After two highly successful albums, numerous awards and even a brief stint on the Lilith Fair circuit, one might think bluesy folk-rock songstress Jennifer Knapp would have her head in the clouds. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
Knapp’s third national release, The Way I Am, finds the talented artist firmly grounded, but not too confined to stretch herself musically. Fusing earthy vocals with palpable large-scale instrumentation, Knapp’s latest project retains her soulful roots while branching into new sonic territory.
Drawing on the production expertise of Tony McAnany (Madonna, Missy Elliot), Knapp wisely dips into the top drawer for supporting musicians. Veteran session
players Jeremy Lubbock (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon) and Vinnie Cauliuta (Sting, Frank Zappa) provide just the right pop-rock juice, especially on "By and By" and "Charity," which features a stellar instrumental at the finish.
Elsewhere, Knapp carries on fine without
much assistance. Songs like the understated "Around Me" and "Light of the World" draw boundless energy from the artist’s full-throated vocal chops and simple yet robust melodies. It’s here that Knapp seems most comfortable, sounding more like Jewel or Natalie Merchant than Melissa Etheridge.
Always one to offer substantive, insightful lyrics, Knapp embraces such topics as judgment, regret and unfailing love. Mid-tempo cut "Come to Me" is framed from God’s first-person perspective ("My yoke is easy, I’ll give you rest"), while the exquisite "Sing Mary Sing" befits its own refrain: "Lullaby the King/Born to be our pardon/No longer shall we weep/Come soften what was hardened/Sing Mary, sing."
Like everything else Knapp has churned out, The Way I Am is a first-rate, tuneful effort. Ostensibly it’s a few steps beyond her comfort zone, but Knapp isn’t one who easily stumbles. In fact, she may be more sure-footed than ever before.