Kansas

Description

Kansas is the major label debut album by the American singer and songwriter Jennifer Knapp, released on Gotee Records in 1997, distributed by Word Entertainment. The album was recorded at Shakin’ Studios and House of Insomnia in Franklin, Tennessee; with Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline fame producing. All songs written by Jennifer Knapp, except track 9 written by Kim Bontrager. Kansas was widely received and eventually sold over 500,000 copies, becoming Gold-certified by the RIAA.

A 25 Anniversary Re-Recording of the album was released in 2024.

After doing the indie thing for three years, Jennifer Knapp’s experience singing night after night to churches and youth groups has served her well, drawing listeners in to her unwavering vocals and her rootsy music’s smart use of repetition.

The singer/songwriter’s youthful voice carries just enough gusto throughout the record that producer Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline) smartly used little or no effects on it. Knapp tends to overuse her Natalie Merchant-esque vocal treatment throughout the album, though, and would do well to experiment with different tonal colors the next time out. Still, the combination of simple song structures and instrumentation – which accompanies her “what you hear is what you get” pipes that belt out consistently direct, evangelistic lyrics – makes ‘kansas’ a very unique, honest and understated record for 1998.

All of Knapp’s tunes are quite listenable, but the two songs that just don’t seem to want to vacate my brain’s pop-hook hemisphere are «In the Name» and «Martyrs and Thieves». These ditties serve as perfect bookend examples of Knapp’s songwriting range. The former title is a fast-paced, foot-stompin’ roots rocker in the vein of Vigilantes of Love, while the latter features Knapp sounding like Joan Baez and Merchant doing a mellow folk duet. And there’s more where those come from as well as plenty of stuff in between, featuring deft use of fiddle, flute, organ and mandolin.

Knapp’s lyrics are unabashedly Christ-centered and focus mostly on her own brokenness as a way to inspire Christians to lead holier lives, but she also knows how to communicate strongly and smartly to non-Christians, as these lyrics from «In the Name» attest: “Picket fences may build up our defenses/ In domestic wars of leisure suits/ That’s OK, it doesn’t bother me, you can hold on to your philosophy of/ What’s mine is mine, what’s yours is yours; but what’s the truth?/ When the walls do crumble/ What will I find to hold onto/ That’s stronger than my Jesus?”

Who’d ever believe the hard, flat ground of kansas could be so inviting? [Dave Urbanski, CCM, January, 1998]

It was 1997 when a singer/songwriter from Chanute, Kansas, Jennifer Knapp released her debut record label album. To celebrate that little bit of music history Gotee Records have expanded it to this ‘Gold’ edition. ‘Kansas’ was one of CCM magazine’s Top 100 Greatest Albums, and it went on to sell over 500,000 units. 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. Jennifer’s expressive voice, which is comparable to Alanis Morrisette in her less angry mode, is kept at the centre of it all. There are an additional seven tracks including several live versions of songs from the original album and the track «Jesus Loves Me» from ‘Wishing Well’, the independent album that preceded ‘Kansas’. The album has also been remastered and the simple instrumentation and clean production shine through, supporting the songs and voice and never intruding. Jennifer supported this album touring the US primarily in churches, and it is easy to see how the songs would translate into this setting. And the live tracks, in comparison to the studio set from the album, really rock out and an extra, gritty dimension to her voice is revealed. For those who don’t already own ‘Kansas’ this version should be an essential purchase, and for those who already do, it is well worth acquiring for the extra tracks and remastering. A modern music classic. [Ato Erzan-Essien, Cross Rhythms, September 2008]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/kansas-gold-edition/1533123684)

CD tracklist:

01. Prelude (Faithful To Me) – 1:08
02. Whole Again – 3:44
03. Undo Me – 3:24
04. Trinity – 4:30
05. In The Name – 3:53
06. His Grace Is Sufficient – 3:54
07. Martyrs & Thieves – 5:55
08. Romans – 3:08
09. Refine Me – 3:29
10. Hold Me Now – 4:09
11. Visions – 4:19
12. Faithful To Me (Reprise) – 1:36

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Gotee Records. On February 26, 2008, Gotee Records re-issued a 10th Anniversary Gold Edition of Kansas with re-mastered and additional tracks, including “Jesus Loves Me (Wishing Well version)” and other tracks from her 2006 live album. Gold Edition bonus tracks: Jesus Loves Me (Wishing Well Version), Whole Again (Acoustic), Romans (Live), Trinity (Live), Hold Me Now (Live), Refine Me (Live), and Undo Me (Live).

A full-page advertisement for Jennifer Knapp’s Kansas was featured in the May 1998 issue of CCM Magazine.