Jars of Clay Presents the Shelter

Jars Of Clay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Provident
• ASIN: B003ZZAXCW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,412 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jars of Clay [The Shelter], October 5, 2010

By 

Kevin Davis "NewReleaseTuesday" (Perkasie, PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Jars of Clay Presents the Shelter (Audio CD)

Acclaimed for its music and leadership as humanitarians, Jars of Clay gears up for the October 5th release of its community-inspired project, Jars of Clay Presents The Shelter. The four men at the heart of the project - Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Matt Odmark and Stephen Mason - find their calendars filling up with appearances designed to shed light on the new project, inspired from an old Irish proverb, "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live." I am a long-time fan of Jars of Clay and credit the Gospel messages from their landmark debut album for leading me to my salvation, for which I'm eternally grateful. I was amazed that as I was still savoring The Long Fall Back To Earth and trying to guess which single would be next from that incredible album, I heard about The Shelter. At first, I couldn't image how they would follow-up what I considered their all-time best album, and yet again they continue to surprise and amaze me with their song-writing, music and lyrical messages and in this case, their collaborations. For anyone who has always wanted to hear Jars of Clay sing with a "who's who list" in Christian music, here's your chance. Mac Powell, Amy Grant, Brandon Heath, David Crowder, Audrey Assad, TobyMac, Mike Donehey, Sara Groves, Derek Webb and Leigh Nash all appear on this album, among others.

For me, there are several 5 star songs that give glimpses of the excellence of this 5 star album. All of these songs now rank in my all-time favorite songs by Jars of Clay. The album opens with the call to action song, "Small Rebellions" which features Brandon Heath. The song includes the ultra-catchy and convicting chorus "If our days could be filled with small rebellions, senseless brutal acts of kindness from us all." The song truly sets the tone for this incredible album." Dan says, "Any act that fights against isolation is the greatest form of counterculture. The greatest risks we take are the ones that prove we are implicated in each others stories." "Call My Name" features Thad Cockrell and Audrey Assad and is the most vertical worship song on the album. Matt says, "To think that God knows us by name has deep and far-reaching implications. To actually hear Him use it changes everything." "We Will Follow" begins with the amazing lyrics "In the valley of the cross where my first love died" which leads to the convicting "where You lead us we will follow." The song features Michael and Lisa Gungor singing along with the band. This is a match made in heaven and for me is the stand-out song on the album. I would love to sing this song with fellow believers. "Eyes Wide Open" has a very classic Jars of Clay folk-oriented sound and features Mac Powell and Derek Webb. This song could totally have appeared on the City On A Hill compilations and will most likely emerge as a hit song as it is catchy and very engaging. Charlie says "Our desire is to be in a conversation- about love, hope, the life of Jesus- not to figure out answers and put people in boxes. God, keep us in the process, with open eyes and hearts."

"Shelter" is an incredible song with a wonderful chorus "in the shelter of each other we will live" and Audrey Assad's background vocals on the chorus are absolutely excellent. TobyMac and Brandon Heath also appear on the song with Toby echoing "we will live." This song also seems destined to be a hit and I can't get enough of it. I plan to make the song my new ringtone replacing "Two Hands" as my new favorite anthem by Jars of Clay. "Out Of My Hands" was released as a single and features Mike Donehey and Leigh Nash, another amazing vocal combination. The lyrics are totally compelling, "It's out of my hands, it was from the start in light of what You've done for me." Steve says, "It's humbling to know in our lowest moments that God's purposes are made complete in and through our weakness not our strength." "Lay It Down" features David Crowder and Dawn Michele. This has become one of my favorite songs on the album, especially the rocking guitar solo. A perfect song in my opinion and I can't wait to hear Jars of Clay play the song in concert. The album closes brilliantly with "Benediction" featuring Amy Grant. The song finishes the invitation to go out and literally be the hands and feet of Jesus to those we encounter. "Go into the world showing how much He loves you."

CLOSING THOUGHTS

The stand-out songs for me on this brilliant 5 star album are "Small Rebellions," "Call My Name," "We Will Follow," "Eyes Wide Open," "Shelter," "Out Of My Hands," "Lay It Down" and "Benediction." Once again, Jars of Clay has released their newest "best" album and are at the top of their profession right now in my opinion. My best description of the album is The Eleventh Hour meets Redemption Songs splashed with City On A Hill style all-star guest vocalist appearances and worship focused lyrics. While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, the group successfully launched the Blood:Water Mission, a non-profit organization promoting clean blood and water in Africa.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it 1962? Cause' I'm Stuck in "The Shelter" like the Cuban Missle Crisis, January 21, 2011

By 

Kevin Hart - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Jars Of Clay Presents The Shelter [+Digital Booklet] (MP3 Download)

