Those of you who know me know that I generally stay away from anything that reeks of Nashville or CCM. But the Jars of Clay hymns CD "is really good", my friend told me, and there was even a Blind Boys of Alabama cameo. "That sounds good," I thought to myself. Plus, I need to learn some more songs for church, so I bought Redemption Songs, the latest let's-make-hymnody-rawk project.
The first song is a massive miscalculation, I believe. Psalm 51 and peppy, commerical pop do not mix. There are several other tracks that don't quite work as well as they might. But track 3 compensates, and then some:
Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong
God will lift up your head...
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
God will lift up your head...
For once, comforting does equal comfortable. This is not a ballad, which is how we might be tempted to interpret Paul Gerhardt's words. The Jars borrow heavily from Bono and crew, but it doesn't matter because it works. So. Well. It's everything a rock/hymn hybrid should be: anthemic, singable, and full of conviction. And for whatever reason, it was what I needed to hear yesterday. Sometimes, I think, comforting words are best shouted through a megaphone. Sometimes, we don't really hear "i love you" until we've been shaken first.
Posted by aokie at August 5, 2005 02:27 PM | TrackBackSounds good. I hardly ever buy music -- once in a blue moon. But, I like Jars and I value your opinion. Maybe I'll actually get it.
Posted by: chris at August 5, 2005 03:42 PMHave you checked out Lost and Found's album "This". They've been around forever and are not of the CCM vein. Lynn wonders why I have to have music so loud sometimes. But there's nothing better than singing powerful reassuring yet convicting songs out load. Songs like U2's Walk On.
Posted by: andyp at August 5, 2005 06:28 PMI agree that track 3's a good one. I also like their version of Hiding Place and I Need Thee.
Posted by: lee at August 8, 2005 08:41 AMupdate: the album is growing on me. they are sort of treading a line between making music that is singable and music that is interesting (these often seem to be competing interests) and it sometimes works, other times not. but i admire their willingness to take a few risks.
Hiding Place is good, and so is Jesus, I lift My Eyes.
andy, i've heard of L&F, but i don't think i'm familiar with their tunes.
Posted by: abe at August 9, 2005 07:05 PM