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Who We are Instead
a review by joneslm
What greater insult could you throw at a band than accusing them of making an album that's essentially the same as a previous album? Well, I have a confession to make. I've been secretly wishing with each Jars album that's been released, that they'd simply go back to where they started and give us some more of that fantastic accoustic guitar and drum machine combo they whipped up in 1995. With the release of "Who We Are Instead," it may be time for me to come to grips with the fact that we'll probably never hear another "Love Song for a Savior" from them. But with such a fantastic album, that won't be hard to do.
Jars of Clay has to be one of the most unpredictable bands on the Christian music scene. Neither "The Eleventh Hour" nor "Furthermore" gave any sort of hint at what dirrection the band would head next. And who could have guessed that their next album would be equal parts country, high-energy pop-rock, and equisitely wrestless balladry? Okay, maybe the last two are quite as much of a stretch, but I, for one, didn't see the steel guitars coming.
Here's my take on the songs, most of which are phenominal, and all of hich toghether form a cohesive and satisfying whole:
"Sunny Days" is a peppy pop offering in the vein of Jason Mraz. The tune is somewhat similar to "Fly" from "The Eleventh Hour," but the upbeat lyrics sit much more comfortably beside the catchy melody. It works nicely as an opening track.
"Amazing Grace" is a fantastic reworking of the classic hymn, including fresh lyrics that give it a more contemporary feel. The new lyrics are every bit as brutally honest as the original. Ashley Cleveland's soulfull back-up vocals add to the confessional tone of the song.
"Lonely People" is a great song as well. I've not heard the original (yes, I live under a rock), so I don't know how it compares.
"Only Alive" is flat-out Nashville and a tad sappier than I care for. This song would be great fit on country radio, but it doesn't do much for me personally.
"Trouble Is" could easily have come from the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou." I'm sure that soundtrack must served as some sort of impetus for writing this one. I believe this is the best track on the album, as well as the most un-orthodox (for Jars anyway). Like "Crazy Times", "Trouble is" is built around a short but killer guitar solo that hooks you back into a the song as a whole.
"Faith Enough" continues the country theme. Lyrically, it centers around a series of paradoxes inspired by a quote from Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." The music may be quaint and personal, but lyrics certainly challenge.
"Show You Love", the first radio single from the disk, is ironically my least favorite song. But this seems to be a trend since "Fly" was my least favorite song on the last disk. It sounds like something Michael W. Smith would do, and perhaps was designed to apeal to the CCM croud.
"Lesser Things" follows the trail blazed by the singer-songerwriters of the '70s. It has poetic, slightly confusing lyrics with a chorus that consists of a simple question. This song draws you in a little deeper with each listen.
"I'm in the Way" places Jars squarely in John Mayer territory, but Jars never stoops to Mayer's level of silly rambling. Probably for the first time ever in a Jars song, the drums' pulsing rythms steal the spotlight.
I'm not going to try and explain "Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet" except to say that it almost moved me to tears the third or fourth time I heard it and that the message grows increasingly powerful with each listen.
"Jealous Kind" is a phenomenal ballad that alludes to the story of Hosea and Gomar. The lyrics, like those in "Amazing Grace" are a gripping confessional, and once again Ashley Cleveland contributes torchy background vocals.
"Sing" is a pleasant if forgettable tune. The lyrics encapsulate the theme of the album but manage to sound slightly generic. Even so, not a horribly bad song.
"My Heavenly" is the sort of song that Sister Hazel or Blues Traveler like to close their albums with. It's a breezy, half-spoken tune that bobs around wherever Dan wants to take it. It's an okay closer, but not very substantial.
On the whole, "Who We Are Instead" is surprizingly good, even if it is Jars of Clay we're talking about. So what if they never return to their alternative/quasi-folk roots?
What greater insult could you throw at a band than accusing them of making an album that's essentially the same as a previous album? Well, I have a confession to make. I've been secretly wishing with each Jars album that's been released, that they'd simply go back to where they started and give us some more of that fantastic accoustic guitar and drum machine combo they whipped up in 1995. With the release of "Who We Are Instead," it may be time for me to come to grips with the fact that we'll probably never hear another "Love Song for a Savior" from them. But with such a fantastic album, that won't be hard to do.
Jars of Clay has to be one of the most unpredictable bands on the Christian music scene. Neither "The Eleventh Hour" nor "Furthermore" gave any sort of hint at what dirrection the band would head next. And who could have guessed that their next album would be equal parts country, high-energy pop-rock, and equisitely wrestless balladry? Okay, maybe the last two are quite as much of a stretch, but I, for one, didn't see the steel guitars coming.
Here's my take on the songs, most of which are phenominal, and all of hich toghether form a cohesive and satisfying whole:
"Sunny Days" is a peppy pop offering in the vein of Jason Mraz. The tune is somewhat similar to "Fly" from "The Eleventh Hour," but the upbeat lyrics sit much more comfortably beside the catchy melody. It works nicely as an opening track.
"Amazing Grace" is a fantastic reworking of the classic hymn, including fresh lyrics that give it a more contemporary feel. The new lyrics are every bit as brutally honest as the original. Ashley Cleveland's soulfull back-up vocals add to the confessional tone of the song.
"Lonely People" is a great song as well. I've not heard the original (yes, I live under a rock), so I don't know how it compares.
"Only Alive" is flat-out Nashville and a tad sappier than I care for. This song would be great fit on country radio, but it doesn't do much for me personally.
"Trouble Is" could easily have come from the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou." I'm sure that soundtrack must served as some sort of impetus for writing this one. I believe this is the best track on the album, as well as the most un-orthodox (for Jars anyway). Like "Crazy Times", "Trouble is" is built around a short but killer guitar solo that hooks you back into a the song as a whole.
"Faith Enough" continues the country theme. Lyrically, it centers around a series of paradoxes inspired by a quote from Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." The music may be quaint and personal, but lyrics certainly challenge.
"Show You Love", the first radio single from the disk, is ironically my least favorite song. But this seems to be a trend since "Fly" was my least favorite song on the last disk. It sounds like something Michael W. Smith would do, and perhaps was designed to apeal to the CCM croud.
"Lesser Things" follows the trail blazed by the singer-songerwriters of the '70s. It has poetic, slightly confusing lyrics with a chorus that consists of a simple question. This song draws you in a little deeper with each listen.
"I'm in the Way" places Jars squarely in John Mayer territory, but Jars never stoops to Mayer's level of silly rambling. Probably for the first time ever in a Jars song, the drums' pulsing rythms steal the spotlight.
I'm not going to try and explain "Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet" except to say that it almost moved me to tears the third or fourth time I heard it and that the message grows increasingly powerful with each listen.
"Jealous Kind" is a phenomenal ballad that alludes to the story of Hosea and Gomar. The lyrics, like those in "Amazing Grace" are a gripping confessional, and once again Ashley Cleveland contributes torchy background vocals.
"Sing" is a pleasant if forgettable tune. The lyrics encapsulate the theme of the album but manage to sound slightly generic. Even so, not a horribly bad song.
"My Heavenly" is the sort of song that Sister Hazel or Blues Traveler like to close their albums with. It's a breezy, half-spoken tune that bobs around wherever Dan wants to take it. It's an okay closer, but not very substantial.
On the whole, "Who We Are Instead" is surprizingly good, even if it is Jars of Clay we're talking about. So what if they never return to their alternative/quasi-folk roots?
