Reviewed by Catherine E Francis

A new American singer/songwriter is Mr Peterson, and this set gives you 10 tracks of folk and country-tinged acoustic pop that is very easy on the ears. A style that brings to mind Rich Mullins though with vocals oddly reminiscent of Derri Daugherty, it bounces along in a very pleasant vein, with lots of tasty vocal harmonies and clean instrumentation. There's nothing particularly unusual or challenging musically, but there's a refreshing honesty in the lyrics of some songs which is rarely found in American artists, who are often trapped within "safe" limits by industry and record companies. So it's heartening to hear an honest expression of personal weakness, and to stumble across lyrics like: "It feels like the Church isn't anything more than the second coming of the Pharisees/Scrubbing each other til their tombs are white, they chisel epitaphs of piety/There's a burning down inside of me, because the battle seems so lost/raging on so silently we forget it's being fought" ("Come, Lord Jesus"). I hope this brutal honesty is a sign of a new direction in CCM, because it's what the Church needs.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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