What Kind Of Music Is Jars Of Clay?

Jars of Clay is an American Christian rock band that formed in 1993 at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. The founding members were Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and organ, Stephen Mason on lead guitars, and Matt Bronleewe on drums. Their name is inspired by a verse from the New Testament: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV).

Jars of Clay gained recognition with their 1995 debut album, which went on to win a Grammy Award. Since then, they have released 11 studio albums and sold over 8 million records worldwide while garnering 17 Grammy nominations. Their music combines elements of rock, folk, and gospel, and their lyrics explore themes of love, grace, and faith in God.

Musical Style

Jars of Clay’s music combines elements of several genres like alternative rock, folk rock, R&B and acoustic music. According to Wikipedia, their style is described as a blend of “alternative rock, folk, acoustic, and R&B.” The band was considered one of the forerunners of the alternative CCM movement in the mid-1990s. Their sound featured guitar-driven melodies along with the creative use of strings, piano and other instruments to create lush sonic textures.

The band drew comparisons to 1990s alternative rock bands like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Live, while also incorporating folk and gospel influences. Over the years they have experimented across different styles like synthpop, electronic music and more grandiose pop-oriented sounds, while staying rooted in their alternative folk/rock origins.

Major Album Releases

Jars of Clay’s self-titled debut album was released on October 24, 1995 by Essential Records. The album was critically acclaimed and quickly propelled the band into mainstream success. It featured the breakout singles “Flood” and “Love Song for a Savior”, with “Flood” becoming one of the most played songs in Christian radio history. The album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

The band’s sophomore album Much Afraid was released in 1997. It expanded on the sound of their debut with more layered production. The album featured the singles “Crazy Times” and “Five Candles (You Were There)”. Much Afraid earned the band two Grammy awards and has also gone Platinum.

Jars of Clay released their third album If I Left the Zoo in 1999, marking a transition to a more mainstream alternative rock sound. The album featured the minor hits “No One Loves Me Like You” and “Unforgetful You”. While not as commercially successful as their first two albums, If I Left the Zoo showed the band’s continued growth and evolution.

The band’s fourth studio album The Eleventh Hour arrived in 2002. It was inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks and featured themes of lament and longing. The track “I Need You” earned the band another Grammy award, while the somber lead single “Worlds Apart” was also a hit on Christian radio.

Christian Themes

Jars of Clay became known for the use of biblical imagery and faith-based lyrics in their songs. Their self-titled debut album contains multiple references to Bible stories and Christian themes. For example, the song “Flood” uses the story of Noah’s Ark as a metaphor for God’s unconditional love, with lyrics like “Rain, rain on my face/Hasn’t stopped raining for days/My world is a flood…But You have not left me here all alone/Your love is an ark for my heart.” https://www.thebereantest.com/jars-of-clay-flood The song “Love Song for a Savior” is a worship-style track directed at Jesus. Other songs touch on prayer, salvation, and relying on God in difficult times.

Biblical references can also be found throughout later Jars of Clay albums. For example, the song “Two Hands” from The Inland features allusions to verses in Isaiah and Revelation, with cryptic lyrics about the apocalypse and salvation. According to one reviewer, Jars of Clay’s lyrics often “challenge believers in their Christian walk while offering grace and salvation for non-believers.” https://iambwf.com/2013/09/02/jars-of-clay-the-inland-review/ Though the band explores new musical directions over their career, their faith remains an integral part of their identity and songwriting.

Chart Success

Jars of Clay found great success on the charts with their debut album and subsequent releases. Their self-titled debut album Jars of Clay was released in 1995 and peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 while topping the Christian Albums chart for weeks (1). The debut single “Flood” became one of their biggest hits, topping multiple Christian radio charts including the CHR chart for 12 consecutive weeks in 1995-1996 (1).

Jars of Clay went on to release several more albums that found success on the Christian charts, including their 1999 album If I Left the Zoo which hit #1 on the Top Christian Albums chart (1). Throughout their career, the band has placed over a dozen singles at #1 on the Christian Songs chart (1). Their ability to crossover to mainstream charts while still topping Christian rankings solidified their widespread appeal.

