Jars of Clay - Closer EP

[OKComputer1016]

Jars of Clay - Closer EP
Record Label: Gray Matters
Release Date: August 19, 2008

Who?

The contemporary Christian rockers who scored crossover hits with the folky “Flood” and the poppier “Five Candles (You Were There)” in the mid-90’s have continued to release albums somewhat regularly that have been overlooked since the mainstream Christian focal point jumped to metalcore and everything Solid State.

How is it?

Not very good at all. The EP opens with some sort of Hellogoodbye tribute with goofy keyboards and programmed drums and although the disc thankfully doesn’t stay in electronic mode for very long, you get the impression that these are some kind of old people realizing they'd like to sound young again. The only interesting parts of the disc are the updated versions of two songs from the self-titled debut, “Flood” and “Love Song For a Savior,” and those aren’t good moments so much as nostalgic ones. It wouldn't hurt you to skip this one altogether.

01. Closer
02. Safe to Land
03. Love Song for a Savior '08
04. Flood (New Rain)
05. Prisoner of Hope
Paper Rival; Guster; 90’s-era Jars of Clay
myspace.com/jarsofclay (http://www.myspace.com/jarsofclay)

[Gumbyjag]

good review, i like the album art if anything.

[handlikesecret]

their s/t album is possibly one of the greatest albums to come out of the Christian music scene, imo.

[micahistheballs]

Surprised to see a review for this on here.

[singyoutocoma]

Yeah, I really liked Good Monsters, but "Closer" seems like a pretty big step back.

[saving jonathan]

Jars Of Clay, holy crap.
I used to listen to these guys all the time when I was a kid. I'm gonna check this new stuff out and try to dig up some of my old albums.

[thepianominstre]

"Closer" is actually one of my most enjoyable songs of 2008 right now.

[theghostsong]

This review comes from a person with the username OKcomputer, now if Im not mistakin, thats the album with the video of the guy mumbling a song while sitting in a shopping cart who looks extremely drowsy. or has very lazy eyes, anyway yeah great criticsm;-)...... NOT.

[Matt S. @ SSW]

Are you serious? Closer EP is one of Jars of Clay's greatest accomplishments. They are not old people trying to feel young again and dwell on old memories. Dan Haseltine is only 35, if you want to get technical about it. If you've been following their career and musical direction at all for the past decade, you should easily be able to see how prolific and versatile this band has ALWAYS been. "Safe to Land" competes with any Radiohead invention, as does the new version of "Flood." The other songs on there are brilliant as well, new and old. Sounds like someone needs to re-adjust their version of "good."

[xJesusFreakx]

The original "Flood" is a perfect song and in my personal top 5, so the remake, while not bad by any means, isn't really worth listening to. "Safe to Land" is a good song, but "Closer" just sounds goofy.