Jars Of Clay
Biography
Jars of Clay were the breakout band of the so-called alternative CCM movement of the '90s, scoring an enormous mainstream hit with the debut single "Flood" and enjoying platinum sales. The group's lyrics may have been exclusively Christian, but their acoustic-oriented music fit perfectly into the folky jangle pop wing of alternative rock radio, at the time a rarity on the contemporary Christian music scene. Such success set the stage for breakthroughs by Christian bands like dc Talk and Sixpence None the Richer, and it's difficult to imagine the later popularity of heavier, Christian-themed hard rockers like Creed and P.O.D. without Jars of Clay's fusion of spiritual themes and mainstream alternative rock sounds. As popular tastes shifted, Jars of Clay found it increasingly difficult to maintain a secular audience, but still commanded a sizable Christian following while remaining one of the highest-profile groups in any gospel-music subgenre.
Jars of Clay were formed at Illinois' Greenville College in 1993 by singer/songwriter Dan Haseltine and keyboardist Charlie Lowell; they soon added guitarist Stephen Mason, who shared Haseltine's fondness for Toad the Wet Sprocket (a good secular reference point for the typical Jars of Clay sound).
Selected Discography
The Long Fall Back To Earth
2009
Closer Ep
2008
Live Monsters
2007
Good Monsters
2006
Redemption Songs
2005
Who We Are Instead
2003
Furthermore
2003
The Eleventh Hour
2002
If I Left The Zoo
1999
Much Afraid
1997
Jars Of Clay
1995
Jars of Clay is a great band. One of the shining examples of creativity in the minority of GOOD Christian artists.
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I think what it means it that Jars of Clay had a mainstream single before dcTalk did. dcTalk had been around for a long time, but they didn't get any mainstream play until Jesus Freak and Supernatural .
@Derek: Why do you say they turned it down too much? Jars of Clay were never really a rock band and never did have any hard songs. I have their first album up through Redemption Songs. Their style did change for sure, but they didn't have to turn it down much to get to where they are now. I a |
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AWESOME!! luv dan haseltine's voice. been listening to them for longer than i can remember... :)
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I read it as dc talk came first then jars of clay set things up for p.o.d.
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I am sorry to say I do not like the newer material by Jars of Clay. I loved their first album and their original sound. They have turned it down to much and have lost their appeal. I find myself pressing "Thumbs Down" on many of their songs... makes me sad...
Also adding to so many others. DC Talk was LONG before Jars and paved the way for many others. They also changed their sound, but they did it well. |
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DC Talk was a headliner in Christian music circles well before Jars of Clay.
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Nice. i have their first album, as well as good monsters and redemption songs.
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One huge point... if anything, DC Talk paved the way for JoC, not the other way around as suggested by the Biographer.. I had been a DCT fan for many years before JoC released in '95...
Nitpicky, true... But that's how big of a fan I am ;) |
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they are awesome!!!!
and how are they weird?? I have been able to meet them and I didnt think they were weird. |
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THEY ROCK!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! y a a a a a I love them
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It's possible to simply listen to a melody or a beat combined with a melody and "get something out of it". This kind of satisfaction , however is transitory and very fleeting. To me, the lyrics of JOC became a mantra for me and thousands of others in lifting each soul to higher realms of positive self awarenes and one's capacity for "goodness".
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This group so blesses my heart. Their sound is real. I listen to them daily. brendarll
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JOC is great because they can play a lot of different sounds, they have uniquely intelligent lyrics, great musicianship , good voice, and they aren't afraid to do something that sounds different than anyone else. I remember the first time I listened to "If I left the zoo" and thought how brave these guys are for doing something really original. Accordian? Geeez. A band that stays for over a decade must have something.
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I avoid Christian music like the plague, because let's face it, it's generally pretty bad. Jars of Clay was an exception. Creed just sucks like an Evangelical minister's massage therapist.
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If you haven't heard of them before and this is your first time, then you need to get on their website and find a concert or something. Cuz they ROCK!
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Jars represents the heart of Christian Music. Though provoking, and deep lyrics make a difference in the lives of the people listening. God has touched and directed the band! May His Glory always be the groups primary focus! Pray for them, to make it so!
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the only christian music I'll listen to. I didn't even realize they were christian for awhile.
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when I listen to this kind of gospel it reminds me of things and circumstance that went on in my life .Mainly bad experience and sometime good experiece. I used to get depress listening to it
crystal |
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F kin A we will pray for you. Jesus died and arose from the dead for you and me and every other person past, present and future. Jars of Clay sings of our LORD and OUR GOD who will bring every man to be accountable for the all things done while in the body. JESUS YESHUA MESSIACH COME QUICKLY AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM UPON ALL THE EARTH. MARAN ATHA! Satan is come but to Steal, to kill, and to destroy but Jesus came that we might have true life and have it to fullness only possible through spirit
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Jars Of Clay I believe refers to us as people being molded by our maker in various ways, depending on how stiff our 'clay' is.
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I have followed Jars since 95 and been to sooo many of their shows. If you have not been to see them live you are missing a great experience.. . l i f e changing for someone I know and love. Can't wait too see them again in September at VA Beach!
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