Well, as usual, I find myself in the minority among music fans. I mean, I've been ridiculed for my slight lack of enthusiasm when it comes to the Beatles, and some people seem to think it odd that I don't like Radiohead's Pablo Honey or any of Delirious?'s albums. But this is just beyond strange: I actually love Jars of Clay's third record, If I Left the Zoo. In fact, I think that, in some ways, it is their best album ever.
Sure, the lyrics are not as poetic as their first album, or as darkly artistic as Much Afraid. And yeah, I'll admit that it took some time to grow on me. But the four-piece band really took some musical risks on this one, and it paid off. If I Left the Zoo is at times bizarre and experimental, but it is almost always fun to listen to.
The ironically titled opening track, "Goodbye, Goodnight," finds the band opting to begin the CD with a slightly slower song, and instead of the intricate guitar work that the band is known for, the song's foundation is just one simple acoustic guitar pattern and a choir of men that sing during the chorus. Right off the bat, the listener realizes that this is not the same Jars of Clay who wrote the melancholy hits "Crazy Times" and "Flood."
Experimentation with fresh, fun sounds continue with the raw, light-hearted "Unforgetful You." The serious lyrics provide a nice contrast to the throw-away pop sound. The following track, "Collide," is one of Jars' hardest rocking numbers ever. "No One Loves Me Like You" is an acoustic, folk/pop song that is slightly more reminiscent of the band's now-classic debut record, while the jazzy "Sad Clown" and the "barber shop raga percussion" on "Can't Erase It" tread new ground for the band.
Throughout If I Left the Zoo, the little touches added in by the band and the meticulousness of producer Dennis Herring seem to pay off. Everything from the alarm clock at the end of "Famous Last Words" to the broken toy piano on "Sad Clown" add character and depth to this sonic carnival. Oh, there I go again- throwing in weird, made-up phrases. Well, before I upset too many more Jars of Clay fans by suggesting that this album is anywhere near as good as their first one, let me close by saying that this CD is both highly inventive and highly enjoyable, and no matter what others may say, it comes with my seal of approval.
Josh's Score: 4/5
Mark's Score: 4/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth December 1999Reviewed by James StewartAfter their much-hyped but short-lived sophomore effort, Jars of Clay faced the predicament of whether to return to the successful formula of their first release or to continue exploring new avenues. As it is they seem to have found a way to combine the two possibilities as the sound here has more of the folksy influences of their debut but is not limited to that album's formula. Setting simple…ReAL Magazine 1999Reviewed by Timothy Paul YenterAs long as God keeps putting people on the earth, there will be music. If people stop, the trees and rocks will start singing. We can't escape music. We don't want to. It infuses all we do. It's just that some of us are better at creating (discovering?) music than others. Jars of Clay is four talented musicians making great music--music from life; music that honors, glorifies, and praises God;…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Michial FarmerWith the possible exception of MxPx, Jars of Clay may be the group most accused of selling out--both musically and lyrically. Many fans grew accustomed to the coffeehouse feel of the band's debut, and, as is typical of Christian music fans, did not like the follow-up, Much Afraid, wanting a repeat of the first album. Fans who did not like Much Afraid will likely be critical of If I Left the Zoo…Similar sounding releases
1997Rick EliasBlink
2002Scott RigganAll I Know
2000Caedmon's CallLong Line of Leavers
1997PFRThe Late Great PFR
1996NewsboysTake Me To Your Leader
1999Charlie PeacockKingdom ComeMore from Jars of Clay
Little Drummer Boy
200211 Live (Video)
1995Jars of Clay
2003Furthermore: From the Studio, From the Stage
2005Redemption Songs
2002The Eleventh Hour
