Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Andrew Peterson,  Behold the Lamb of God
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Andrew Peterson
Behold the Lamb of God



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Christmas / Folk
Album length: 12 tracks: 41 minutes, 55 seconds
Street Date: October 25, 2019


READER RATING:   


Twenty years ago, Andrew Peterson began a Christmas tour that turned into an annual tradition. The "Behold the Lamb of God" event has carried on for so long due to the love the artists involved put into it and also its success, often selling out every venue Peterson and company play. In 2004, Peterson tried capturing some of the live magic in a studio album version and released it independently. Now, on the eve of the tour's 20th anniversary, Peterson has re-recorded the entire album and is "officially" releasing it through label Centricity Music.

Behold the Lamb of God bears the distinction of being a conceptual Christmas album. "Gather Round, Ye Children, Come" opens the holiday festivities as an invitation to hear the biblical Christmas story. But Peterson isn't just focused on the New Testament side of the tale; the next four tracks give an Old Testament running start to why Jesus was needed. The standouts here are "Deliver Us," with its stinging coda, and the instrumental take on "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The New Testament-based songs start with "Matthew's Begats," a humorous rendition of the genealogy found in Matthew 1. The next four tracks tackle various aspects of the birth narrative before the title track comes in to give a broader perspective of Jesus' life. "Theme of My Song" acts as a reprise and feels like a grand finale to a Christmas pageant.

Given 20 years of touring history with these songs, Peterson brings in plenty of guests with the new recording, even stepping aside from the mic to let other vocalists, like Andy Gullahorn and Jess Ray, take over. Their additions help things feel fresh and give the album the feeling that this is bigger than Peterson and is really about Christ and His people. The album is also effective in feeling like a cohesive whole. I mentioned the pageant feel of the final track, but you could really picture it throughout. What weakens this album, though, falls to Peterson's melodic composition. The lyrics are theologically rich and each song could be a sermon unto itself, but the music is largely unmemorable and doesn't give the words enough sticking power. Part of this is due to Peterson's tendency to cram so much into one verse that it requires multiple listens to fully comprehend. Multiple listens aren't bad as long as the music also makes it worth coming back.

This leads to probably the biggest frustration with this re-recording. Peterson's recent albums have shown much growth not only in his lyrical prowess but also in his music. Consider last year's Resurrection Letters, Vol. 1; that album also contained songs chock-full of depth and meaning, but the music and melodies were infectious as well. Behold the Lamb..., in spite of its fresh paint, still feels like an early Andrew Peterson record. Given 20 years to perfect and update these songs, one would hope for some more tweaking beyond added instruments or vocalists. Those frustrations aside, this is a Christmas album worthy of consideration. Peterson's fans will enjoy the wider availability of this release and find the fresh take sufficient. More casual listeners will also find nuggets of Christmas cheer that will satisfy even if the album doesn't become a holiday favorite.

- Review date: 10/22/19, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Centricity Music
. Album length: 12 tracks: 41 minutes, 55 seconds
. Street Date: October 25, 2019
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com (CD)
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com (Vinyl)

  1. Gather' Round, Ye Children, Come (3:18)
  2. Passover Us (feat. Jess Ray) (4:12)
  3. So Long, Moses (6:06)
  4. Deliver Us (feat. Scott Mulvahill) (3:42)
  5. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (2:22)
  6. Matthew's Begats (2:19)
  7. It Came To Pass (feat. Andy Gullahorn) (2:52)
  8. Labor of Love (feat. Jill Phillips) (4:45)
  9. The Holly and the Ivy (1:47)
  10. While Shepherds Watched (3:08)
  11. Behold the Lamb of God (4:22)
  12. The Theme of My Song (3:02)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images