Hi Pal,
Welcome to another newsletter. Bonus Stuff is an umbrella column for ideas that do not fit into the other content brackets I write here.
As an avid music lover, I’ve always had a thing for opening and closing tracks on albums and EPs. Alongside the album art, the opener usually has a way of setting the pace for the rest of my listening experience and on many occasions, is able to make or break an album for me.
Jars of Clay is not a new band to any 90s kid who has been listening to Christian alternative rock music for a little over a decade. Still, with the passage of time and the fact that their last full-length album — Inland
— was released a decade ago, I have found myself taking trips down memory lane to their incredible discography.
Halfway through this journey, it struck me how beautiful the album openers were, and so, we’re here to talk about them a bit.
Liquid — Jars of Clay (1995)
Jars of Clay
will always be remembered as one of the albums that defined the Christian alternative rock scene between the late 90s and the early 2000s. It’s an amazing debut that announced the band’s lyrical and musical prowess to the world. With classic hits like “Flood”, “Like A Child” and “Worlds Apart”, the album’s production has aged really well. Yet, no song demonstrates the band’s intent for this album to me like its opener “Liquid”. The acoustic rock feels are elevated by lush strings and emotive harmonies; a tune that speaks poetically about the death of Christ.
Overjoyed — Much Afraid (1997)
While its predecessor is quite energetic, Much Afraid
is certainly sober in its approach and themes. There is a vulnerability that permeates the entire track list and reflects the sentiments of its title with songs like “Fade to Grey”, “Weighed Down” and “Portrait of An Apology”. Even though it is not as popular as the band’s debut, there is an enduring quality that has stayed with this album even after all these years. Sonically, it stands out because of the prominence of the electric guitar, and “Overjoyed” is the track that starts off this new era of the band highlighted by a delightful guitar solo just before the final chorus.
Goodbye, Goodnight — If I Left The Zoo (1999)
What does a band do when they have created two pretty good alternative rock albums in quick succession? Experiment a bit. If I Left The Zoo
is a peculiar, playful album that is creatively different from its predecessors in many ways. Although it is still quite Jars of Clay in terms of song-writing, there is a deliberate deviation from the alternative rock sound to more folk-pop influences. Nothing encapsulates this better than the opener “Goodbye, Goodnight”, which introduces fresh elements such as accordion, banjo, and choral chants. As much as I believe this album suffers in certain ways when compared to the rest of their discography, it remains one of the most fun albums that they have made.
Disappear — The Eleventh Hour (2002)
A lot of folks have described this album as a return to form for the band. In some ways, I am inclined to agree with this sentiment. Though the previous two albums were good, I opine that this album is by far the most impactful, after their debut. It feels like a culmination of years of experience and comes with a much-needed freshness. “Disappear” also feels like a return to form with respect to the opening tracks. While it doesn’t have anything particularly ground-breaking, it does a good job of reflecting the band’s newfound creative freedom. Maturity seems to be the musical theme of The Eleventh Hour
, and its opener reflects this beautifully.
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That’s it for today.
Catch you at the next one!
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