Counting Stars (album)

Counting Stars is the ninth studio album by the American contemporary Christian musician Andrew Peterson. It was released through Centricity Music on July 27, 2010.[1]

Counting Stars
Studio album by Andrew Peterson
Released	July 27, 2010
Recorded	January, 2010
Genre	Contemporary Christian music, folk rock
Length	43:36
Label	Centricity
Producer	Andy Gullahorn, Ben Shive
Andrew Peterson chronology
Resurrection Letters, Volume Two (2008) Counting Stars (2010) Light for the Lost Boy (2012)

Background

Peterson worked with Andy Gullahorn and Ben Shive, in the production of this album.[2] Centricity Music released the album on July 27, 2010.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
CCM Magazine	[4]
Christianity Today	[5]
Cross Rhythms	[6]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[7] [8]
Louder Than the Music	[9]

James Christopher Monger, rating the album three and a half stars for AllMusic, says, "Counting Stars may walk a familiar line, but with songs as effortless and engaging as 'Many Roads' and 'World Traveler,' it makes for a fine afternoon stroll."[3] Awarding the album four stars from CCM Magazine, Andrew Greer states, "And what others hear as dirges of human despair, Peterson's infamous imagination transforms into fantastical carols of hope."[4] Josh Hurst, giving the album four star at Christianity Today, writes, "On Counting Stars, Peterson is just a humble folksinger, his music tasteful and elegant, and never flashy."[5] Indicating in a perfect ten review by Cross Rhythms, Paul Kerslake recognizes, "Folk-orientated music can sometimes become a bit repetitive, but the combination of finely-crafted songs and adept musicianship raises this album to the highest level."[6] Laura Nunnery Love, signaling in a four and a half star review from Jesus Freak Hideout, describes, "Counting Stars is another success for Andrew Peterson, and the last five songs prove the artist can stretch beyond his comfort zone."[7]

Reviewing the album for Worship Leader, Jeremy Armstrong responds, "Each of the 12 songs are beautifully sedate, yet winsomely inviting; they stand as poetic jewels...in such a sublime maze of intricate loveliness that everything kind of melds together."[10] Timothy Estabrooks, assigning a four and a half star review to the album, replies, "Due to its less pop oriented nature, Counting Stars is perhaps not the most accessible of Peterson's albums, but to those who are already familiar with his work, it is yet another beautiful masterpiece displaying his delightful ability to create beauty in simplicity."[8] Specifying in a four star review at Louder Than the Music, Jono Davies calls, Counting Stars "some amazing poetic music."[9] Rebecca Rycross, penning a review for Christian Music Review, recognizes, "this is a superb album! Andrew Peterson has outdone himself. His vocals are better than ever, his writing gets more and more captivating with each new album. He is a true artist."[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Many Roads"	Peterson	4:22
2.	"Dancing in the Minefields"	Peterson	3:30
3.	"Planting Trees"	Peterson	3:31
4.	"The Magic Hour"	Don Chaffer, Peterson	3:39
5.	"World Traveler"	Peterson	4:06
6.	"Isle of Skye"	Peterson	1:34
7.	"God of My Fathers"	Peterson, Ben Shive	3:59
8.	"Fool with a Fancy Guitar"	Peterson	2:30
9.	"In the Night My Hope Lives On"	Andy Gullahorn, Peterson, Shive	4:21
10.	"You Come so Close"	Peterson	3:29
11.	"The Last Frontier (A Lament)"	Peterson	3:28
12.	"The Reckoning (How Long)"	Andrew Osenga, Peterson	5:07
Total length:			48:52

Chart performance

Chart (2010)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[12]	123
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[13]	7

References

1. iTunes - Music - Counting Stars by Andrew Peterson
2. AllMusic (July 27, 2010). "Andrew Peterson - Counting Stars : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
3. Monger, James Christopher (July 27, 2010). "Counting Stars – Andrew Peterson". AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
4. Greer, Andrew. "Andrew Peterson: Counting Stars". CCM Magazine. p. 39. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
5. Hurst, Josh (July 27, 2010). "Counting Stars". Christianity Today. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
6. Kerslake, Paul (November 11, 2010). "Review: Counting Stars - Andrew Peterson". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
7. Nunnery Love, Laura (July 26, 2010). "Andrew Peterson, "Counting Stars" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
8. Estabrooks, Timothy (July 26, 2010). "Andrew Peterson, "Counting Stars" Review - Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
9. Davies, Jono (June 18, 2010). "Reviews – Andrew Peterson - Counting Stars". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
10. Armstrong, Jeremy. "Andrew Peterson: Counting Stars". Worship Leader. pp. 75–6. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
11. Rycross, Rebecca (July 26, 2010). "Andrew Peterson (Counting Stars) (2010)". Christian Music Review. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
12. "Andrew Peterson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
13. "Andrew Peterson Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2015.