Confession time. While I've sometimes been described as a music snob, even my iPod has a few guilty pleasures. After all, you can't exactly work out to the latest Arcade Fire album as you can Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, and Duran Duran. A catchy soundtrack is great for burning those extra calories, but more importantly, pop music makes you feel good.

And that feel-good sensibility, even when such songs take on serious subject matter, is exactly what makes Say It, the debut from Britt Nicole, such a delight. She's a young artist who seems to be having the time of her life, and it clearly shows on spunky yet sophisticated tracks like "Holiday," the R&B-tinged "Ready," and "Sunshine Girl."

In the recent absence of artists like ZOEgirl, Stacie Orrico, and Jump5, Say It has the substance to go along with Nicole's well-produced style, ultimately making it a valuable (if not necessary) contribution to the Christian music scene. Whether it's the blunt reprimand of an ex-boyfriend ("Good Day") or a timely commentary on teen depression (gorgeous rock ballad "When She Cries"), Nicole delivers the goods with the sassy bravado of Natasha Bedingfield or Gwen Stefani. Yet like so many artists, she does so without borrowing so heavily from them that her performance lacks any distinction.

Thanks to a talented production team of Tedd T (Mute Math) and DoubleDutch (Mat Kearney), as well as Nicole's wide range as a vocalist, Say It has all the ingredients to become a crossover smash—something particularly exciting given the disc's decidedly counterculture message. Until that happens, Christian music fans now have a new artist that really stands out in a crowd. This is coming from someone who often eschews what's popular.

© Christa Banister, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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