Music : Lay It Down

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Not as good as Kansas
This is a good CD, but I was initially not very impressed. This may be a result of the fact that I expected too much because Kansas (Jennifer Knapp's first CD) was so good. Although this is still a very good CD, it doesn't match Kansas for lasting play time. There are a couple of very good songs, like "A Little More" and "Diamond in the Rough" but overall the CD is probably just good. I just did not hear the same passion that I heard on Kansas. I gave it 4 stars because I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt. I assume I had too high of expectations following Kansas.

Rating:

- Jen Knapp lays it down like nobody's business
I became a big fan of Jennifer Knapp's after hearing this album. I had largely ignored her much talked-about debut album "Kansas," but "Lay It Down" put Jennifer on my permanent must-play list. (Don't worry, people: I own "Kansas" now as well and I love it as much.)

What I love about this album is Jennifer's constant theme of being real with God. She has a down-to-earth attitude, just wanting to be closer to God but knowing her limitations. Hence, the line in the song "All-Consuming Fire"--"I build myself so much less than I am, so much less than He sees me." There's a perfect mix of sweet ballads ("Peace" and "When Nothing Satisfies") and rockin' tunes ("Into You" and "Lay It Down") and great contemporary folk-like songs ("Usher Me Down" and "Diamond in the Rough").

The one song on this album that made me a Jennifer Knapp believer is the song "You Answer Me." The first time I heard it, it made me cry. It's a song about hearing God's voice, just being confident in His word. It touched a deeper part of my soul and spirit like no other song had done before.

While Jen Knapp fans may feel that this album wasn't as good as "Kansas" (the sophmore curse?), well... they're WRONG! She holds her own strongly on this album. It's awesome. :-)

Rating:

- Wonderful album
This is a truly wonderful album, and the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because there are a couple of songs that just don't do it for me, but overall it is great.

It is not quite as good as her latest album, The Way I Am, which is one of my favorite albums ever.

Rating:

- Short, but really really good.
Even if the album contains only 10 tracks and is quite short compared to other albums, the quality and beauty of the music fills the shortness. =) It's just wonderful, every song sticks to your mind and just makes you want to listen to it more. It's very inspirational. "All Consuming Fire" and "Diamond in the Rough" has the cute beat, and "Into You" rules with the guitars. "You Answer Me" is a good song about the prayers and "A Little More" is just plain great. :) A must-buy.

Rating:

- Blows Away Her First CD
Far too much of "Christian" music is weak, derivative stuff that could never make it in the broader marketplace. Not so with Jennifer Knapp's stuff. It is a shame that I even have to mention her work in the same breath as the drivel that passes for "Christian" music. She is one heck of a musician. Unlike most "CCM artists" (oh how I loathe the term--might as well say CGM--Christian Ghetto Music), Knapp can actually write her own stuff. And man, can she play! I loved "Kansas," but "Lay it Down" makes her prior album (though still very recommendable--if recommendable is a word) look very limited and small. If you want some great music, you need look no further than "Lay it Down." This lady deserves as broad an audience as she can get!

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