Andrew Peterson - Andrew Peterson Presents Behold The Lamb Of God: The True Tall Tale Of The Coming Of Christ - 20th Anniversary
STYLE: Roots/Acoustic RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 177686-28835 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
Every Christmas for 20 years, Dove Award-winning US singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson has toured his 'Behold The Lamb Of God' show with the 2004 album of the same name becoming something of a classic in its own right thanks to Peterson's sheer skill as a songwriter and performer. To mark the two decade milestone, Peterson, together with the show's current troupe of musicians and some special guests, spent a couple of days faithfully re-recording that 2004 album in its entirety "live in the studio" and the result is just as stunning and fresh-sounding as when the original release burst onto the scene. Always so much more than just a festive album, this expertly assembled collection of songs tells of the birth of Jesus but also fills in the backstory by delving deep into the Old Testament with songs like "Passover Us" (complete with a cameo from singer/songwriter Jess Ray) and "So Long Moses" unpacking the various prophecies concerning the Messiah's arrival with theological precision. Other highlights include the light-hearted genealogical tongue-twister "Matthew's Begats" whilst the hugely moving "Labor Of Love" - featuring the song's original singer Jill Phillips - remains one of the best songs ever written about the virgin Mary. Chock full of Americana and bluegrass virtuosity, the incredible mandolin-led instrumental reading of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" is still the icing on the cake of a remake that, whilst being very much a game of spot the difference between it and the original, helps to keep one of the greatest CCM recordings of all time well and truly alive.
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