Jars of Clay (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Jars of Clay
Type = studio
Artist = Jars of Clay


Released = October 24, 1995
Recorded = Icebox Studio/Brentwood Studio, Adrian Belew's Studio, Greenville College
Genre = Alternative rock, Christian rock
Length = 65:36
Label = Essential/Silvertone Records
Producer = Jars of Clay and Adrian Belew
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:teazqj3uojaa link]
*Cross Rhythms rating-10|10 [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Jars_Of_Clay/Jars_Of_Clay/1171/ link]
*Jesus Freak Hideout Rating|5|5 [http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/JarsofClay.asp link]
*SputnikMusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1057 link]
Last album = "Frail" (1994)
This album = "Jars of Clay" (1995)
Next album = "Drummer Boy" (1995)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternative covers
Type = studio


Lower caption = Commemorative platinum release

"Jars of Clay" is the eponymous first full-length album by Christian folk/alternative rock group Jars of Clay. It was released on October 24, 1995 by Essential Records. The album has been highly acclaimed, being one of few Christian albums of the mid-nineties to achieve platinum status. As the group's debut album, "Jars of Clay" introduced many internationally to the group and established the group due to their distinctive style.

Overview

Jars of Clay's eponymous first full-length album is characterized by a combination of drum loops and acoustic guitar strumming that would become an early trademark of the band. Strings are also used prominently in several songs, most notably "Blind" and the album's secret track "Four Seven".

The album was mostly self-produced, with the exception of "Liquid" and "Flood" which were produced by former King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew.

Several tracks from this album were hits on Christian radio, and as a result they have been staples of the band's live concerts ever since. The song "Flood" became an unexpected hit on mainstream radio as well, resulting in a brief period of mainstream rock popularity for the band during which they toured with artists such as Sting, The Samples and Matchbox Twenty, and were included in several movie soundtracks.

Most of this album consists of reworked versions of songs from the band's demo, "Frail", which was recorded as a class project during their senior year of college. The song "He" appears to be almost identical to the original recording.

The songs "Sinking", "Flood", "Worlds Apart", and "Blind" were all unique to this release, as all other tracks had previously been released on the group's debut demo album "Frail", and two songs from the demo did not make it to this album - "Fade to Grey" and EP's title track "Frail", though these were both later included on the group's follow-up, "Much Afraid", which also introduced lyrics into the previously instrumental piece "Frail".

Notably, "Jars of Clay" is considered to be a landmark album in Christian rock, even though very few electric guitars are used, leading some to categorize Jars of Clay as folk-rock, alternative folk, or even pop instead.

The album was listed at #22 in the 2001 book, "".

Album covers

There were two different versions of this album. While identical in content, one was released under the band's Christian Rock-oriented "Sacred" label and the other under their mainstream "Secular" label. The colour of the CD and insert differ slightly between versions, one having a more blue-grey scheme, the other being somewhat grey-brown. The album cover was also slightly modified for the Japanese release and then completely revamped for the commemorative platinum special edition release.

Track listings

tandard release

# "Liquid" - 3:32
# "Sinking" - 3:47
# "Love Song for a Savior" - 4:46
# "Like a Child" - 4:35
# "Art In Me" - 3:58
# "He" - 5:19
# "Boy on a String" - 3:31
# "Flood" - 3:31
# "Worlds Apart" - 5:18
# "Blind" - 3:59
#*"Four Seven" (hidden track) - 2:38
#*Interlude and Studio Session (hidden track) - 20:38

Japanese release

# "Liquid" - 3:32
# "Sinking" - 3:47
# "Love Song for a Savior" - 4:46
# "Like a Child" - 4:35
# "Art In Me" - 3:58
# "He" - 5:19
# "Boy on a String" - 3:31
# "Flood" - 3:31
# "Worlds Apart" - 5:18
# "Blind" - 5:59
# "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:23 (from "Drummer Boy EP")
# "Flood" (Savage Flavor Remix) - (from "Vibe Central: The Essential Remixes")

Platinum release

"Jars of Clay Platinum" is the title of the special edition album that Jars Of Clay released in 1996 when the self-titled debut attained platinum status. [http://www.jarchives.com/discplat.htm Jarchives.com - Info about Platinum] ] The album has the same track listing as the original. The cover and artwork are different from the original album, designed specifically to commemorate the album being a platinum release. Each of the 20,000 discs are numbered, providing each unit its own degree of uniqueness.
# "Liquid"
# "Sinking"
# "Love Song for a Savior"
# "Like a Child"
# "Art In Me"
# "He"
# "Boy On a String"
# "Flood"
# "Worlds Apart"
# "Blind"
#*"Four Seven" (hidden track)

Personnel

Jars of Clay

*Dan Haseltine - Vocals
*Matt Odmark - Guitar
*Stephen Mason - Bass, Guitar, Background Vocals
*Charlie Lowell - Organ, Piano, Background Vocals

Additional musicians

*Matt Bronleewe - Acoustic Guitar
*Adrian Belew - Bass, Mandolin
*Craig Nelson - Bass
*Tim Smith - Percussion, Drums
*Ronn Huff - Conductor
*John Catchings - Cello
*Carl Gorodetzky - Violin
*Pamela Sixfin - Violin
*Noah Evens - Violin
*Jim Grosjean - Viola
*Sam Levine - Recorder
*Bobby G. Taylor - Oboe
*Jonathan Yudkin - Fiddle, Mandolin

Production

*Jars of Clay - Producer, Art Direction
*Adrian Belew - Producer, String Arrangements
*Ronn Huff - -String Arrangements
*Ken Love - Mastering
*Jon Easterling - Engineer
*Charlie Lowell - Engineer
*Dan Haseltine - Programming
*Matt Odmark - Programming
*Matt Bronleewe - Arranger
*Jeff Borders - Arranger
*Noah Evens - Engineer, String Arrangements
*Robert Beeson - Executive Producer, Art Direction
*Josh Cougle - Inspiration
*Miguel DeJesus - Inspiration

Charts

Album Charts & RIAA Certifications

References