Light for the Lost Boy

Description

Light for the Lost Boy is an album by the American singer and songwriter Andrew Peterson, released on Centricity Music in August 2012.

Light for the Lost Boy by Andrew Peterson is his boldest, most imaginative work. The theme and music are more fully realized than any of his previous releases, with the possible exception of Behold the Lamb of God: the True Tale of the Coming of the Christ, a Christmas classic.

Aside from the winsome songwriting, a major reason is the production team of Jason Cooley, Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn, all long-time collaborators, who take Peterson’s music to a new level. It’s not radically different; they just make the production a little more sophisticated and include some programming and other embellishments.

«The Cornerstone» is the most obvious example. Vocal layering, a snatch of ethereal keyboard reminiscent of Jeff Johnson, a haunted swirl of B3 and unhinged guitar imagine a God strange and wild. It’s Peterson as you have rarely heard him. It’s a child’s view: a God inscrutable.

The latter is what also makes this noteworthy. Much of Lost Boy is a perspective on childhood and the loss of innocence. It is fertile ground for exploring mystery and wonder along with questioning and doubt. The hard-edged notes underscore that the world is fallen. All is not as it should be.

Peterson directly addresses his children on «You’ll Find Your Way». Most songs are more subtle, lighting a path for them to follow. This is record that they can return to when older, encouraging them to order their ways aright.

Songs like «Carry the Fire» bring the welcome reminder that we are not alone. God gives marvelous comrades that support us when we falter.

This steadfast, unconditional love is highlighted on «Rest Easy», which Peterson wrote with his wife in mind, but also represents Christ’s love for his church. A wondrous thing happened when they began conceiving a video for what is perhaps the finest single that Peterson has ever done. Why not have a contest and let fans interpret the song? Check out the first place winner with tissue in hand. This is a near perfect piece of pop with a bittersweet video.

The epic, «Don’t You Want to Thank Someone», clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, offers this resolve to the recurring storyline: “Every little boy grows up, and he’s haunted by the heart that died/ Longing for the world that was before the Fall/ Oh, but then forgiveness comes/ It’s a grace that I cannot resist/ Oh, I just want to thank someone/ I just want to thank someone for this.”

One can surmise that Peterson’s work as an author of children’s books has influenced this work, including the enchanting cover. Since this may be his best release yet, let’s hope that in addition to writing whimsical adventures, he keeps singing them. I will keep listening as long as he does. [Michael Dalton, The Phantom Tollbooth, 28 August 2012]

First, a huge ‘Bravo’ to Centricity Records for having the temerity to trust Petersons artistic instincts and giving him full reign on Light for the Lost Boy, a song cycle, first intended as a work dedicated to his boys, which quickly revealed itself to be far more universal: A tome for the fallen man, searching for what was lost in Eden.

Opening with the eerie, anticipatory percussion/keyboard/acoustic guitar intro of «Come Back Soon» the theme of life’s duality is clearly intoned in images of Nashville’s Mayday 2010 flood (it actually started the night before) as one is struck by the dichotomy of God’s might and it’s reflections in our world alongside of the simultaneous beauty and bitterness of nature, indeed, daily life. Yet, the song is imbued with the hope of Jesus’ impending return. «The Cornerstone» is a stunningly provocative offering that utilizes particularly cranky guitar sounds and enhanced (in relation to prior releases) production, courtesy of Cason Cooley, to effectively mirror the paradox of God’s mystery and power, subtly weaving biblical references throughout the song’s tapestry; “You’ve been a mystery since the moment that I met You/ You never move but I can never seem to catch You.” After «Rest Easy» and «The Voice of Jesus», two cuts that trade in gentle, lullaby like melodicism and tender lyrical encouragement, Peterson unleashes his considerable literary influences. «The Ballad of Jody Baxter» name-checks the youngster in the film, “The Yearling” likening the loss of innocence (That scene we all fast forward through in the movie) to humanity’s banishment from Eden – while «Day by Day» owes its genesis to a trip Peterson’s family took to Kensington Gardens, a setting made popular by J.M. Barrie in his “Lost Boy” masterwork, Peter Pan, the influence of which is echoed all throughout Light for the Lost Boy. In it, Peterson masterfully applies a Barrie metaphor to spiritual matters; “We just can’t get used to being here/ where the ticking clock is loud and clear/ Children of Eternity/ On the run from entropy.” Yet soon after, encourages us with the promise of Christ’s regeneration; “Don’t lose heart though your body’s wasting away/ Your soul is not – it’s being remade/ Day by day.”

While Peterson hasn’t changed his presentation much, he does benefit from the fuller production on several cuts, often propelling the songs to stirring heights, yet never obscuring he delicate and conversational tone of his vocal delivery. One such adventurous soundscape is «Carry The Fire», which features ascending rhythmic backing, sparingly used electric guitar, and appropriately atmospheric vocal-backings to convey the assurance and hope we have in Christ. Finally, the closing cut, «Don’t You Want to Thank Someone», starts innocently enough before slowly building into an epic statement that brings Light For the Lost Boy full circle. Again using the backdrop of nature, Peterson continues to lament the heartache of the fall, but slowly reconciles being “eaten by this endless ache” with the realization that nature sings of the promised kingdom yet to come before deciding that the ache is worth the promise of redemption by Christ’s love.

Peterson is a singularly remarkable songwriter who is able to satisfy BOTH those who need more lyrical clarity and Christ-consciousness, as well as those who prefer literary allusion and artistically obtuse ideas. Very few writers have done this effectively over the years, especially with any radio or market success (Probably Rich Mullins and, to a lesser extent, Derek Webb) but Peterson gets closer to that ideal with every project and, mark my words, Light For the Lost Boy is one for the ages! [Shawn McLaughlin, Christian Musician, September/October 2012]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/light-for-the-lost-boy/1560659036)

CD tracklist:

01. Come Back Soon – 5:36
02. The Cornerstone – 4:44
03. Rest Easy – 3:27
04. The Voice of Jesus – 3:26
05. The Ballad of Jody Baxter – 4:01
06. Day By Day – 4:00
07. Shine Your Light On Me – 4:46
08. Carry the Fire – 4:26
09. You’ll Find Your Way – 4:30
10. Don’t You Want to Thank Someone – 9:56

Note: Simultaneously released on 12-inch vinyl LP and CD by Centricity Music.

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