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intereact!Jars of Clay
Retail Price (not our price): $17.98
Release Date: 2005-03-22
Manufacturer: Essential
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
It would be easy to pass off this latest Jars of Clay release as a marketing gimmick, especially as more and more Christian artists are turning to casting age-old hymns in their own creative image. Has the modern praise-and-worship songwriting well run dry or are artists truly looking back over time to gain that "renewed and refreshed perspective" as Jars describes this effort in the liner notes for Redemption Songs? The thoughtful listener will quickly discover that the latter is true. Jars of Clay's acoustic, organic sound is an ideal approach to presenting "very old words set to almost completely modern music" as never once does the music overshadow the power of the words. The band captures the essence of hope and joy in tracks "God Will Lift Up Your Head," "It Is Well With My Soul," and the rousing "Nothing But the Blood," aided by the great Blind Boys of Alabama. On the other side of the emotional spectrum, the needful ache of man seeking God is well captured with melancholic "I Need Thee Every Hour" and "Hiding Place." Other special guest appearances by Sarah Kelly on "I'll Fly Away" and Delirious' Martin Smith on "Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder" all fit well within the reverential mood of this marvelous release. If this record doesn't renew and refresh you, it may be time to check your pulse. --Michael Lyttle
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Jars of Clay: Redemption Songs [Rating: 4 out of 5]
There is something I just love about new versions of old hymns. The one I bought this CD for is "I'll Fly Away." There are several other songs I would have bought the CD for if I had heard them before I bought it. Jars of Clay has an interesting take on some of the songs, which you may find contrived or may find to give new insight. I listen to this CD over and over.2) Not very redeeming [Rating: 2 out of 5]
I wanted this CD to be some of the old hymns sung with all the verses in the original tune, but it wasn't.There were too few "Old" Redemption Songs, and odd music, with most the song being the chorus repeated..over...and over...and over...I only hear one of the songs on the radio.... just not what I was thinking it would be .....3) Classics with a new generation twist [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Many of the classics with a New Generation Twist. I enjoy the added instruments to the oldies. Jars of Clay does a great job. My favorite is "Fly Away".4) Soft/country rock is nice alternative (but no substitute) [Rating: 5 out of 5]
If you're looking for a traditional treatment of classic hymns, don't buy this album. But if you enjoy the lyrics of these old hymns and you are open to a slightly different take, try this CD. I grew up with traditional hymns and love them very much. There are no substitutes for those, but this album is a really nice alternative. I appreciate the fact that it's not too worship-y, by which I mean praise phrases are not repeated incessantly. The music is nice, with a bit of a soft rock and sometimes a country rock flare.I have another JOC album but wouldn't call myself a true fan. There is actually very little Christian music that I like because it is too poppy and praisy. But I very much appreciate this album and rate it 5 stars. (As for my general musical tastes, I love classic rock, followed by alternative rock.)5) A praise album of substance [Rating: 5 out of 5]
By turns rockin' and mellow, this album is always deeply felt music of traditional worship songs and spirituals, given an injection of modern energy and color by a group of real musicians with soul. Even the "weaker" songs grow on one with time. A keeper.