Jars of Clay's "The Shelter" is a fantastic album. It captures every dimension of art a musician could ever hope to achieve: originality, creativity, and inspiration. Neatly bundled into a ten track package "The Shelter" contains depth, and an alluring mystery of tones and melodies your heart is, quite literally, dying to explore. I say all this from the perspective of someone who is both a new listener to the "Gospel," "Worship," genre and the artist, Jars of Clay, themselves. This album is modern, with verses comparable to those featured in the popular Indy-Rock band, The Arcade Fires', newest album "The Suburbs." Where these two great bands diverge is in the chorus. Win Butler, lead singer of the Arcade Fire, builds his songs with the momentum of a hurricane, before he swoons the listener into a lull, and depressing collapse. Dan Hasletine (Jars of Clay), on the other hand, rises and captures the view from mountain peaks, leaving the listener at peace, and satisfied with the experience. There is no angst, danger, or struggle, left unresolved. "We will live in the shelter of each other," the refrain of the album, could have been the campaign slogan for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, though he opted for the safer, and more ambiguous choice "Yes we can," referring to a shift in American consciousness, an attempt to awaken our hearts to Social politics. Although for now it seems we've once again, as always, returned to libertarian politics of the "Me," which is understandable - it's not a perfect world we live in, so its easy to get scared, and choose to rely on someone more familiar. Other notable tracks on the album are "Out of my Hands," a song of praise and humility. "There's nothing in the world that I can stand upon apart from you, There's nothing in my life you haven't given to me." My favorite track on the album is probably "Small Rebellions" a song that asks God to pull us back to him when we challenge our faith. "In our weakness help us see, that alone we'll never be, lifting any burdens off our shoulders." The strongest and most enduring song on the album is "Run in the night (Psalm 27)." Make sure you do not skip over this track. Do not let its soft and slow introduction fool you. This song carries the emotional weight of the album. "Hide me in the light of Your love," the song builds to a reprise chorus that lasts the final 2 minutes of the song. "For by You I can run in the night." Throughout you will have visions of a ship lost at sea in a storm, Dan Haseltine is captain at the mast, ready to take on the waves. If he is unable to move you in this song with beautiful harmony, and steadfast lyrics of faith. I challenge you to write a review as to why this is not the best album of 2011!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great in Some Parts...And That's Enough!, December 13, 2010

By 

stella onochie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jars of Clay Presents the Shelter (Audio CD)

What I have learned to love about Jars of Clay is their refusal to fall into the complacency of a specific sound or their audience's expectations--each album is a surprise to hear and often times, I first have to overcome a begrudging reluctance to accept that their style has changed or rather, has developed into something different. If one thinks about it, they've made their music an effective teaching tool: that to grow and mature in life means to live in a process of continual conversion, not solely in the religious sense (though I find that for me, everything hinges from that), but in the manner of person-hood/community.

Now, I don't like every song on this album. In fact, I found "Lay it Down" hugely annoying, (no offense to those who loved it). But I just wanted to add what I thought were the most amazing songs on the album (because no one else has!).

Love Will Find Us, feat. Matt Maher and Sara Groves:

I'm not really a fan of artist compilations. It reminds me too much of Michael Jackson (who I love) and the whole "We are the World" style song-genre made popular in the 80's. However, all three artists deserve much praise for the way in which their blending voices immensely complement the track. It was beautiful, especially the ending crescendo where the drums build and Maher and Groves's voices reach this amazing height.

Run in the Night, feat Thad Cockrell:

I find this song so impressive that I'm really sad to see no one has described it as a "break-through" track. Maybe because it's Advent and I'm just in this re-awakened mood of quiet reflection and joyful expectation (thanks for the reminder, Church), but I love how Haseltine sings in this soft yet confident voice reminiscent of the message in Out of My Hands. And how it is that Love (capital) and love help us to recall who we are.

I know who I am/ Once I was nameless, alone and you found me/ You formed my knees to bend/ You call me Beloved/ I am perfection

All my failures won't condemn me/ Leave me paralyzed and bound/ When I'm at my worst/ Your love it finds me first/

By you I can run in the night/ For by you I can run in the night

Reminds me of Worlds Apart, Portrait of Apology, Much Afraid, Safe to Land, I Need Thee Every Hour, These Ordinary Days, River Constantine, Faith Enough, and Oh My God (yes, I went and picked songs from nearly each album). Our weaknesses or failures are not supposed to limit or form the basis of our identity. It's not just a "Christian" feel-good message. It's a message that addresses the shared human need to for reassurance...that we aren't the sum of what we fail or cannot do. Our determination to continue in spite of the pitfalls is what makes us "unnoticeably" majestic.

Eyes Wide Open, feat. Mac Powell:

Now really. Who can ever hate a song with Mac Powell. It's the chorus that changed my mind about this song. That and the wonderfully refreshing blue-grass feel that Jars of Clay always manages to claim as their own.

Small Rebellions, We Will Follow, and Out of My Hands deserve all the comments they've received below. Great songs. Great work. May not have "understood" it all, but it's Jars of Clay. That's not the point.