Who We Are Instead

Performer: Jars of Clay
Engineer: Clinton Roth; David Thoener; Jacquire King; Ron Aniello
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Jars Of Clay: Stephen Mason (vocals, guitar, National guitar, lap & pedal steel guitar, mandolin); Dan Haseltine (vocals, percussion); Matthew Odmark (acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals); Charlie Lowell (accordion, piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals). Producers: Jars Of Clay, Mitch Dane, Ron Aniello. Recorded at Sputnik, Franklin, Tennessee. Personnel: Kenny Meeks (vocals, mandolin); Dan Haseltine (vocals, percussion); Ashley Cleveland (vocals); Stephen Mason (guitar, lap steel guitar, National guitar, mandolin); Matthew Odmark (acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals); John Catchings (cello); Charlie Lowell (accordion, piano, organ, keyboards, background vocals); Chris McHugh, Ken Coomer, Ben Mize (drums). Audio Mixer: Jacquire King . Recording information: Sputnik, Franklin, TN. Photographers: Henk Schiffmacher; Crystal Heald; Martyn Atkins. Arranger: Jars of Clay. Over the course of a half-dozen hit albums, Jars Of Clay established themselves as one of the exceedingly few Christian rock groups easily enjoyed by secular audiences. On WHO WE ARE INSTEAD, the band continues to refine and develop its trademark pairing of Gin Blossoms/Toad The Wet Sprocket-style mellow power pop with impassioned, but never overtly evangelical lyrics. This time around, however, the Illinois quartet infuses its music with a big dollop of country rock, at times recalling everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Neil Young, America, and Poco. The common thread, of course, is the band's absolute mastery of lilting melodies and spot-on vocal harmonies, which have never sounded more accomplished. Surprisingly, considering the decidedly alternative-rock bent of their past work, the new cosmic cowboy sounds fit like a glove, the dobros, fiddles, tinkling Fender Rhodes, and loping folk rhythms perfectly framing the group's unique combination of joy and melancholy.

These days, Christian rock artists who jostle for chart positions with secular acts are a commonplace thing. When Christian rockers Jars of Clay first made a splash back in '95, though, this was not the case. They were one of the first Christian bands to break through in a major way, with a sound that incorporated pop, alt-rock, and spiritual themes, all adorned with glistening, radio-ready hooks. In due course, the group found itself sailing towards the top of the charts and nailing Grammy after Grammy.

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