Music » Christian Alternative Music

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

In the afterglow of capturing a Dove award for "Rock album of the year" with their southern-rock grinder Time, Third Day has now stepped in line with the worship movement and released Offerings: A Worship Album. Interspersed among five new songs, this album contains several live concert tracks, including the favorite "Your Love, Oh Lord." Even though the new songs demonstrate Third Day's superior creativity and talent, the live tracks are the forte of this project. The undulating dynamics exhibit the band's unity as they work together to create a singular response to the Savior. As well, some of the tracks incorporate the sound of the worshiping audience, adding a congregational feel to the album. The lyrical content is similar to that of songs from a typical Sunday morning service. But these traditional expressions of faith are given new life by the resonating fervor of Mac Powell's lead vocal style. Third Day is known for being uncompromisingly God-centered with their music. This project uncovers that quality to its most extreme degree. --Israel Button

Release Date: 2003-03-04, Audio CD, Essential

Array

Wow. Twenty-six-year-old Jennifer Knapp has done far more than rest on her laurels for her much-anticipated follow-up to 1998's Kansas--the record is a subtle, yet stellar, leap forward. The songs have pop hooks that stick in your brain for hours; the music is tightly woven and expert, yet rarely too slick. Expertly produced by pal Toby McKeehan, layers of complimentary, warm sound surround Knapp's folk-bluesy, expressive voice like the foam atop a perfect latte. The lyrics are introspective and spiritual but they have this real-life quality to them, and that is her true gift. One has to struggle not to identify with Knapp when she sings, on "A Little More," of the struggle to live a Christian life: "A little more than I can give / A little more than I deserve / Unearth this holiness I can't earn." The only justifiable quibble is that, at 36 minutes, Lay It Down is way too short. --Mike McGonigal

You'll find nothing here to dispel the notion that Caedmon's Call is one of the up-and-comers of the Christian music world. Long Line of Leavers, while perhaps not as strong as its brilliant predecessor (40 Acres), shows us a maturing band whose recording process now fully employs Caedmon's ensemble prowess. "Prepare Ye the Way" and "Valley" chronicle the fact, melting the vocals of husband-and-wife duo Cliff and Danielle Young into the acoustic-oriented folk rock for which the band is known so well. Derek Webb continues to prove himself one of the genre's finest writers here with the wonderfully moving "Dance" and the energetic "What You Want." Not to be outdone, Aaron Tate, the only member of the band who does not sing or play, offers songwriting gems in "Prove Me Wrong" and the aforementioned "Valley." Caedmon's Call clearly understand their strengths (songwriting and ensemble performance) and showcase them well in this worthy third release. --Michael Lyttle

Touted by some as Christian music's answer to The Rembrandts, this Nashville four-piece delivers artful, acoustic-based rock. Shipped in to produce two tracks, Adrian Belew captures the band's sweet intensity and clean melodies on "Flood and Liquid," which features a jaw-dropping Gregorian chant sample. --Jeff Bateman

Jeremy Camp makes no bones about his modern-rock influences. Stay displays strong, unapologetic musical tips of the hat to the likes of Creed and Dave Matthews as Camp wraps his faith-inspired message in a common sounding yet pleasing brand of gritty, blue-collar rock. While power rockers such as "Take My Life" flex their muscles, it's the driving urgency and catchy chorus of "Understand" and the smooth balladry of the string-laden "I Still Believe" that are most appealing. Like fellow Indiana native John Mellencamp, Camp deals head on with some tough issues, as evidenced by "Walk By Faith," a moving testament to Camp's struggle with accepting the death of his young wife, and "I Know Your Calling," a pledge from a man struggling to hold on to faith through tough times. --Michael Lyttle

It's hard to escape your roots, especially when you've grown up in the South. For Third Day, it's never been truer than on Time, the band's third release and the first to openly embrace their Southern rock traditions. While producer Monroe Jones coaxes a somewhat softer-sounding Third Day in this pleasing effort, the band still rocks hard for the most part. "Took My Place," for instance, is a Southern-fried rave-up powered by the twin guitars of Mark Lee and Brad Avery paced by the gritty vocals of Mac Powell. Yet Third Day also lessens the blows, as with the poignant ballads "I've Always Loved You" and "Your Love, Oh Lord." Fans will get the best of both worlds in the loose, rootsy "Don't Say Goodbye," one of the album's best moments. Time captures a band maturing and owning up to both its spiritual and musical legacy. --Michael Lyttle

Some songs define moments in our lives we will never forget. They're songs that years later can evoke the sights, sounds, and even smells of the time we first heard them. "Kiss Me," the red-hot, irresistible single from this self-titled release, will probably be one of those songs for the many who've by now experienced its charms. The culprits? A trio of youthful central Texans, by way of Nashville, called Sixpence None the Richer. On the rest of this Grammy-nominated gem, Sixpence serve an airy blend of Abra Moore-meets-Sundays acoustic pop. It's beautifully rich and constantly augmented by Leigh Nash's earthy vocals, Matt Slocum's songwriting genius, and steady rhythms from Dale Baker. Like Jars of Clay, Sixpence have "raised the bar" for the rest of late-'90s contemporary Christian music. --Michael Lyttle