vandalz's Full Review: Jars of Clay by Jars of Clay
Have you ever felt like you were not in complete control of life, much less yourself? So have others, including the group Jars of Clay. They express their feeling of this greatly during the singing of the song 'Boy on a String'. If you've ever felt as though you were being led around, and it wasn't of your own consent, then listen to their words. The words they express are heart-felt and very true.
Background:
Jars of Clay first started out as a small band at Greenville College. The band was comprised of Charlie Lowell (Keyboard Player) , Dan Haseltine (Vocalist) , Steve Mason (Guitarist) , Matt Bronleewe (Guitarist) , and Scott Savage (Drummer for live shows only).
The group submitted a demo tape to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) in which they were invited to the Spotlight 94' talent competition. After placing first in the competition their band shot into the spotlight. During the time of the band's success, they had to take a small pause, while they replaced the departed Bronleewe with Matt Odmark.
The group later signed with Brentwood Music subsidary Essential and released a self-titled album. The album bloomed with success after being put with the Silvertone Label.
Jars of Clay has definitely made an impression upon many people through the usage of lyrics as well as their musical talent. I will attempt to explain as to why this is.
Liquid
I am going to be honest, I have no idea as to why they titled this song liquid. The only feeble reference to liquid is the line 'Flesh and blood, is it so elemental?'
The music seems to follow a more classical sound, almost as if they were in a large cathedral. The voices that you hear in the background seem to have an echo, which can be produced using mixers and synthesizers, but this creates the illusion of being in a large cathedral, as stated before.
The music is up-beat with a more pop/funk approach. It really catches your attention. The main instruments are of course the keyboard, drums, and guitars. The others I believe could be sounds that were generated off of a beat machine. The most defined sound throughout the whole song is the controlled plucking of the acoustic guitar. To hear an acoustic guitar in most music is unheard of, but Jars of Clay put that theory to shame with the production of this song, and also of the cd itself.
* Lyrics
The lyrics seem to be focused mainly upon the crucifying of Christ. The 'blood stained brow', the 'arms nailed down', the 'eyes turned out', 'he didn't die for nothing'. If you listen to the words, this truly describes the nature in which Christ was crucified. His eyes were plucked from his face, thus the lyrics 'eyes turned out'. His brow was blood stained from the crown of thorns placed on his skull. His arms were nailed to a cross, but that wasn't what held him to the cross. He stayed on the cross, therefore, 'he didn't die for nothing'.
Do you notice the correlation? I would sure hope so. Even though the whole song is composed of 18 lines, it describes the crucifying so beautifully. You can visualize Christ on the cross, and that should make anyone happy, happy only because he died for our sins, so that we could be saved as well.
Sinking
How many times have you felt lost and alone, and rather than being helped you would rather just deny any type of help? This song portray an individual who maybe is very independent, and very capable of handling themselves, but their spirit just seems to be going in a downward spiral.
The music again is composed mainly of the keyboard, the drums, and guitar, but now they seem to be joined with the sounds of crickets in the background. Maybe that is what they were desiring the sound to be like, possibly making you believe they were outside in the woods at night, to give a peaceful mood. I'm not sure, but it sounds like crickets in the background.
* Lyrics
The lyrics in this song show a soul that has become confused, and seems to be giving up. The soul has become disheartened to life, and would rather give up eternity with God, and also turn away any progression that God has made with him. But throughout the whole song, the individual seems to still wonder whether of not he actually needs God helping him.
It's not my problem anymore
You see it never really was
So you can stop 'caring' as you call it
and I'll be fine right here
You see that I can play a pretty convincing role
So I don't need you, I don't think I need you
But you see through my forever lies
And you are not believing
And I see in your forever eyes
That you are forever healing
As you can see, he has given up, and he is telling God to quit worrying about him as well. He is just going to stay right where he is. Now, do you think that it is good to tell God to quit helping? Neither do I!
He acts as if he can fool everyone, including God, and well, you can't fool God. He even states this in the last four line that are quoted above. As you can see, the title 'Sinking' holds it own. This is true because the individual seems to be in a definitely "sinking" of spirit in his soul.
Love Song for a Savior
A good love song is almost always slow and mellow, and peaceful to the ears. So, naturally this song is very relaxed and easy on the ears.
The drums seem to be very controlled and rhythmically smooth, along with the stringing of the guitars, there also seems to be a flute in the background. A great blend of melodic sounds that just fills the soul with peace and tranquility.
* Lyrics
Throughout the whole the lyrics follow the basic theme of love towards Jesus. The group repeats the words "I want to fall in love with you" many times, thus the title, 'Love Song for a Savior".
The group obviously shows a strong sense of love and devotion to God, and want to find a true way to express this. They obviously do, but they do end up saying that they don't believe they could ever find all the words to express their total love toward their 'SAVIOR'.
Like a Child
How often do you hear a group that truly depends on their voices, rather than music to express a feeling? Well, if you never have, with group you will. This song starts off with almost nothing but voices, and the strumming of what else, an acoustical guitar. They will definitely make the acoustic popular, especially in the Contemporary Christian industry.
The music doesn't really change any from the above songs, just as mellow, just as relaxed, and again, they let their voices say what they want, rather than the music.
* Lyrics
The lyrics focus on how we act more like the children that we teach, then we do adults. And it also focuses on the faith of a child, how we could do so much if we only had the faith of a child.
