With 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 as well.
The acoustic strumming that made songs like "Flood" and "Love Song for a Saviour" so popular are all but gone, replaced by keyboards, pianos, and yes, accordions. The band has also canned their drum machine, opting instead to use Counting Crows drummer Ben Mize. The addition of Mize to the band makes a huge difference--it gives this album a much more organic feel than the band has had in the past.
If I Left the Zoo is considerably more upbeat than the overly dark Much Afraid. However, a few songs, such as the piano-driven "Sad Clown" and the "Five Candles" soundalike "Hand," hearken back to the album. On the whole, this is just a fun pop record in the vein of All Star United, with a few lyrical golden nuggets thrown in:
You never minded giving us the stars
Then showing us how blind and unaware of You we are
("Unforgetful You")
I admit I've loved these chains
And crawling around this cage sometimes has its advantages
...Someday this could get old
("Grace")
Love is fire and the coals are barely burning
Cold fills the emptiness that fills this empty place
I taught you to walk but then you ran away from me
("Collide")
The standout track here, though, is the opener, "Goodbye, Goodnight." The track, comprised mostly of acoustic guitar and accordion, humorously tells the story of the Titanic from the viewpoint of the orchestra, while wryly confronting some of the band's more fair-weather fans:
Raise a glass for ignorance, drink a toast to fear
The beginning of the end has come; that's why we're all here
Strike up the band to play a song and try hard not to cry
And fake a smile as we all say goodbye
If you're a die-hard fan of Jars of Clay's first album and hated Much Afraid, don't waste your money on If I Left the Zoo. For fans of quirky, intelligent modern pop, though, this album is a jewel.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2001Reviewed by Josh HurstWell, 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,…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;…Similar sounding releases
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