Marvin and Gentry, on their own, may not be household names among Christian music fans, but they spent years collaborating with Dan Peek, who co-founded America (the band) and did some pioneering in the early days of the CCM industry. With Peek, they released several albums under the name PEACE and now, in lieu of Peek's passing in 2011, they offer Peace Revisited. A remixed/remastered version of 15 songs taken off of tape recordings, the record feels like a throwback to the height of '70s folk rock and a good introduction to the duo's music.

Fans of America (the band) will recognize Peek's influence over this album: lots of reverb, layered vocals, and whining lead guitars. This may sound dated to some, but those who love that brand of music will find it enjoyable. It's the type of sound that feels perfect for a sunny summer day--relaxing and full of life. The production, though, feels the weight of its remixed/remastered process. An admirable job was done, but the quality feels imbalanced and fuzzy. If you get past this minor hurdle, there's plenty here to please your ear.

Lyrically, topics jump around from the spiritual ("Your Voice," "Sweet Temptation," or "It's Alright") to the relational ("Right Now," "Endless Flight," or "Missing You") to general songs about love ("Can't Stop Love" or "Carry On"), though in the wider context, "love" has a more spiritual connotation. Not only does the sound feel steeped in the '70s folk rock scene, the lyrics also carry the simplicity found in early Christian music. They never get too profound, but their easy-going word-craft complements the music nicely and adds to the overall relaxed vibe.

Take this album in pieces, and there's much that is lacking. Put it all together and it strangely works. While most 15-track records are daunting time-suckers, Peace Revisited moves quickly, giving the listener just enough of each song before continuing. Fans of classic folk rock (especially America... the band) will want to give Marvin and Gentry a listen if they've missed the duo over the past couple decades.

- Review date: 4/29/20, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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