We could move mountains, and walk on water, if only we had faith of a child. This is so true. This is constantly brought back to our attention each line of each verse. If only we would listen. God told us himself, we can do all things through him which strengthens us. Well, all we have to do is believe, which is faith, but he said, even the faith as of a grain of mustard seed could move a mountain. So if you look at it like that, the faith of a child is much more great, and what do you believe we could do if we only had the faith of a child.
The lyrics focus on going back to being a child again and not being so afraid to believe in things. Even when this world seems so dark and void, and not willing to be faithful to anyone, much less you or myself. Trust in God, and faith will follow you.
Art in Me
The music is almost completely lost in this piece. The instruments are left completely out, but this doesn't detract at all from the message, as a matter of fact it helps. It helps us to see the 'art in the group'. This is good because the group has a lot of messages that have very deep messages that we need to hear. Sometimes the music makes us forget to really listen to what we need to listen to.
* Lyrics
The lyrics really hit home with this one. How many times do we pass up a masterpiece that God has made. Almost every day we look at someone and say, "they will never amount to anything". Well, what we don't realize is that they could if we would only open our eyes.
In todays society, we have become used to being confined to our circle of friends, and instead of being friendly to others, we tend to be quiet towards to others outside our circle. Do you actually think that we are being fair to others. Of course not! That is not the way good intended for life to be.
The message being conveyed is what I just stated. Instead of looking at the negatives all the time, look at the positives in a person. You just may notice something that God instilled in them that makes them completely unique, and a wonderful masterpiece under any circumstance.
He
The music is slightly uptempo of the normal beat of this cd, but still remains unchanged with reason. The keyboards, drums, and guitars are still almost all the same with respect to the mood.
* Lyrics
I'm not totally sure of the message being conveyed, but I believe in my own opinion that it is based upon a small child who is going through struggles. He is constantly in a battle, and wants to know when it will all be over.
Boy On A String
The music in the song definitely stands out from the rest of the cd. This one has a very classical folk sound, that is joined by a violin. The combination is very compelling, and leaves you wanting more and more. I love the composition of the music, and this really shows the musical talent of the group, as well as show their feelings.
* Lyrics
Ever felt like you were being led around by strings, or toyed with. Then listen to this song. Either way will help you to understand a little better how it feels, and show you a little bit of what it feels like when you feel you have no way to control the small things that affect you all the time.
They talk a lot about how it feels when you a being pulled by your strings. When you have no control. How it makes you feel sad, depressed, and wishing you weren't here. They talk of how you don't have feelings because you are only a boy on a string, when in all general respect, you have feelings, and you hurt, because they only want you when they need you.
I would recommend this song to everyone on the face of the planet. They really need to understand what it is like to use another person, and what they could be making that person feel like.
Flood
The music definitely captivates you in the very beginning. Not only does it start the heaviest of all, but also the fact that all the voices intertwine so melodically that you cannot do anything other than listen with everything that you have.
The guitars are used so heavily in this, though they never scream. They are only strummed extremely hard, but with the volume turned down. A great level of intensity, while yet remaining fluid in the sound level that they are definitely known for.
They do manage to put one of the best classical renditions in about the second minute. The sound is so beautiful and melodic, and very proper for the group. They definitely know what they are doing when they write music. The music is as fluid as poetry, and as intense as a raging waterfall.
* Lyrics
The voice of an individual that needs help. No one ever can stand alone. They can survive for a period of time, but that is it, just a period of time. Then the world comes flooding upon them. Then what are they going to do.
They need Jesus to lift them up, or church members who love and care for them. Someone to help hold them up from the "drowning" that is involved in a spiritual walk. If you drown, then you lose out, and no one wants to lose out. Especially when they all know that if you lose out you go to Hell. What a terrible way to go out.
This song stresses the importance of being lifted up, especially when weak, and when they have fallen. I would recommend lifting people up even when they are already standing on two feet, that way they always know that they have a friend always.
Worlds Apart
The music follows the same pattern as most of the previous songs. Melodic and smooth. Nothing really extraordinary about the music in this song.
The drums are a little more focused upon for accents, but for all intensive purposes, the music never really changes.
* Lyrics
The lyrics focus mainly on the individual being stubborn, and needing to be contained. Contained meaning that he needs to be taken back to the potter's house, and worked on again.
Take his world apart, do whatever it takes to make me right. Isn't that what we should all be saying to our Savior. The One who died for us, so that we might live. Wouldn't it be great if we could all say to the Lord, take me and use me. Break me, and make me as you would. That would be great, but that means that we would be as a servant, and none of us want to do that.
We need to get over our pride, and let the Lord do with us as he wants. If we do this, then he will show us many things, and also give us the blessing of knowing that we will be in heaven with Him for all eternity.
Blind
Very smooth, very slow, very soft, all these descriptions tell how the song is played. Very melodic, with great instrumentation. The guitars provide such a great effect upon the feeling, and of course the intense momentary bass adds to the excitement of the song. The feeling is so perfect, you feel as if you are in a state of euphoria. The voices of the singers are beautiful, and they definitely deserve all the recognition that they can get.
* Lyrics
The title says it all. Blind. They sing about being blind to love, but how it will fall. How true this is.
If you really think about it, you can't see God's love to us, but it is there. But if we turn our eyes and hearts away because we are physically blind to His love, then we have lost out. Later, though, we will realize, that we have blinded our own souls to God's love, and then the blindness will have fallen away, but what a way to have this happen.
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