Set Me Free (Jennifer Knapp album)
Set Me Free is a 2014 album by Jennifer Knapp, released on Righteous Babe Records.[4] The folk rock album is the second full length released by Knapp after a public declaration that she is a lesbian and choosing to market her music outside of the Christian music industry.[5] The album has received positive reviews.
| Set Me Free | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 14, 2014 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock,[1][2] pop rock[3] | |||
| Length | 40:39 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Righteous Babe | |||
| Producer | Jacob Lawson | |||
| Jennifer Knapp chronology | ||||
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Production
She initially came out in 2010 and released Letting Go.[6] The album was created at the same time as Knapp's memoir Facing the Music and the creation of the non-profit Inside Out Faith, which seeks to bridge the gap between sexual minorities and religious communities.[4] The album includes semi-autobiographical material about Knapp's coming out[6] as well as her life growing up in Kansas[7] and some of the material written on the record dates back to 2007.[5]
Reception
The editorial staff of AllMusic gave the album a 3.5 out of five stars, with reviewer Timothy Monger calling the album "rustic [and] introspective", praising the diversity of the songwriting as "a mix of dark, introspective ballads awash with country and blues tones as well a couple of flat-out barnburners".[3] Metro Weekly writer Chris Gerard compares the music favorably to Emmylou Harris, Sarah McLachlan, and Lucinda Williams, characterizing it as "an engaging collection of melodic folk-rock".[8]
Track listing
All songs written by Jennifer Knapp, except where noted
- "Remedy" – 3:35
- "Set Me Free" – 3:04
- "Why Wait" – 3:13
- "Neosho" – 3:37
- "What Might Have Been" – 4:50
- "Mercy's Tree" – 2:57
- "The Tale" – 5:30
- "So Happy" – 3:38
- "The End" (Amy Courts and Knapp) – 2:44
- "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker, Gary Anthony Bias, and Louis A. Johnson) – 3:11
- "Come Back" – 4:20
Personnel
Jennifer Knapp – vocals, guitar
- Additional musicians
- Justin Cary – upright bass
- Amy Courts – backing vocals
- Thad DeBrock – guitar
- Jen Gunderman – organ, piano
- Robbie Hecht – backing vocals
- Micah Hulscher – Fender Rhodes, piano
- Lindsay Jamieson – drums, percussion
- Will Kimborough – guitar
- Shannon LaBrie – backing vocals
- Doug Lancio – guitar
- Jacob Lawson – production, string arrangements, violin
- Joe Pisapia – pedal steel guitar
- Lij Shaw – engineering
- Technical personnel
- Amy Brown – mastering assistant
- Joe Costa – mixing
- Yvonne Costa – executive production
- Jim DeMain – mastering
- Betsy Frazer – design
- Fairlight Hubbard – photography
- Michelle Maloof – executive production
- Kara Wettersten – executive production
References
- Martin, Cath (October 14, 2014). "Jennifer Knapp Says Her Girlfriend Has Given Her a 'Greater Understanding of the Gospel' but They Don't Go to Church Together". Christianity Today. Christianity Today International.
- Merritt, Jonathan (October 9, 2014). "Christian Musician Jennifer Knapp on Sexuality and Which Lyric She Wants to Take Back". Religion News Service.
- Monger, Timothy. "Set Me Free – Jennifer Knapp". AllMusic.
- Peeples, Jase (October 20, 2014). "Jennifer Knapp: Christian, Lesbian, and Free". The Advocate. Here Media.
- Bendix, Trish (October 7, 2014). "Jennifer Knapp Is an Open Book". AfterEllen.com.
- Ambrosino, Brandon (October 13, 2014). "Christian Rock Star Jennifer Knapp Came Out 4 Years Ago. Here's What She's Learned Since Then". Vox. Vox Media.
- "Daily Discovery: Jennifer Knapp, 'Neosho'". American Songwriter. ForASong Media, LLC. October 14, 2014.
- Gerard, Chris (October 8, 2014). "Former Christian Music Star Jennifer Knapp Releases New Album and Memoir Detailing Her Coming Out as Gay". Metro Weekly. Jansi LLC.