I've been a huge Jars of Clay fan since I first heard Flood over 10 years ago and I credit them for leading me to become a Christian. The self-titled debut album is one of the all-time best, and I've loved everything in-between, but Good Monsters is my 2nd favorite overall by Jars of Clay and one of the top 10 albums of the decade in my opinion.

What I love most is that Jars of Clay has managed to keep growing as a band. From the opening guitar riff of Work, I've been hooked by this album for the last 2 years. I just listened to the album for at least the 20th time and between Dead Man (Carry Me), All My Tears, Good Monsters, There Is A River and Oh My God, this is the strongest album since the amazing debut. You can't help but be challenged by the introspective lyrics and uplifted by the alternative folksy rock that Jars of Clay pioneered.

Good Monsters has better musical compositions and poetry than any preceeding Jars of Clay albums. If you don't want to buy the full CD, I highly recommend purchasing these individual tracks: "Light Gives Heat" and "Water Under the Bridge".

Well crafted and constructed. Lot's of emotional intensity. More instructive than sing song. More message than feeling good. Very grown up. Not a praise album. Songs about confliction. ...that being a christian is often a difficult process. This seems to me to be what the CD is speaking to. It's a process that is ...sometimes really a struggle. I enjoy the CD. I think it deserves the positive reaction.

It sounds like they don't care what they used to sound like - or, maybe I should say what people think they should sound like. So the song writing, the mix, the overall feel, is fresh, a bit edgy, and overall great.

This is the record that Jars Of Clay was destined to make. All of their previous records showed glimpses of their brilliance, but as good as they were they all had some fatal flaw that kept them reaching the upper echelons. Good Monsters is the culmination of over a decade of experimentation, touring, and downright trial and error. Where past records heavily borrowed musical vocabulary from Toad The Wet Sprocket, R.E.M., U2, The Eagles, et al, Good Monsters finds Jars seamlessly integrating those elements into their set without wearing the influences on their sleeves. (Though "Carry Me" does borrow heavily from The Killers and the post-punk revivalist movement.) The songcraft has reached a new high. The arrangements are carefully textured and balanced to perfection - never over the top and never too sparse. And every song has a hook. What more could you ask for? How about a thematic maturity not seen since U2's Achtung Baby? Dan Haseltine's lyrics are world-weary, laden with experience, doubt, honesty, and faith and are delivered with heart aching earnesty. "O My God" with its brooding start slowly crescendos to a tense yet cathartic emotional climax. "Work" and "Carry Me" are the hardest rockers ever seen on a Jars record, and are crafted to perfection. Every track is a standout. On the outside this may seem like a dark record. It is in many aspects. But faith, hope, love and redemption are peeking around every corner which makes the journey ultimately rewarding. This is Jars Of Clay without the boyish college facade. This is the sound of a band in its maturity. They've been around the block a few times and the results are consistently stunning.