Awards and Recognition

Jars of Clay has won numerous awards for their music, especially in the Christian and gospel genres. Their most notable wins are from the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards and the Grammy Awards.

They have won 4 GMA Dove Awards to date, including New Artist of the Year in 1996 and two awards for their song “Flood” – Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year in 1997 (Source). The GMA Dove Awards recognize outstanding achievements in Christian and gospel music.

In the mainstream music industry, Jars of Clay has won 3 Grammy Awards. They won Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 1996 for their self-titled debut album and again in 1998 for the album “Much Afraid” (Source). Their song “Flood” also won them the Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Performance in 1997.

Band Members

Jars of Clay was founded in 1993 at Greenville College by Dan Haseltine (lead vocals), Steve Mason (guitar, backing vocals), Matt Odmark (guitar, backing vocals), and Charlie Lowell (keyboards, piano, backing vocals). The initial lineup recorded the band’s first two studio albums Jars of Clay (1995) and Much Afraid (1997).

In 2003, Mason left the band to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by guitarist Matthew Slater for the band’s 2003 album Who We Are Instead. Stephen Mason rejoined the band in 2005 and contributed to their 2005 album Good Monsters.

In 2013, Matt Odmark left the band to focus on his family and a new career. He was replaced by Zach Hunter (guitar, backing vocals). This lineup of Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Lowell, and Hunter recorded the band’s 2013 self-titled album Jars of Clay.

Touring and Live Performances

Jars of Clay toured extensively in support of their studio albums. After releasing their self-titled debut in 1995, the band spent 18 months on the road touring the United States. They played notable Christian music festivals like Cornerstone Festival and Creation Festival, while also opening for secular artists like Matchbox Twenty and Sting.

For their second album Much Afraid in 1997, Jars of Clay embarked on an international tour visiting the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and more. They continued heavy touring schedules for If I Left the Zoo (1999), The Eleventh Hour (2002), and Good Monsters (2006). According to their Songkick page, Jars of Clay played over 1000 shows from 1995 to 2010.

Some of their biggest concerts include headlining the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 2003 alongside acts like The Beastie Boys, Bjork, and Radiohead. Jars also played the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado multiple times over their career. More recently in 2019, they performed at prominent Christian festivals like the Spirit West Coast festival in California.

Legacy and Influence

Jars of Clay’s debut album in 1995 paved the way for other Christian rock bands to find mainstream success. Their unique blend of folk, rock, and spiritual lyrics showed that faith-based music could resonate with a wide audience. According to the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, “Jars of Clay has inspired the increasing openness of Christian music to new sounds and lyrical perspectives.”

The band served as a model for mixing faith and artistry that influenced many artists that followed. As stated in an article in Medium, “Jars of Clay opened a door of possibility that a generation walked through. They paved the way for the acceptance of bands like Switchfoot, Lifehouse, Payable on Death, and thousands more.” Their success showed that bands could sing about Christian themes while appealing to those outside the church.

Specifically, Jars of Clay demonstrated that spiritual lyrics did not have to be restricted to worship music or gospel genres. Their songs addressed faith and doubt in poetic and nuanced ways, proving that this subject matter could work in mainstream rock. Their influence was immense, as they inspired the growth of modern Christian rock and the integration of faith in creative musical works.

Conclusion

In summary, over a 25+ year career, Jars of Clay emerged in the 1990s as one of the most notable and successful Christian rock bands, pioneering the genre of Contemporary Christian Music and ushering in a new wave of faith-based artists. Though they have gone through periods of hiatus and lineup changes, their discography featuring 12 studio albums has consistently incorporated themes of God’s grace, redemption, and purpose. They have achieved notable chart success with several hit singles and millions of albums sold, while earning prestigious awards for their songcraft. Jars of Clay left an indelible mark on CCM, demonstrating that faith-based music could cross over into mainstream success. Their heartfelt lyrics and nuanced sound made them one of the most compelling and thought-provoking Christian acts of their era. Though they have been less prolific recently, Jars of Clay’s music and ministry continue to profoundly impact listeners around the world.