"Jars Of Clay - Redemption Songs"

Jars of Clay is one of the few Christian bands I really care for. The problem with most Christian bands is the music. Sure, the message is the focus, but does that mean we can't be tuneful? Does that mean we can't have decent lyrics? The message is the important factor, but you have to have a decent messenger and format for the message, y'know?

And I think that's part of the reason I like Jars of Clay so much. They get it--they understand that the message is easier to spread if it's done with excellent music. Their stuff works on two levels--the lyrics and the message, and the music. Not only are these guys consumate musicians, but they're steeped in musical tradition and history--they know the old gospel stuff, they know the hymns and everything from years in the church. But they also know their classic rock--the Beatles, Van Morrison, America, Tom Petty, the Byrds, Dylan--they know the musical history of the country, and they've assimilated it into their style. Sonically, they mine a territory similar to secular bands like Counting Crows (former Crows drummer Ben Mize plays on the album with them) and Toad the Wet Sprocket (and, even moreso, former Toad frontman Glen Phillips's solo stuff). They make compelling, thoughtful, rootsy folk-rock, and they never make any apologies for the lyrics and themes they marry to that sound.

And it works, really. Their mellow, joyful songs are not only thoughtful and spiritual, but they're fun. And their newest album, Redemption Songs, showcases their abilities in a familiar yet different light. The album features traditional hymns and church songs set to new music by the band. Jars of Clay has always explored its roots, both spiritually and musically, adding in dashes of modern style and production. Their fascination with rural blues, Nashville pop, classic folk- and roots-rock, and virtually everything in between has always been levelled with electronic florishes, drum loops, and sonic diversions that keep old styles feeling fresh. Redemption Songs is no different in that respect. It's very similar in style and feel to their previous effort, the excellent Who We are Instead, and feels like a backyard sing-along or tent revival with a little added heft from some studio work. It's very comfortable, ebulent music. You can tell by listening that the band enjoyed recording the songs. There's a simplicity to the songs that belies the complexity and layered nature of each arrangement.

Beyond anything else, the music and the message blend well. There's a certain down-home feel to the songs, and it fits the songs here perfectly. One song in particular, "Nothing but the Blood," recorded with the Blind Boys of Alabama (who recently did some work with secular slide guitarist Ben Harper), feels like a bunch of guys sitting around playing, taking turns singing as though this were a tent revival or old Negro slave song. It's joyful and powerful and gets under your skin in the way that only the best songs can. Everything else on the album features that same power and joy, even songs about pain and sorrow are shot through with a sort of ellation that most artists (whether secular or otherwise) have a difficult time managing (it's the sort of joy you hear on a lot of early Beatles albums--for all of their fledgling abilities as writers and musicians, the Beatles were having fun with their music in the early '60s).

And really, that's what makes this such a wonderful album--that overwhelming sense of joy. This is the sort of album that you can't help but smile while you listen to it, and that's a rare and beautiful thing in itself.

~chuck

Song of the Moment: Jars of Clay, "Nothing But the Blood"