Jennifer Knapp

Item: Kansas
Author: Mark Aylor

Kansas

(1997)

Reviewed by Mark Aylor

Discogs Bandcamp Apple Music TIDAL Spotify YouTube Music

Label Gotee RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1997

acoustic rock folk rock singer-songwriter

I cry I wonder can He hear my despair
Afraid to lift my hands, afraid He doesn't care
And if He answers and I fall again
Can I still be His daughter can I still depend on Him?
When I'm down I search every mistake
I'm looking for new regrets
Sometimes I forget, I forget
That His grace is sufficient for me
That it's deeper and wider than I can conceive
His grace is sufficient for me

So go the words to Jennifer Knapp's "His Grace is Sufficient," an elegant reminder that though we fall, our Lord and Savior will still love and uphold us.

Most people have never heard of Jennifer Knapp even though this is her third release -- a 1994 Indie tape, and a full length Indie CD in March of 1996, titled Wishing Well. That should change with this album.

Jennifer is from Kansas, if you hadn't guessed from the title, and is another in the old singer-songwriter tradition that includes names like Arlo Guthrie, Janis Joplin, and, more recently, Melissa Etheridge. The style is making such a big comeback, and Jennifer should fit in well. The only problem may be telling her apart from the rest of the pack. As well as being a talented singer and songwriter (which should help her stand out), she is a talented guitarist. Her skills shine through on this venture as she effortlessly alternates between electric and acoustic guitars on the various songs on this album.

How do you describe Jennifer's music? Well, it is light folk rock with a hint of Ireland. Harps, flutes, cellos, and violins make scattered appearances on various songs to help Jennifer's warm lilting vocals give it that Celtic flavor. The overall effect is a cross between Melissa Etheridge, The Indigo Girls, and The Cranberries, with just a dash of The Crossing thrown in for good measure. If you like any or all of these, you'll love Jennifer Knapp's Kansas.

Her variety of styles can all be seen in the first three songs: "Prelude (Faithful To Me)" with an a cappella sound very like that of The Crossing (the song is also reprised at the end); "Whole Again," which is very reminiscent of The Cranberries; and "Undo Me," which could have come right off a Melissa Etheridge CD. It doesn't stop there, either. The constant style changes on this album help to bring out each song's uniqueness, and keep the whole project from ever becoming boring. Even the songs that use the same style are different enough to prevent Jennifer from being pigeonholed in any particular genre. The production quality is very good if a little too CCMish for some tastes. Give the credit to Producer Mark Stuart, the lead singer from Audio A. This is a nice job for one of his first attempts. It carries a bit too much of that soft rounded sound that you hear, for example, in Kathy Troccoli. It's a little too produced and suppresses the energy you can feel bubbling just under the surface. If Mark had been a little lighter with his touch, left it a little rawer; this would really be a knockout. I hope he doesn't turn into another Eddie DeGarmo, so I'll reserve judgement on his production technique until he has a few more albums under his belt and see which direction it goes.

The lyrics are all straightforward and easy to understand. They are gentle and loving in their ministry, but still strong enough to convict. A prime example of this is "Undo Me." I always get a chill listening to this song:

Abba, Father, You must wonder why
More times than Peter I have denied
Three nails and a cross to prove
I owe my life eternally to You
Time to get down on my knees and pray
'Lord, undo me!'
Put away my flesh and bone 'til You own
This Spirit through me
Lord, undo me!

"Refine Me" is a really lovely acoustic ballad crying out to God. "Trinity" is a beautiful song asking for wisdom from the Spirit. To tell the truth, there isn't a single song that I haven't found enjoyable or edifying.

I give this album 3 1/2 tocks. I could have gone as high as 4 tocks, but the music won't appeal to everyone: there's a little too much mainstream CCM in it for a lot of peoples' taste.

3.5 tocks