Jennifer Knapp has gained substantial popularity and respect in Christian music circles, and for good reason. As she proves on Lay it Down, her sophomore album, Knapp is both a capable guitarist and a captivating vocalist. Not to mention a pretty good song writer.
"A Little More" is a great example of the latter. Ms. Knapp's lyrics are personal, yet they ably express the universal truth of God's grace. Just the right blend of guitar and strings makes this song both haunting and inspiring. "A Little More" is a bluesy pop rock tune which showcases Knapp's vocals nicely. "Usher Me Down" is a slower song, but Knapp's hardest rocking song yet, "Into You", follows. "Into You" is a highlight of the album, as it sports both passionate vocals and some clever wordsmithing.
The first half of the album is your standard set of pop/rock tunes, all of which could fit in well on any pop radio station, but things really get interesting on the second part of the disc. "All Consuming Fire" is an oddly intriguing song that is hard to classify. The default category would be pop, although the song also contains elements of folk. The rest of the album is composed mostly of acoustic pop/folk songs, complete with a cameo by Margaret Becker on "When Nothing Satisfies". "Diamond in the Roof", however, is fairly new territory for Knapp. This Shawn Colvin cover is a sing-along, toe tapping bluegrass song, complete with a bluesy guitar solo. Very sweet stuff!
For the most part, Lay it Down is a thoroughly enjoyable album. It is hard to find any flaws on it. The overall sound is much fuller and mature than Knapp's debut outing, Kansas, although Lay it Down leans much more towards pop/folk instead of acoustic rock/folk. A very solid album from a very skilled musician.
Josh's Score: 4/5
Mark's Score: 4/5
Nathan's Score: 4/5
Other coverage for this album
ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksIt seems you have start with the accolades, so let's get them out of the way: multiple Dove awards and nominations, GMA's New Artist of the Year, 1999 summer Lilith Fair tour, blah, blah, blah. Let's just say she's been well received--and with good reason. On to the music. This Kansas native offers introspective acoustic based music with a bit of an edge. Overall I found Lay It Down to be a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Josh MarihughPicture: A young woman sits in a darkened corner, her acoustic guitar resting across her knees, singing her heart out to her God. Picture: That same young woman steps to the front of a stage, and with amps blasting behind her, wails a love song to her Lord. These two pictures, and a few somewhere in between, are what make Jennifer Knapp who she is, and make her music what it is. After Knapp's…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by James StewartSituating herself at the pop-end of the acoustic music which has sprung up in the wake of the alt. country movement, Jennifer Knapp has produced an unusually earthy album for the Christian market. Knapp's music would sit well with fans of writers such as Sheryl Crow, but the album is unfortunately lacking obvious singles to take her to Crow's audience. As a whole, however, it is a self-assured…Similar sounding releases
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