Jars of Clay - Who We Are Instead (13 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Rewards repeated listening

Jay Gambol | Manila, Philippines | 11/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just when I think I know Jars, they throw me a curve. Loving the rock-heavy Eleventh Hour, I was shocked by Who We Are Instead and its venture into roots music and its offshoots country, bluegrass, gospel, and soul. I stuck with it, though, and the album rewarded me richly.Opener "Sunny Days" with its crisp opening guitar riff and catchy chorus will ring in my head for days, while "Lesser Things" persists in the mind with its images of despair and its plaintive refrain-in two-step. "I'm In The Way", one of several with drums by Wilco's Ken Coomer, deserves airplay as much as the weaker single "Show You Love." Coming right after it, "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" is a wicked contrast, with only two lines repeated over and over. U2 is apparent in the sweeping "Sing", as are shades of David Gray in the fierce and delicate finale "My Heavenly." Weaker but still-appealing tracks include Garth-worthy "Only Alive" and college-smart "Faith Enough." A cover of "Lonely People" is a showcase for good ol' Jars double acoustic guitarwork.The gems find Jars finally going all-out gospel after years of ambivalence with the label "Christian contemporary". "Amazing Grace" with Ashley Cleveland is the album's key anthem, with a star turn by Charlie Lowell's keyboards. "Trouble Is" pulses a groove with awesome guitar and steel work from Matt Odmark and Stephen Mason and call-and-response with a blues/funk vibe. Frontman Dan Haseltine puts to the test any of my lingering doubts as to his passion as a vocalist in my five-star pick, the glorious gospel testimonial "Jealous Kind," also with Cleveland.Ten years into a career they never expected, Jars of Clay remains for me a vanguard of humor, clarity, and empathy in a genre given to generic gods-per-minute. At the very least, the experimentation of Who We Are Instead suggests they're confident, at this place and time, of who they are indeed."

Masterpiece!

Seth Cooper | Seattle, WA | 09/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Jars of Clay's best album, period. More than that, it is a superb album for any band, period. I don't consider myself a fan of "Christian" music. Rather, I consider myself a fan of GOOD music, and "Who We Are Instead" clearly qualifies as such.

Jars have put out some good stuff in the past, but I had all but stopped following their work once I no longer heard them on mainstream radio. Indeed, I only purchased this album after receiving a tip from Mark Joseph's August 2004 article on National Review Online. Joseph's review of the album intrigued me. He wondered: Did I hear that right? Was they really make an album THAT good? Yes they did, he concluded. I totally agree with Joseph, and I strongly recommend this album.

There is no single standout track here, out of the 13. Nonetheless, every track is a gem, and their sound is excellent. The band really seems to be in its element. The vocals are terrific and the blending of acoustic and electric guitars is fantastic. And the songs have real heart and depth to them-songs about love, longing and weakness. Amazing Grace, Lonely People, Lesser Things, Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Jealous Kind, Sing...all are exceptional tunes. Furthermore, while Christian themes are touched upon in some of the songs, one need not be a Christian to enjoy the music-a true sign of the music's quality.

Get this album! You will thank me for it."

The best Jars Of Clay cd yet

shad warrell | sunny california | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"with the release of who we are instead, jars of clay has finally made the record i'd always hoped they would. this is jars at their best, by far. the majority of the songs are acoustic guitar driven which is not uncommon for jars, but, on who we are instead, the band takes a radical departure from the previous eleventh hour sound and moves tword a folky, americana sound. acoustic guitars, mandolin, pedal and lap steel, banjo, piano, accordion and dobro find their place in the airy gaps of these wonderfully flowing, uncluttered arrangements. dan hasseltine's voice floates over the tracks with fragile honesty and sincerity, his lyrics poetic and thought provoking as always. from the upbeat bounce of sunny days and christian radio hit, show you love, to the mellow swagger of amazing grace, each track is worthy of a listen. my favorite track, lesser things, has a driving minor key americana feel that might be just as at home on a vigilantes of love, son volt, wilco, whiskeytown, ect. cd. again, this release is a departure from the past offerings from jars of clay, but if this is to be a new direction, the future looks great. jars of clay does a perfect job of sending a clear message of the love of Jesus, while still appealing to a secular audience with well arranged and written music, and honest lyrics with depth and intellegence. a truely "must own" cd."

Who They Are Instead, Again

Aaron Didlake | 11/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the early clips I heard from this CD and songs they played live, I knew they were onto something special. Their 5th full-length album should not disappoint fans and should appeal to more discerning listeners.Because each Jars album completely brings a new sound, it is difficult to determine their best work. However, while each previous album had a specific concept (perhaps with the exception of their self-titled debut), this CD manages to sucessfully develop a theme for the entire album. If you were lucky enough to get the limited edition 2-disc version, you'll find two b-sides which are decent and have their qualities but clearly do not fit into the style of Who We Are Instead (but eager fans can never get enough bonus tracks).Who We Are Instead is the most mature Jars album lyrically, musically, and thematically. Pulling influences from blues, country-rock, classic rock, gospel, and bluegrass, this album manages to have a strong tone that doesn't quit until the last track ends. While it may not have a "Collide" or "Revolution" it is still edgy enough to hold the interest because many of the songs, even the slow ones, shift into different musical styles.Who We Are Insead has echos from all of Jars' previous works and even bits taken from their live performace style. To me, it feels like the Jars have finally gotten to that point that most musicians reach where they have completely found their nitch--they finally did what they were trying to do before. There are several songs on this album reminiscent of past songs but any song from previous albums would not fit on this record. This does not mean that what they did before was wrong or not as good, but it's as if their sound is finally complete. However, I'm sure they're still not satisfied and will develop even more.I don't want to get into describing each song, but "Trouble Is" is the standout track from the album which has an almost hip-hop beat, a bluesy sound, and great a keyboard melody. And do not worry if you feel this album is too religious compared to their past efforts. It's more honest, not preachy, and is oustanding stylistically.If you're new to the Jars, preview each of their previous CD's and see what they were doing earlier before you dive into this new sound. But I think this is their most complete album yet and they have reached a new point in their music. I really hope they get some attention from this album because they deserve it."

Again and again and again

Aaron Didlake | Texas | 11/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jars of Clay. Everytime I even hear the name mentioned, quoted, or passed in an ongoing sentence, it always throws me into a loophole of the past 5+ years that I have been listening to the band. Ever since the original self-titled debut album, I have been following Jars of Clay and their music has just gotten better and better. Before November 4, my all-time favorite Jars album was The Eleventh Hour. How does every album they release always live up to the previous album and surpass it time after time? Surely, the Eleventh Hour, with awesome songs like Disappear, Something Beautiful, Fly, I Need You, and the Edge of Water get any better? Well, with the amazing album of Who We Are Instead, I am again quickly reminded that Jars of Clay has held the standard of Christian music and there has never yet been a band to match them as soon as they entered the scene. Whether or not you are a Jars of Clay fan, buy this album, because you will be most pleased with it, I am sure. Get the deluxe edition too, because it has the most amazing song of Tonight on there and it is awesome! It has a "Rose colored stained glass windows" sound to it. Jars of Clay is the best, I hope and pray they continue making albums!"

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	Jars of Clay Who We Are Instead Genres: Blues, Pop, Rock, Christian & Gospel Track Listings (13) - Disc #1 Sunny Days Amazing Grace Lonely People Only Alive Trouble Is Faith Enough Show You Love Lesser Things I'm in the Way Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet Jealous Kind Sing My Heavenly
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