The songs on Steve Kropp’s new “Peaks & Valleys” album are pencil etchings filled in with the vibrant paints of an artist.
The artist with the color paints is producer Matt Montoro from Third Stream Music in Fredericksburg.
The benefits of Kropp’s symbiotic relationship with his new producer ooze from every track of Peaks & Valleys.
“I wanted the lyrics to be the focus,” said Kropp. “And he just colors it.”
Kropp’s acoustic tribute to Christ strays from syrupy contemporary Christian rock prototypes and finds solid ground with organic strumming reminiscent of other singer-songwriters like Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson. Montoro musicially pushes Kropp to his limits, surpassing “Magnify”, his debut album of praise and worship songs.
Kropp also manages to tie a few stringed surprises into the album, like the banjo and mandolin flavorings of “I Surrender”, the Springsteen-esque harmonica styling of “Even Still”, and the light ukulele fun of “Calvary Road”, while still delivering lyrics applicable to everyday life like the heartfelt questions in “the Power of Prayer”:
How can I cope with the loss of a soldier friend gone way too young?
What can I do to serve You best, yet still have enough to pay the bills?
Who will keep our children safe when the bus pulls up on that first day?
“That little girl that was hit by the bus…these are things that really happen”, Kropp said referring to Emily Nicole Woodward, the Culpeper sixth grader who was killed when she was hit by a school bus in August 2005. “These are things that people worry about”.
“Peaks & Valleys” gains wider market appeal with raw acoustics, and with Montoro harvesting Kropp’s musical talent, the team can only roll with the snowball synergy created with this album. Expect Kropp’s album to be an accurate portrait of his inspiration: Christ.
