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JFH Music Review




Jennifer Knapp
Lay It Down



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 38 minutes
Street Date: February 29, 2000


Lay it Down, the sophomore effort by Jennifer Knapp, didn't have a fair shot to begin with. Released between Kansas, the critically lauded and 600,000 plus selling debut album of Ms. Knapp and The Way I Am, the third and most sonically-charged Knapp album to date, Lay it Down often gets bumped from thought, if not forgotten altogether. And when discussed, it's frequently dubbed "not as good as Kansas" and "not as exciting as The Way I Am." Regardless of these comments, Lay it Down is an album that showcases the true meaning of Christian rock music and some of Knapp's best songwriting to date.

Beginning with the acoustic vibe of "A Little More," a song about giving your all to Christ, and the Melissa Etheridge-style title track, it's obvious that Knapp tried to create a new, more polished sound than the independent vibe showcased on Kansas. Musically, the album shifts from clean-cut pop ditties ("All Consuming Fire," "Usher Me Down") to hard rockers ("Into You," "You Answer Me") to light-country (a cover of Shawn Colvin's hit "Diamond in the Rough") to worshipful ballads ("When Nothing Satisfies," "Peace"), leaving nearly no music scene untouched. Such a task is not easy for any artist, let alone on an album that is only their sophomore release.

The only complaint I have about the album is it's length: it's only 38 minutes long. You'd think the executives at Gotee could've slipped an eleventh song on the album. But other than that, Lay it Down is an excellent album featuring some of the best songwriting available, Christian or secular.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 4/16/04, written by Ryan B Key for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Gotee Records
. Album length: 12 tracks, 38 minutes
. Street Date: February 29, 2000
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. A Little More
  2. Lay It Down
  3. Usher Me Down
  4. Into You
  5. All Consuming Fire
  6. You Answer Me
  7. You Remain
  8. When Nothing Satisfies
  9. Diamond In The Rough
  10. Peace
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Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
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This Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
AOH Music BEHOLD (Acoustic Live), Vol. 1 (independent)
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Vince Gill 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had - EP [UMG]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]
Megan Woods The Truth EP [Fair Trade]

SINGLES
Elevation Worship Jesus Be The Name - Single [Provident]
F'rael God's Wheel (ft. TRYBISHOP) - Single [Syntax]
Brandon Lake When A Cowboy Prays (Amazon Music Songline) - Single [Provident]
LEON Undefeated - Single [El Rescate Music]
No Vain Glory UNLEADED - Single [Syntax]
Park 7 The Hope Is On The Way - Single (independent)
Rave Jesus & Gracie Binion Need Your Love - Single [Provident]
REFVGE, Cyfë II & WAY? U P W A R D S ft. Bianca Silver & Josh LeCroy - Single [Syntax]
Rhymes In Harmony & MAYIA My Sister - Single [Syntax]
Rock City Worship Gravestone - Single [Capitol CMG]
Anton Scholl Born To Love You - Single [Near Kingdom]
Nathan Sheridan Don't Lose Hope - Single [WieRok]
SNT. VINCENT Feast of the Saints - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings Faith In Stereo - Single [Covenant]
Vic Lucas, Essence Natay & Ashleey Barnes Let it Rain - Single [Syntax]
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)
Aaron Williams Abide (feat. CAIN) - Single [Integrity]

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, October 24, 2025
ALBUMS
John Allan untitled EP [Centricity]
Dan Bremnes The Villain - EP [Curb]
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]
God Behind Bars Music Live From Angola Prison Vol. 1 [Provident]
Fepeste This World Ain't Mine to Change [Velvet Blue]
gio. FINE BY ME [Capitol CMG]
Brandon Lake Amazon Music Songline [Provident]
Tyson Motsenbocker Modern Worries [Tooth & Nail]
Smalltown Poets St. Augustine (independent)
Zahriya Zachary Rediscovery [Bethel]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship, Zion Rempel You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Joe L Barnes Grief, Joy, Gratitude - Single [Provident]
Chad Cory, Zacardi Cortez My First Love (Remix) - Single [DREAM]
Leanna Crawford Beginning Of Your Grace - Single [Provident]
darthy Juniper Tree - Single [WieRok]
Emerson Day Midnight Hour - Single [Fair Trade]
Good Weather Forecast lows2highs - Single [DREAM]
Grace + Max Rich - Single [WieRok]
Mercy Tribe Music The King is in the Room (feat. Ayiesha Woods) - Single (independent)
Mountains in the Sea You Never Fail (feat. Emily Guy) - Single [DREAM]
Seph Schlueter Already On The Way (feat. Benjamin William Hastings) - Single [Provident]
Tomb Slayer The Christmas Lamb (feat. Khristian Dentley & Sarah Whittemore) - Single [Tomb Slayer]
The Undertaking! All Smiles - Single (independent)

VINYL
Clear Convictions Endure [Resuscitation]


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