Lay It Down

1	A Litttle More 3:28
2	Lay It Down 3:50
3	Usher Me Down 3:27
4	Into You 3:04
5	All Consuming Fire 3:38
6	You Answer Me 3:56
7	You Remain 3:14
8	Diamond in the Rough 4:03
9	When Nothing Satisfies 3:42
10	Peace 3:46

Barnes & Noble

Jennifer Knapp's KANSAS won well-deserved accolades within contemporary Christian music circles and established the Midwest singer as a newborn rock gospel star -- in fact, she won the 1998 Dove Award for Best New Artist. Two years later, Knapp follows her debut with 2000's gutsy, graceful LAY IT DOWN and proves she's no flash in the pan. Knapp's Midwest folk rock echoes the Indigo Girls' earthy clarity and even touches on Sheryl Crow's white blues rock n' roar. But never mind comparisons, Knapp's most distinguishing mark is that too-rare skin-tingling timbre that surfaces when singers belt straight from the most passionate depths. Knapp hits those vocal highs on songs like the wispy acoustic "Usher Me Down" and the traditional riff rock of the title track, while her uncompromised, joyous faith shines through deeply personal and confessional lyrics. Perhaps aiming at well-deserved crossover appeal, Knapp never sounds overzealously evangelical or self-righteous; and on the sweeping, strings-layered opening track, "A Little More," she acknowledges that "with all this motivation I still find a hesitation deep in my soul." Other highlights include the warm acoustic groove of "All Consuming Fire" and Knapp's inspired rendition of the mandolin-laden "Diamond in the Rough." Dealing with the universal theme of personal salvation, LAY IT DOWN is Knapp's testimony, presented not as a guideline for grasping souls, but as an intimate travelogue of her own spiritual journey. Music fans of all stripes -- not just CCM enthusiasts -- take note.Ganda Suthivarakom

All Music Guide

Good music involves peaks and valleys, taking the listener to the mountaintop one-minute, and back down to the valley the next. Emotionally and dynamically no contemporary Christian woman does it like Jennifer Knapp. On her second release Lay It Down, Knapp shows the kind of artistic growth expected from a seasoned veteran. One minute it's Carole King in a coffe shop courtesy of "A Little More," The next you're tapping your toe to a snappy Sheryl Crow vibe on "Lay It Down." This disc is rich in texture and lyrically passionate. Knapp has always recognized her own inadequacies, ala her first hit "Undo Me." This time around the tune "Into Me," serves up another humble lyrical reflection. "I wanna know you, better then I do, relieve me from myself, bring me into you..." One of the discs most interesting and memorable tunes was written by Shawn Colvin, a ditty called "Diamond In The Rough." The song builds to a climatic peak with dc Talks guitarist Mark Townsend riffing his acoustic as though he were Allman Brother Dicky Betts. Lay It Down, is a triumph for Jennifer Knapp, she wears the hat of a multi-talented lyricist, songwriter, and vocalist very well. Steve Losey