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Multi-platinum and triple Grammy winning band Jars of Clay have long held a reputation for creative excellence. With their latest record Good Monsters, the band continues to create music that stretches the imagination and offers a new perspective on who we are as a church today. Dan Haseltine explains,
“I was not sure how all of the experiences of the last few years would translate into music. There have been so many things to look at and describe. This record is part confessional, part euphoric love poem, part bitter divorce, and part benediction. It was born out of many experiences and conversations between addicts, failures, lovers, loners, believers, and beggars. And so the language of recovery and the honest discourse about our attempts to live apart from God and apart from each other is a theme. Engaging people who are doing the hard work of laying their lives open to others, and avoiding isolation, has allowed me to see that there is both immeasurable evil and unfathomable good mixing under my own skin and it is grace, mercy and freedom that allow me to not simply be a monster, but to be a good monster.”
With eleven original songs, and a remake of the Julie Miller-penned anthem “All My Tears,” Good Monsters even boasts a couple of stirring guest appearances: Nashville-based, Americana singer/songwriter extraordinaire Kate York guests on “Even Angels Cry,” and formerly of Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, sings on “Mirrors and Smoke.”
Good Monsters, completely self-produced by the band, contains the first single, “Work,” which will be serviced to CHR formats on June 23rd, and AC formats on July 7th. Additionally, the band will hit the road this fall headlining a tour with special guests Matt Wertz and Leigh Nash.
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Work
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Dead Man (Carry Me)
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All My Tears
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Even Angels Cry
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There Is a River
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Good Monsters
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Oh My God
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Surprise
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Take Me Higher
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Mirrors & Smoke
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Light Gives Heat
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Water Under the Bridge
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Average Customer Rating: CDRelease Date: 09/05/2006 Label: Essential Records Distributed By: Provident Category: Rock ISBN 10: 5558203110 ISBN-13: 083061082024 Product Code: 169471 Length: 5.14L x 5.62W x 0.38H inches Weight: 0.2 (lbs)
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
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Jars of Clay "Good Monsters" - A Masterpiece
September 7, 2006
Reviewer:
Susan from Humboldt, TN |
CCM Magazine has named “Good Monsters” “2006 Album of the Year“, so does it live up to that distinction? Will it live up to all the hype?
In a word, yes.
Jars of Clay has been contributing their brand of acoustic-folk, jangly-pop, light-rock music to the world since their crossover hit song “Flood” from their self-titled debut in 1995. They’ve released some notable music (Jars of Clay, If I Left the Zoo, The Eleventh Hour) and also some forgettable albums (Much Afraid). With “Good Monsters” they will make a significant and possibly historical impact on modern Christian Music because it raises the bar of creativity, both musically and lyrically and is packaged together neatly as a concept in a well-produced presentation of art and music.
“Good Monsters” is a concept album that beautifully packages together ideas and song. Insightful lyrics picked from deep within a soul longing for justice and mercy are transported through sounds made by voice, stringed instruments, and stretched animal skin. The music on this CD covers the gamut from catchy pop jingles like “Dead Man (Carry Me)”, the quick-tempo, pop-shuffle of “Good Monsters”, the earthy romp duet (with Leigh Nash) of “Mirrors and Smoke”, modern day sing-a-long hymn of “There is a River”, to the signature song on the CD.
“Oh My God” is the “showstopper” of this album. If “Good Monsters” is Album of the Year, “Oh My God” is the Song of the Year, and possibly of the decade. It is a song that one can not listen to, really listen to, and not be shaken by it. It begins with light strumming of acoustic guitar strings as David Haseltine’s voice softly enters with the first verse “Oh My God”. It’s a prayer, a modern-day psalm, a lamentation. The song has a slow, almost laborious pace that crescendos as instruments are added to the texture. It is constructed in three main parts, with no real “chorus” as modern music has made us accustomed to. It is one thought, one verse, piled on top of another thought, piled on top of another, connected only by the commonly used, and sometimes overused (by society) phrase “Oh My God”. There is a slight pause between the main sections of this song that allow a short moment for reflection, maybe even some relief from the heaviness this song provokes.
These lyrics, from the second section of the lamentation:
“Whores and angels, men with problems, leavers always say…”
“Fearful mothers, watchful doubters, Saviors always say…”
illustrate so well the idea that everyone at one point in their life has a moment that they need to decide if God is real or not. “Oh My God” is a phrase that people use to call on God and misuse as part of everyday language. These verses are delivered in a sequential melody that build on each other punctuated by forceful chords on the piano and a steady strum of the guitar that gradually gains in volume.
