Jars of Clay is a Christian alternative rock band formed in 1993 at Greenville College in Illinois by Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell. They broke through with the song Flood, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, won three consecutive Grammy Awards, and left a lasting mark on the Christian alternative scene of the 1990s and 2000s.
Jars of Clay formed in 1993 at Greenville College in Illinois, where Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell, both students of contemporary Christian music, teamed up to write a song for a class project. The band's name comes from a verse in Second Corinthians, which speaks of the fragility of the clay jar in which God places his treasure. Stephen Mason and Matthew Odmark later joined the lineup on guitars.
Based in Nashville, the band signed with Essential Records and released their debut album in 1995, carried by the song Flood, written in the last days of college for a concert in Saint Louis. The song became a rare success for a Christian band, entering the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Jars of Clay went on to win three consecutive Grammy Awards for best pop or contemporary gospel album, before scaling back activity during the 2010s.
- Origin
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA (formed at Greenville College, Illinois)
- Style
- Christian alternative rock, folk
- Active since
- 1993 (activity reduced since the mid 2010s)
- Good to know
- Three consecutive Grammy Awards for best pop or contemporary gospel album; their first single Flood reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
How did Jars of Clay get started?
The band was born in 1993 at Greenville College in Illinois, where Dan Haseltine and Charlie Lowell were enrolled in the same contemporary Christian music program. The song Flood, written for a concert in Saint Louis, became the spark for the adventure, later joined by Stephen Mason and Matthew Odmark on guitars.
Based in Nashville, the band signed with Essential Records and released their self titled debut album in 1995, which went platinum, a rare feat for a Christian album of that decade.
What makes Jars of Clay distinctive?
Jars of Clay pulled off an unusual crossover between Christian music and mainstream alternative rock radio, without ever softening lyrics explicitly centered on faith. Flood remains one of the rare Christian songs to have broken into the Billboard Hot 100, and the band backed up that recognition with three consecutive Grammy Awards.
Where should you start with Jars of Clay?
Start with Flood, their founding song, then Closer, from the album Much Afraid (1997), to understand their acoustic, alternative sound. The album Good Monsters (2006), with the song Heaven, shows the band's evolution toward a more rock sound, and Love Is the Protest (2016) captures their most recent, more socially engaged period.
songs
Love Is The Protest
The title track of the album of the same name released in 2016, this song calls for answering the world's divisions and injustices with love.
Closer
From the album Much Afraid (1997), this song expresses the desire for a deeper closeness with God.
Heaven
From the album Good Monsters (2006), this song speaks of the hope of heaven amid a world still marked by imperfection.
Discography
- 2013Inland
- 2009The Long Fall Back to Earth
- 2006Good Monsters
- 1999If I Left the Zoo
- 1997Much Afraid
- 1995Jars of Clay
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Jars of Clay?
Jars of Clay is a Christian alternative rock band formed in 1993 in Illinois, known for the song Flood and three consecutive Grammy Awards for best pop or contemporary gospel album.
Is Jars of Clay still active?
The band has scaled back activity since the mid 2010s, with members focusing on individual projects, but they continue to perform and release music from time to time.
What is Jars of Clay's best known song?
Flood, released in 1995, remains their most recognizable song: it is one of the rare Christian songs to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Is Jars of Clay a Christian band?
Yes, Jars of Clay has been a contemporary Christian music band since its formation, with lyrics explicitly centered on faith, even while reaching mainstream rock radio.
Where can you listen to Jars of Clay?
Their albums are available on the usual streaming platforms, and their official YouTube channel features live videos of their most memorable songs.
Who are the members of Jars of Clay?
The band is fronted by Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitar and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitar.