From the band’s earliest days to the present, innovation has marked each step of Jars of Clay’s musical journey with The Long Fall Back To Earth serving as no exception. It’s a big, lush, confident, gutsy sound that dominates the new tracks, leaving the listener with a different thought for each new story told, each new emotion conveyed.

As with all previous Jars of Clay projects, it’s the lyrical content that draws listeners into a fuller appreciation of the songs. Lead vocalist/lyricist Dan Haseltine delves into the bare bones reality of the beauty and tension of relationships, and what makes them worth fighting for, a common thread that has tied everyone exposed to Jars of Clay’s music together for more than a decade.

The project’s debut single, “Two Hands,” released to radio January 30, is receiving praise from programmers everywhere and is quickly shooting up the AC/CHR charts. One of the songs the band considers a cornerstone for the project as a whole, “Two Hands” deals with our inborn, yet often unspoken desire to just do more for our world, while struggling to keep our innate selfishness in check.

“That song touches a very simple longing in our hearts for unity under one roof, so to speak,” Dan Haseltine says. “One side of us wants to serve Christ and love others, while the other side is concerned only with looking out for ourselves. By reconciling the sides of our heart -- both good and bad -- to bring the full weight of who we are in Christ, we can use our hands to serve and love others well in a way that honors Him.”

Jars of Clay, handling production duties alongside veteran producer Ron Aniello (Guster, Lifehouse, Leigh Nash), expand on the musical palette developed for its last project, Good Monsters: driving songs with more synth, beats and loops, but keeping its hard-won appreciation for rock guitars intact. The effect is a sweeping musical landscape full of detail, contrast and richness.

A consistent draw on the road, Jars of Clay is already mapping tour dates in support of the album through 2009. Tour dates cities will be announced in coming weeks.

Jars of Clay -- The Long Fall Back To Earth
(Releasing April 21, 2009 on Gray Matters/Essential Records)
1. The Long Fall
2. Weapons
3. Two Hands
4. Heaven
5. Closer
6. Safe To Land
7. Headphones
8. Don’t Stop
9. Boys (Lesson One)
10. Hero
11. Scenic Route
12. There Might Be a Light
13. Forgive Me
14. Heart

About Jars Of Clay
Multi-Platinum and three-time GRAMMY Award-winning band Jars of Clay launched its career with its hit, “Flood,” in 1995. Since then, it’s amassed more than six million in career sales (5 -Gold, 2 platinum and 1 double platinum certification), an American Music Award nod, 17 No.1 radio hits, and numerous film credits and BMI honors for songwriting and performing.

While celebrated for its music and writing, Jars of Clay is most concerned with the needs in Africa. Compelled to make a difference, members Dan Haseltine, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark and Charlie Lowell founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002. The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” with a goal of raising funds to build, rebuild and repair 1000 wells in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. This year Jars of Clay will celebrate the building of the 1000th well which will help bring clean water to more than 150,000 people. (www.bloodwatermission.com)

For more information through JFH on Jars Of Clay, visit the JFH Artists Database.