Say It

Christian artists aiming for the teen/young adult market often succumb to overly-sweet attitudes and simplistic theology, but Britt Nicole, a North Carolina-born singer/songwriter, largely avoids these pitfalls on her 2007 debut Say It. There’s a sense of true-to-life experience in these tracks, driven by Nicole’s boisterousness and precocious grasp of pop and hip-hop idioms. She’s helped by the production work of Tedd T., who performed similar duties on Rebecca St. James’ excellent early albums. Nicole’s take on modern love veers from romantic anthems (“Sunshine Girl”) to sassy dismissals (“Good Day”). She’s also willing to face up to difficult issues like divorce in “Don’t Worry Now,” one of the album’s best tracks. Her ability to deal credibly with such topics makes her testimonies of faith — especially the fervent “Set The World On Fire” and “World That Breaks” — all the more convincing. Say It is clearly the work of a young artist and shows a few rough edges. But with that in mind, Britt Nicole’s first release deserves attention for its energy, integrity and spiritual passion.