Jars of Clay - "Scenic Route" (2009)

Jars of Clay have consistently put out excellent music ever since their self titled debut came out nearly 15 years ago. “Flood” was of course their big hit and one of the first times a “contemporary Christian” band crossed over to the pop charts. Many casual fans may have written them off as a one hit wonder after that, but they’ve continued to release quality albums again and again. One thing that I’ve always loved about this band is their ability to change their sound completely from album to album and yet still sound like themselves. On 2002’s The Eleventh Hour, they delved into a more straightforward rock sound than they had before and then turned the tables one year later, releasing the heavily acoustic Who We Are Instead. Each was great in its own right, marked by front man Dan Haseltine’s unique voice and lyrical deftness. The band made a huge stride forward in 2006 with Good Monsters, an album that found them more guitar heavy than ever with songs like “Work” and “Dead Man (Carry Me).” That album was excellent and when looked at in retrospect, one can see that it laid the groundwork for what would be The Long Fall Back To Earth, the latest album from Jars of Clay. The band are at the top of their game here on their poppiest record to date. There is a thread of 80s influence that runs throughout The Long Fall, from Charlie Lowell’s keyboards to the chorus and delay effects on the guitars from Steve Mason and Matt Odmark. Lyrically, the songs deal more with relationships than on previous Jars efforts where the focus is usually in relation to God. That’s not to say that Jars are heading away from their Christian roots. After all, God did create human relationships too and they are worthy subject matter. “Closer” is a great love song that really wouldn’t be out of place on pop radio right now. Other highlights include “Boys (Lesson One)”, a song from a father to a son and “There Might Be a Light,” a plea to an unrequited love interest. Today’s song is a standout for me because of its great lyrics and catchy melodies. It’s a little slow to start, but the payoff is worth the wait. The beauty of The Long Fall Back To Earth is that long time Jars of Clay fans will not be disappointed, but even if you haven’t liked them much in the past, there is enough difference in the sound of this record to make it worth a shot. Check it out and see for yourself.


Jars of Clay - "Scenic Route"