Kansas (Jennifer Knapp album)

Last updated
Kansas
Jennifer Knapp - Kansas Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Jennifer Knapp
ReleasedMarch 16, 1998
Genre Folk rock, pop, contemporary Christian music
Length43:09
Label Gotee/Word
Producer Mark Stuart
Jennifer Knapp chronology
Wishing Well
(1996)		Kansas
(1998)		 Lay It Down
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Cross Rhythms (Original Release)U+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgSolid white borderedS.svg [2]
Jesus Freak HideoutStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Cross Rhythms (Gold Ed.)U+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svgU+25A0.svg [4]

Kansas is the first major label studio album by Christian folk rock musician Jennifer Knapp. It was released in 1998 on Gotee Records. The album went on to sell 500,000 copies in the U.S., and was certified Gold. [5]

Contents

On February 26, 2008, an expanded 10th Anniversary Gold Edition of Kansas was released, which included five live tracks, a song ("Jesus Loves Me") from Knapp's 1996 independent album, with "Undo Me" and "Whole Again" remastered.

Critical reception

Ashleigh Kittle of AllMusic writes, "Kansas, the first Gotee Records release from singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp, is an album rarely paralleled in the gospel genre. The edgy yet vulnerable folk-rock and alternative CCM mix serve to create a guitar-driven, almost gritty sound, resulting in comparisons between Knapp and fellow Lilith Fair performers Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge." [1]

Peter Bate of Cross Rhythms gives the original release 9 out of a possible 10 and writes, "one listen through Kansas, which highlights the exceptional talents of the young singer/songwriter, stopped me in my tracks. As well as possessing an achingly expressive voice, Jennifer's poetic lyrics have a heart-stopping intensity and depth." [2]

Sarah Fine of Jesus Freak Hideout gives the album 4½ out of a possible 5 stars and writes, "It is no accident that this album was named one of the best." and concludes her review with, "It offers a message that was not only relevant 10 years ago, but a message that is still very much relevant today and tomorrow as well." [3]

Ato Erzan-Essien of Cross Rhythms reviews the 10th Anniversary Gold Edition of Kansas and gives it 10 out of a possible 10 while saying, "The 10 years that have passed since the original album's release have been kind, and the strong songwriting and simple instrumentation have not dated." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jennifer Knapp, except "Refine Me" by Kim Bontrager.

No.TitleLength
1."Prelude (Faithful To Me)"1:08
2."Whole Again"3:44
3."Undo Me"3:24
4."Trinity"4:30
5."In The Name"3:53
6."His Grace Is Sufficient"3:54
7."Martyrs & Thieves"5:55
8."Romans"3:08
9."Refine Me"3:29
10."Hold Me Now"4:09
11."Visions"4:19
12."Faithful To Me (Reprise)"1:36
Total length:43:09
10th Anniversary Gold Edition
No.TitleLength
13."Jesus Loves Me (Wishing Well Version)" (original version written by Anna Bartlett Warner and William Batchelder Bradbury)3:54
14."Whole Again" (Acoustic)3:41
15."Romans" (Live)3:10
16."Trinity" (Live)6:29
17."Hold Me Now" (Live)4:20
18."Refine Me" (Live)4:14
19."Undo Me" (Live)6:57
Total length:75:54

Charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [6] 11
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [7] 21

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [8] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Jesus Freak</i> (album) 1995 studio album by DC Talk

Jesus Freak is the fourth studio album by the American Christian rap and rock trio DC Talk, released on November 21, 1995, on ForeFront Records. The style was a marked departure from the group's previous releases, incorporating a heavier rock sound and elements of grunge that was popular at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Knapp</span> American-Australian musician

Jennifer Lynn Knapp is an American-Australian folk rock, and contemporary Christian musician. She is best known for her first single "Undo Me" from her debut album, Kansas (1998), and the song "A Little More" from her Grammy Award-nominated album, Lay It Down (2000). The Way I Am (2001), was also nominated for a Grammy. In total, the three albums have sold approximately 1 million copies. After taking a seven-year hiatus, Knapp announced in September 2009 that she was returning to music. On May 11, 2010, she released Letting Go with the single "Dive In". The album debuted at No. 73 on the Billboard 200 chart. Knapp's memoir Facing the Music and new album Set Me Free came out in October 2014. Her 2017 album release, Love Comes Back Around produced by Viktor Krauss, pairs her fearless songwriting and strong, expressive voice with rootsy arrangements.

<i>Momentum</i> (TobyMac album) 2001 studio album by TobyMac

Momentum is the debut studio album from American recording artist TobyMac. It was released on November 6, 2001, through ForeFront Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gotee Records</span> American record label

Gotee Records is a record label of Christian hip-hop, based in Franklin, Tennessee in the United States.

