Jars of Clay
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Jars of Clay is a Christian Rock band from Greenville, Illinois. Their pop rock, alternative sound has given them multiple certifications, awards and chart toppers, including a Triple Platinum Record for their self-titled debut album released in 1995, and a #8 Billboard 200 Chart Position for Much Afraid (1997). The band has released eight albums to date. Good Monsters, their current release, has been doing good in album reviews as well.
Jars of Clay has been active in the music scene since 1993. They're under the labels Provident and Essential Records.
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About
Jars of Clay is Dan Haseltine on vocals and percussion, Charlie Lowell on keyboards, Stephen Mason on guitars and Matthew Odmark on acoustic guitars. The band was formed at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois by Dan, Charlie and Stephen. Matt Bronlewee, their former guitarist, joined the band afterwards. Scott Savage, the band's initial touring drummer, did drums for them when they first started out in 1993.
The band's name came from 2 Corinthians 4:7--But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us (New International Version). Their outright declaration of faith brought them the role-model status to their fans. They earned respect and admiration from their audience--from believers and people outside of Christian circles, because they do not attempt to moralize but articulate redemption in Biblical perspectives.
Jars of Clay's self-titled debut album was released in 1995 under Essential Records. Their single, "Flood" became a monster success, climbing radio station charts and becoming one of the biggest mainstream hits from a Christian band. Their succeeding album, Much Afraid was released in 1997, the same year their Christmas EP, Little Drummer Boy was re-released. Much Afraid gave way for the hit singles "Five Candles" and "Tea & Sympathy." The album also won them a Grammy award, along with their third album If I Left the Zoo (1999) which gave them their second Grammy. If I Left the Zoo likewise became a Certified Platinum with the widely accepted hits "Unforgetful You" and "Famous Last Words." For the third consecutive year, Jars of Clay won another Grammy for their fourth release, The Eleventh Hour. The album again soared in sales, which gave it a Gold Certification by the RIAA. Their follow-up albums, Who We are Instead (2003) and Redemption Songs (2005) likewise became Certified Golds.
On September 5, 2006, Good Monsters, their first rock album according to the band, was released. The album is in the Number One spot at Christian Music Today's Best Albums of 2006. It has released the song "Work" which evidently shows the band's rock progression, even in the song's music video.
Band Members
- Dan Haseltine – vocals, percussion
- Charlie Lowell – piano, organ, accordion, keys, background vocals
- Stephen Mason – guitar, vocals, lap & pedal steel, national, mandolin, background vocals
- Matthew Odmark – acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals
Awards & Certifications
Certifications
| Year | Album | The Billboard 200 Chart Position | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Good Monsters | 58 | TBD |
| 2005 | Redemption Songs | 71 | Gold |
| 2003 | Furthermore, From the Studio, From the Stage | 64 | Gold |
| 2003 | Who We Are Instead | 103 | Gold |
| 2002 | The Eleventh Hour | 28 | Gold |
| 1999 | If I Left the Zoo | 44 | Platinum |
| 1997 | Much Afraid | 8 | 2x Platinum |
| 1995 | Jars of Clay | 46 | 3x Platinum |
| 1995 | Drummer Boy | 101 | Gold |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Modern Rock Tracks | Mainstream Rock Tracks | The Billboard Top 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Crazy Times | 38 | - | - | Much Afraid |
| 1996 | Flood | 12 | 16 | 37 | Jars of Clay |
News
Tours & Concerts
Faith Night
12/15/06 - Memphis, TN
01/12/07 - Holland, MI
Discography
Albums
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 Jars of Clay
Released: 1995 Label: Essential Records |
Compilations & Live Releases
- Jars of Clay Interactive (1995), a CD-ROM release that featured behind the scenes photography, the Flood music video and audio from the independent release "Frail".
- Drummer Boy (1996), a Christmas EP that was re-released with different tracks a year later.
- Seatbelt Tuba (1997), a 3-track bonus disc accompanying early editions of Much Afraid, with live acoustic performances.
- Stringtown (1998), a fan club exclusive live album.
- The White Elephant Sessions (1999), a B-Sides and outtakes disc from the If I Left The Zoo sessions.
- Front Yard Luge (1999), a live EP that accompanied certain online orders of If I Left The Zoo.
- Jar of Gems (2001), a best-of compilation released exclusively in Asia.
- Roots & Wings (2005), digital-only EP preceding the release of Redemption Songs.
- Waiting for the World to Fall (2005), for the soundtrack of the blockbuster The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- Mini Monsters (2006), digital-only EP preceding the release of Good Monsters.
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- The verse where the band's name was derived is the namesake for their song "Four Seven" (a hidden track on the CD release of their first album).
- "Flood" became the theme song to A&E's God or the Girl, a documentary which tracks the lives of four young men deciding whether to become Catholic priests.
- "Unforgetful You" is included in the soundtrack album of the movie Dirve Me Crazy.
- Dan Haseltine first met Steve Mason in Greenville College after noticing his Toad the Wet Sprocket t-shirt.
- Matt Odmark is Charlie Lowell's childhood friend, which replaced Matt Bronlewee after leaving the band to finish school and settle down with his fiancée.
- In 2001, the four members of the band received Honorary Degrees at Greenville College, where Dan, Charlie and Stephen had studied before dropping out in 1994 to move to Nashville.
- Dan Haseltine founded Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization created to raise awareness and money for the poverty and AIDS stricken regions of Africa.
Reviews
Jars of Clay has been one of music fans' favorite acts today and since they started in the early '90s. Their exemplary musical style which does not border on pop rock and alternative alone, has made their versatility a notable characteristic. They've done mellow at some point, newgrass, folksy, and now to a more solid rock.
Besides their musicality, Jars of Clay remains strongly rooted in their beliefs even with their musical success. Their uncompromising faith strikes them unparalleled. Along with, they have maintained their prominent band status throughout the years and yet never belonged to the rock star stereotype. This makes them among the music industry's enduring artists. -jamie