The last section of the song begins to pulsate with added steady rhythm on the drum. It beats along like a heart, and carries the words Haseltine rhythmically sings as haunting background vocals softly cry over and over the lamentation “Oh My God” . The background voices here are a soft accompaniment that sets a tone, or a mood, and when the listener really focuses on that it is possible to imagine that it may be what God hears when all the many desperate souls cry out to Him. The beating pulse of the lament becomes more and more intense, the volume increases as the song crescendos to the climax where Haseltine cries out “Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God”. Then silence.
It is powerful and impacting and I believe it will become one of those songs that will be a CCM standard.
“Good Monsters” the title track from the album sounds like a happy tune with a pop-shuffle rhythm and an ascending/descending bassline that sets in a groove quickly. Like “Dead Man (Carry Me)” (”I woke up from a dream about an empty funeral, But it’s better than the party full of people I don’t really know.”) and “Work” (”I have no fear of drowning, It’s the breathing. It’s taking all this work”) it has a catchy singable melody, yet, as one really looks deeper into the lyrics, these songs have thought-provoking ideas to convey.
“Not all monsters are bad, but the ones who are good
Never do what they could, never do what they could
All the good monsters rattle their chains,
And dance around the open flames,
And they make a lot of empty noise.”
Jars of Clay contributes a modern day hymn with “There is a River” and another song, the only one on the CD not penned by members of Jars , “All My Tears” written by Julie Miller. This remake captures the old time spiritual feel of the original with a bit more electric sound and drive, but retains the poignancy. The gospel choir sound toward the end of the track really lifts this song to a refreshing new level.
“Mirrors and Smoke” is a duet that features Leigh Nash (formerly of Sixpence None the Richer) and is an uptempo, earthy romp. It’s filled with the heavenly blending of the voices of these two gifted singers. Nice harmonies and lyrics about “true love” written from the heart.
The African Children’s Choir is a subtle and nice touch on “Light Gives Heat”, a commentary of sorts, that I’m sure derived from the experiences of the Jars of Clay men on their visit to Africa.
The softer and slower paced tunes that make up the remainder of this compendium of insightful words and music, “Even Angels Cry”, “Surprise”, and “Water Under the Bridge” complete the diversity, the creativity, and the challenge of this Jars of Clay offering.
“Good Monsters” is a masterpiece.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
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touched by this
January 13, 2007
Reviewer:
Beth Biddison from North Carolina |
This CD is currently one of my favorites. I feel them reaching for hearts that need to be touched and encouraged through the lyrics. I have never purchased a Jars of Clay CD before but something about their description of this CD moved me to buy it. I am now a bonafide fan.
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0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
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CAN
August 29, 2006
Reviewer:
Anonymous from san jose |
Jars of Clay is a great band. I really think this CD is going to be awesome I heard the song "Dead Man(CArry ME)" and it is awesome.
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Best ever
September 23, 2006
Reviewer:
April from Tennessee |
Wow - Jars of Clay has always been lyrically honest, but this is their best yet. What an incredible album. Definitely worth a purchase.
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WONDERFUL
October 4, 2006
Reviewer:
Brooke from Mtn Home, AR |
this is typical Jars of Clay Material! It rocks! i am very happy with my purchase. I was very blessed by listening to this CD and know you will be too!
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Great
October 9, 2006
Reviewer:
Anonymous from PA |
This is a great CD. I like their new song (Dead Man (Carry Me) off of it being played on the radio.
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A Must have!!
October 17, 2006
Reviewer:
Anonymous from |
This is a awesome album! Jars of clay is awesome and this is their best CD yet! It has such great song and lots of cool sounds. Carry me, is a great song that address how we should get a new life and not be "Dead man lying on the carpet, trying to find a heartbeat".
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And yet another great album..
July 6, 2007
Reviewer:
Talia from NY |
Jars Of Clay really did know what they were doing with this album..
Awesome is how I will describe it..
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THIS IS A GREAT ONE
May 28, 2009
Reviewer:
Anonymous from Washington |
I would recommend this CD to anyone it is an awesome one. is has upbeat music and it also has some softer stuff. it is great!!
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excellent
September 8, 2009
Reviewer:
Anonymous from Xela |
While the record may seem to lose a little steam after such a strong opening, the as a whole, it offers a collection of songs that blend the diversity of If I Left The Zoo with the class and artistic integrity of Who We Are Instead to create a truly unique and original project. Another album with the singularity of Jars of Clay.
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