Music Review: Resurrection Letters, Volume II

Resurrection Letters, Volume II, Andrew Peterson’s latest full length offering is undoubtedly one of his greatest works to date. His intimate style of indie/folk music coupled with heart-felt lyrics is highly captivating and genuine. With an acoustic flavor, favoring simpler arrangements and orchestrations throughout, this album delivers a rich warm sound that engulfs the listener in beautiful melodies and charming vocals. It is a concept album, with its singular focus on Christ’s resurrection and love at the heart of every song, and thus provides a refreshing consistency of theme both musically and lyrically.

Beginning the album with an uplifting, almost Celtic melody, “All Things New” calls the listener into the theme of Jesus’ resurrection with the exhortation, “Rise up, oh you sleeper.” Peterson’s vocals are as warm as ever as he sings to the broken and weary to awake in the light of redemption’s dawn. This track sets the tone for the rest of the album with its eclectic mix of instruments ranging from acoustic guitar, accordion, strings, and hammer dulcimer.

“Hosanna” is a self-portrait that Peterson paints of himself in need of God’s forgiveness and love. Then He rejoices that both have been found with the arrival of the “Long-awaited King.” As in “All Things New” and many other tracks, subtle but valuable strings are used to great effect, weaving through the powerful bridge that describes Christ’s triumph on the cross.

Andrew Peterson evokes images and emotions through his melodies and poetic lyrics, using both to complement each other in a manner which is rarely heard. This talent is clearly displayed in the song “Invisible God,” in which Peterson sings to God, “I long to see your face invisible,” and goes on to describe events and scenes in the world the clearly display the nature of God.
Two of the more light-hearted tracks on the album are the story-song “Hosea” and the fun “Love is a Good Thing.” In the former, Peterson sings from the unique perspective of Hosea’s harlot wife, Gomer, telling the story of a captive made free by Hosea’s Christ-like love and compassion.

“Don’t Give Up On Me” is an almost intrusively personal song sung to his wife in which he recalls the past experiences they shared and survived together, with the assurance that “I won‘t give up on you.” Again, Peterson’s vocal and musical imagery are used to full effect throughout the song dealing with pain, love, and joy. This song is musically brilliant as it seamlessly glides with the progression of emotions that Peterson recounts and seems to relive.

Peterson is truly gifted in the way he uses stories and events from everyday life to describe a certain aspect of God or of the larger Story that we live. These metaphors fill “Windows in the World” when Peterson sings that they are “A little glimpse of all the goodness getting through.” It is this knack at identifying those moments and putting them to music which makes his art highly relatable and enjoyable.

“I’ve Got News” tempts the listener with the knowledge of a cure for the lonely, calloused, addicted, and hopeless heart, but leaves us without the answer. While most Christians can guess as to what the answer is, this was probably done to provide an intro into the last song.

Closing the album off is the auto-biographical 4 minute semi-epic, “The Good Confession (I Believe).” Beginning with just the piano, the song rises and swells dramatically with the gradual addition of the hammer dulcimer and emotive strings. This song, while depicting various events in Peterson’s life, manages to bring the focus back to Christ’s life, death and resurrection, successfully bringing the album full-circle. This song alone makes Resurrection Letters, Volume II an incredible album. It’s here, as the last strains of melody drift away, that the listener realizes that the entire album was a story. – Granted, a story that seems disjointed in it’s subject matter, but whose individual chapters and experiences are painting the larger picture of Christ‘s resurrection in which his triumph and love rescued us all from darkness.

For those who purchase and enjoy this album and wish to procure a copy of Resurrection Letters, Volume I, let me save you a trip to your local music-retailer and quite a bit of embarrassment as well. There isn’t a Volume I in existence as of yet, But you can continue to expect excellent music from this very talented artist.

When asked about the meaning behind the peculiar name, Andrew Peterson said, “One day I woke up feeling like this was the second half of the story. These songs are about our lives in the wake of Christ’s resurrection. Not until I was mostly finished with this record did I realize that I still want to write an album about the actual death and resurrection of Jesus.”

Written By: Corey Heartfield For more articles and thoughts from Corey, check back at Cross-Eyed. He may be writing again!