“We’re all the same,” sings Chris Kauffman as the chorus blossoms in the first track of his debut solo album, Know You. But Kauffman’s music isn’t the same as other indie rock artists’. 

When it comes to rock 'n roll, there are so many different forms and renditions of it that people ignore some of the certain sub-genres that have emerged over the decades. One of the most ignored is Christian/rock music. There are probably several reasons why Christian music can’t even compete with pop/rock music, but it’s certainly something to wonder about when there are many great musicians in this neglected genre.

Slowly emerging from Strasburg, Penn., is solo artist Chris Kauffman, who is definitely growing into one of Christian/rock’s best musicians.

After years of being the lead singer of alternative rock band, Riveredge, Kauffman has written and recorded his own first album, Know You.

Know You is a soulful album full of luscious acoustic guitar melodies that are slightly reminiscent of defunct band, the Oggs. Kauffman’s songs flow with bright, truthful lyrics that elicit both thought and emotion.

Kauffman’s premier track simply sets the stage for a wonderfully introspective album. It introduces us to Kauffman’s rich acoustic guitar melodies and his brilliant, emotional voice.

Kauffman’s lyrics form clear images in your mind, and the music behind the words wrap you in the story he tells in a song. Track 4 is especially vivid as Kauffman sings “I see then end of an age in the crest of a wave in the seven seas,” and “Take your footprints/ Take your shadow/ I’ll wait for you in the meadow.”

The fifth song on this album is about a long and defining trek through the desert, a journey that you can barely survive, “The cacti that you find give you just enough saliva/ Keep you trotting on your own”. The lyrics flow above a simple, but fitting guitar rhythm. Toward the end of the song, a chorus of voices echo behind Kauffman’s as he sings the last verses. This giant harmony is powerful and increasingly meaningful as they sing “You are not afraid of sin”.

Toward the middle of the album, Kauffman seems to infuse his songs with a new energy, much more upbeat. There is a faster pace and a bit more guitar variation, unlike the repetitive previous tracks.

Know You is certainly not the most exciting album in the world, but it is capable of taking you through a range of emotions. The last few songs prove this by descending back into a slow, thoughtful mode, but then he gets things going again in the songs that follow.

Kauffman seems to be exploring a lot of new territory, writing new songs, recording them on his own, and welcoming a son into his family. It is no wonder that so much life and livelihood is present within the 14 short songs of Know You.

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Submitted by byihnywako • 2007-07-06 08:09:31

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