Way I Am
Jennifer Knapp's third major-label release is filled with moments of agony and wisdom, as Knapp find ways to describe the daily struggles of everyday life with clarity and insight. The music ranges from the guitar-based, folk-rock writing style of her previous work on such tracks as the beautiful "Say Won't You Say" and the confessional "In Two (The Lament)," but she also shakes the walls a bit with the rocking "The Way I Am." As Knapp's muse matures, so does her confidence in trying different sounds, thanks in part to producer Tony McAnany. Several tracks here are heavily orchestrated (by the London Symphony Orchestra, no less), including the poignant closer, "No Regrets." As her many song-stories of faith testify, Knapp knows that the human condition is one of longing for something more. OnThe Way I Am, she shares that desire in the most personal manner yet.--Michael Lyttle