Jars of Clay---New Release!!!!!!!

After 13 years of astounding success, Jars of Clay’s new release Good Monsters quite possibly surpasses all of their previous projects. The album offers a rock ‘n roll based sound, somewhat deviating from the Jars’ typically folk-rock styling. Jars also tried something new by utilizing preproduction time and then embracing the throwback style and unique experience of recording song by song with a full band.

Opening with radio-released track “Work,” the album launches into an energetic yet deeply articulate journey. The listener is taken from foot-tapping tunes like “Dead Man” and title cut “Good Monsters” to pensive ballads like “All My Tears” and “Even Angels Cry.”

Half way through the 12-track project is the haunting “Oh My God,” consisting of three parts that build into each other. Through paradox and harsh portrayal of reality, the song captures the human condition. The ending is entirely anti-climactic, which adds forcefully to the effect of this hard-hitting piece. Haseltine’s always-artful way of presenting words once again shines in this song.

Guest vocalists were also woven into the project. Leigh Nash sings a duet with Haseltine in “Mirrors and Smoke.” The effect is that of a conversation between two lovers, frustrated with the life and love. In one of the verses, the duo sings, Love’s a strange condition / With all the doubts it can invoke / Your love keeps me wishing / My heart keeps me broke.

The track “Light Gives Heat” features the voice of a young girl from the African Children’s Choir who had originally sung out on accident ahead of cue. The decision was quickly made that the young girl should purposefully sing solo to begin the track, setting the stage for the rest of the choir to join later in the song.

This song was born from the Jars’ experiences in Africa with Blood:Water Mission, an organization they founded to dig wells and reach out to African communities. Jars used this song as a platform to address the sometimes-skewed mentality of Western culture toward Africa. For example, Haseltine sings these words in the first verse: Catch the rain, empty hands / Save the children from their lands / Wash the darkness from their skin / We don’t know you, but we know best.

The overarching theme of the album is the capability of humanity to create incredible evil and incredible good, playing into the concept of humans being good monsters. This theme is woven into each track beautifully, producing a project that will surely bring Jars of Clay continued success.

-Rachel Wegner (Relevant Magazine)