<i>Turn the Tides</i> Album by 38th Parallel

Turn the Tides is the only studio album by 38th Parallel.

<i>Business Up Front/Party in the Back</i> 2006 studio album by Family Force 5

Business Up Front/Party in the Back is the debut album by Christian alternative group Family Force 5, released on March 21, 2006. It has been notable for putting Family Force 5 into the mainstream. "Love Addict" was a Christian radio hit. A "diamond edition" was released on March 20, 2007 with three additional tracks.

<i>Factors of the Seven</i> 1998 studio album by GRITS

Factors of the Seven is the second studio album released by GRITS, in 1998.

<i>The Art of Translation</i> 2002 studio album by GRITS

The Art of Translation is the fourth studio album by Christian hip hop duo GRITS. It was released in 2002 on Gotee Records and earned the honor of the Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003.

<i>Grammatical Revolution</i> 1999 studio album by GRITS

GRITS's album Grammatical Revolution was released in 1999 on Gotee Records. The song "They All Fall Down" won a Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song" in 2000.

<i>Can You Hear Us?</i> 2002 studio album by David Crowder Band

Can You Hear Us? is the debut studio album and third album overall by David Crowder Band and the first recorded for sixstepsrecords, released in February 2002.

<i>Redemption</i> (GRITS album) 2006 studio album by GRITS

Redemption is the seventh studio album released by American Southern rap duo GRITS for the contemporary Christian music market. It was co-produced by GRITS.

Fighting Instinct was a Christian rock band formed in Winston-Salem/Greensboro, North Carolina. It was founded by TJ Harris and Dallas Farmer. They played together for several years before they met up with Jason Weekly in the Winston-Salem/Greensboro area. Jason Weekly came up with the band's name.

<i>Lay It Down</i> (Jennifer Knapp album) 2000 studio album by Jennifer Knapp

Lay It Down is the second studio album by Contemporary Christian musician Jennifer Knapp. It was released on February 29, 2000, by Gotee Records. The album was nominated for "Best Rock Gospel Album" at the 43rd Grammy Awards in 2001. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart on March 17, 2000 and No. 77 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>The Way I Am</i> (Jennifer Knapp album) 2001 studio album by Jennifer Knapp

The Way I Am is the third studio album from folk rock musician Jennifer Knapp, her fifth album overall and her final Christian rock album to date. It was released on November 20, 2001 through Gotee Records.

<i>Love Like This</i> (Ayiesha Woods album) 2008 studio album by Ayiesha Woods

Love Like This is the second studio album from Christian singer Ayiesha Woods. It was released on September 9, 2008, through Gotee Records and produced by Christopher Stevens and Jamie Moore. "Love Can't Wait" and the title track "Love Like This" were both released as radio singles. The album takes influence from a variety of styles, including soul, pop and R&B.

Our Heart's Hero is an American Christian pop rock band founded in 2004. The group's touring players include Nick Joyce, Jacob Lawrence, Caleb Conroy, and Tyler Wellman.

<i>Letting Go</i> (Jennifer Knapp album) 2010 studio album by Jennifer Knapp

Letting Go is the sixth studio album by Contemporary Christian music and folk rock singer Jennifer Knapp. The album was released on May 11, 2010, on Graylin Records.

<i>All Right Here</i> 2002 studio album by Sara Groves

All Right Here is the second studio album and third album overall from Christian singer and songwriter Sara Groves, and was released on August 20, 2002, by INO Records. The producer on the album is Nate Sabin. This release became critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

Victor Manuel Oquendo, who goes by the stage name Liquid, is an American Christian hip hop musician and Christian R&B recording artist. His only album, Tales from the Badlands, was released by Gotee Records, in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Stevenson (singer)</span> American Christian musician and guitarist

Ryan Dale Stevenson is an American Christian musician and guitarist, who primarily plays a contemporary Christian music and worship style of music. His record label is Gotee Records, co-owned by Christian music artist TobyMac. He released three extended plays, Yesterday, Today, Forever, with BEC Recordings, Champion of the World, independently, and Hold Nothing Back, with Gotee Records. His first studio album, Fresh Start, was released on September 18, 2015, with Gotee Records. He's had five songs chart on the Billboard charts, "Holding Nothing Back", "The Human Side", "Not Forgotten", "All Yours" and "Eye of the Storm".

References

  1. 1 2 Kittle, Ashleigh. Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 Bate, Peter (1 June 1998). "Review". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 Fine, Sarah (16 September 2009). "Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 Erzan-Essien, Ato (5 September 2008). "Review". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "Certification". RIAA. 4 September 2001. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Jennifer Knapp Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Jennifer Knapp Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ "American album certifications – Jennifer Knapp – Kansas". Recording Industry Association of America. 30 October 2000. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.