Bruce Springsteen.
Music Quotes:
- Love people. Use things. Never vice versa. Lecrae
- The world is over. Adele just dropped. My wife is losing it right now. I’ve already heard HELLO 5093498273 times. I ain’t even mad tho. Andy Mineo
- Many worship song writers use what I call “Yoda-speak”. Eg. “Son of God, you are” or “His righteousness, I am” – Drives me nuts, it does! Fernando Ortega
Good Good Father
by Chris Tomlin
This week we continue our countdown to our annual “My Favorites” listing with our #4 song of the year, “Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to the song here.
I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard tender whispers of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you can provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we, we say a word
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am
You’re a Good, Good Father
And I’m loved by you
You are perfect in all of your ways
Perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, It’s who I am
You are perfect in all of your ways
You’re a Good, Good Father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
