Jars Of Clay Biography
Jars of Clay is a popular Christian alternative rock group formed in 1992 while the band members attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois, United States. Named after the biblical imagery of 2 Corinthians 4:7, the group's music has evolved over the years, incorporating elements of pop, folk, rock, trip-hop, gospel, and hymnsong. Their self-titled debut album featured layered acoustic guitars over programmed trip-hop beats. The song "Flood" became the band's biggest crossover hit, reaching #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the Modern Rock chart.
Subsequent albums showcased significant stylistic shifts. Much Afraid offered a more delicate and timeless sound, while If I Left the Zoo explored a quirkier, musically experimental direction with increased use of keyboards. The Eleventh Hour marked their first full-fledged rock album. Returning to their acoustic roots, the Furthermore project comprised two EPs—a live disc and an acoustic disc. Their fifth album, Who We Are Instead, continued sonic experimentation and introduced gospel, bluegrass, and hymnsong influences. This hymnsong approach was further developed in Redemption Songs, an album of new arrangements of classic hymns.
Released on September 5, 2006, Good Monsters was hailed by CCM Magazine as "Album of the Year," a controversial choice given the August announcement. This rock-driven album showcased the band's diverse style and marked their second foray into a full-fledged rock sound. Featuring electric guitars prominently and incorporating influences such as a choir of African school children, the album delved into darker lyrical themes within their genre.
In 2007, Jars of Clay left Essential Records to establish their own label, Gray Matters. They released Christmas Songs in 2007 and the Closer EP in 2008. On April 21, 2009, The Long Fall Back to Earth was released, including tracks from the Closer EP and twelve new songs. Debuting at No. 29 on the Billboard 200, it marked their highest chart position since The Eleventh Hour in 2002. Singles from the album included "Two Hands" and "Heaven," with "Hero" featured on a trailer for NBC's Kings. The Long Fall Back to Earth was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
Released on October 5, 2010, The Shelter featured eleven tracks. The band streamed the entire album online prior to its release. In early 2011, they toured the United States on the Rock And Worship Roadshow headlined by MercyMe. The band recorded their next album, Inland, at Tucker Martine's Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, Oregon, releasing it on August 27, 2013. The album contained twelve tracks. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.