Kansas is musically superior to anything on secular radio
This cd is incredible. I am a Christian who used to listen to Guns N Roses, Melissa Etheridge, Metallica, and other powerful music. I can't say that I never listen to those artists any longer, but with my Christian beliefs, I would prefer to listen to music that is as powerful as those artists, yet that is encouraging to my Christian walk. Artists like Amy Grant, Audio Adrenaline, and other "poppy-boppy" types make me queasy with their synthesized music. When DC Talk came out with Jesus Freak, I played it non-stop for months (an excellent, powerful, Christ-centered cd). I am somewhat disappointed with Supernatural. I yearned for another excellent, powerful, Christ-centered cd. Then I received the Jennifer Knapp cd, Kansas. This cd is so honest, powerful, outstanding,awesome!!!! Move over Cheryl Crowe, Melissa Etheridge, and make room for this incredibly talented lady!! If the secular music stations would play "undo me" or "His grace is sufficient" I'm sure she would push everyone off the charts!! I'm serious, the song "His grace is sufficient" is so true for me that I sometimes cry when I sing along with it. Thank you Jennifer for using your gift to glorify God!!!
Strangely familiar, yet uniquely refreshing
Before me, 96 people have ranted and raved about this CD, almost unanimously decorating it with a full five stars...so I did something uncharacteristic of me and bought it without ever having heard a single note off of this or either of her albums (I believe there are only two).I've listened to it a total of three times now, and I must say that I'm very happy with my purchase. Although I find it hard to believe that out of 96 previous reviews, nobody shared my first impression of who she sounds like. One reviewer mentioned that in various tracks, she sounds like Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, and Sarah McLachlan, which I don't disagree with--but after listening to about 15 seconds of track #2, the first thing that came to mind was "Hey...that sounds *just* like Natalie Merchant!" (of 10,000 Maniacs fame); and the more I listen to Jennifer Knapp, the more I think "Natalie Merchant sings for Jesus." :-)
If you like Natalie Merchant, you will definitely like _Kansas_, and if you are partial to any of the aforementioned artists, you'll find Jennifer Knapp very easy to listen to--a sound that is soothing and familiar yet lyrically unique. If Sarah, Natalie, Joni, or Tracy were to sing for Jesus, this is exactly how I'd imagine them to sound.
Such a great CD!!!
This is a great CD. I first heard it while at a friends's house while at a party. I knew that I needed it!
While almost all the songs are great, I bought the album for "Hold Me Now." I do not usually cry, but picture me,a grown man, weeping while it played! It is just so amazing to me that with all of my faults, all my sins, God can still love me and say that I can stand in His love. I get teary just thinking about it! But this album!!!!
Had to been produced by the Lord Himself
Here's a suggestion after a long brutal day ...turn off all the lights, crash on the couch , ..and listen to this CD . Soak in the soothing brain massages like Trinity, Martyrs & Thieves and I'll guarantee will make you Whole Again. Jennifer Knapp is the real thing !
A Great Christian Artist...
So what's so great about Jennifer Knapp? Well, for starters, she's original. So many of today's pop Christian musicians are too mainstream and wanna-be's; but not Jennifer. Her lyrics are intensely honest and heartfelt and her voice and music is passionate. She does not get wrapped up in herself in her songs to where the spotlight is no longer on Christ and the Christian life, but yet she maintains an introspective, yet Christ-centered message.
Her guitar work is excellent and she writes songs that stick in your head for hours. I know that KANSAS is a great CD because I've listened to it over and over again and never get tired of it. I would highly recommend this cd to anyone.
Self-described as "just a girl with a guitar," Knapp, the winner of the 1999 Dove Award for best new artist of the year, crafts acoustic folk-rock in the vein of Lilith Fair rock-maids, yet founds her lyrics on her relationship with God rather than on that of a beau. Kansas basks in both the relative youth of Knapp as a woman and as a Christian, featuring her smartly communicative songwriting, which examines matters of spirit and faith in an era dominated by pop culture. Rather than railing against the inevitable, Knapp has wisely chosen to embrace this seeming dichotomy with the back to back "Undo Me" and "Trinity"; the former, an infectious rock anthem and 1999's Dove rock song of the year, the latter a harmonically layered scripture-based examination of the Holy Spirit. Blessed with an agile, earthy contralto that reaches from matter-of-fact talkiness to power yowl to melodious balladic lilt, coupled with her taut and circular guitar lines and inspired string arrangements, Knapp's Kansas is a testament to her well-used talents. --Paige La Grone
