Maybe it will take a generation for others to see and appreciate their influence and contribution.

From my layman’s perspective, it appears they don’t have an idea or story that spreads…to borrow from Seth Godin. They don’t have a movement behind them moving them toward cumulative advantage (which is when something begins to sell simply because it’s selling). Maybe SkörInc could help them get there – if they value that.

At the same time, Joy Division, Cohen and the Ramones wouldn’t have been the same (to those who love them) had they gone galactic. So, maybe they’re where they need to be.

The fact that they have stood the test of time in an industry that is all about molding while remaining themselves proves that they really are that good.

They tackle social justice, they write trendy and thought provoking songs, so why are they still a niche band and not a billboard giant alongside U2 and Coldplay?

There are alot of reasons, but I think the problem is mostly about perception/expectations/the box.

I can’t say that Jars is “too” anything, be it artsy or candid, etc… because they’re too EVERYTHING for their genre (including too good), so I can’t limit it to a handful of “too’s”.

Everyone loved their first CD, because it was edgy, and Christian music fans wanted to get their foot in the door of the 90′s alternative movement.

Then they came out with Much Afraid, and it sold even MORE copies than the Self-Titled, because after the big splash of the first CD, they polished this one up a bit more and took the edge off, and it was way more in line with what CCM was
already playing.

So they were edgy enough to grab attention (and several grammys), but soft enough to make folks (and parents) comfortable.

It was “If I Left The Zoo” that changed everything. It’s a truly amazing album, very beatles-esque. Charlie actually de-tuned his piano to create the right level of dissonance.

But most of their listeners wanted mindless quasi-spiritual pop singles, not artsy songs about the titanic sinking, or sad metaphorical clowns.

They were perceived to be another family friendly Christian rock band, like DC Talk or the Newsboys, so their musical experiments went over the heads of an audience who thinks of the band less as musicians and more as a Christian pop single making machine.
The album was largely seen as a flop, because it was only marketed to one very un-enlightened fan-base.

It’s like taking a 2 year old to a 5 star restaurant, and watching them throw a fit because there are no tater-tots.
(reiterate what whosey-whats-it said about Tolstoy)

And that holds true for all of their other albums (each in it’s own way).
For instance, “Who We Are Instead” is a great album, but Jars offered wondrous bluegrassy soul when too many of their
listeners wanted repetitive pop ballads.
And I personally love the remixes of their old songs, I actually liked the new “Liquid” better than the old one, but most
of the people that I know absolutely hated it (along with the new “Flood”, which I also love).

I’ve been to a ton of their shows, and I’ve noticed this limited-perception trend in what kinds of songs the fans request.
I see the request line as an opportunity (that’s often wasted) to ask for songs that you’ll never hear them play in concert. But instead, everyone requests “Worlds Apart” and “Flood”, etc… songs that they’re very likely to play whether or not it’s requested.

And what that says to me, is that alot of the fans want the current, challenging, constantly evolving Jars of Clay to just be a cover band of old JOC singles. They want Jars to be the same as they were 15 years ago, the same cozy words just with new hooks.

They’re still in the Christian music box, so they’re cut off from the majority of folks who would really jive with their ideas.
But they’re not so preachy that the spirituality would turn off non-Christian listeners either.. I think their sound would really catch on, if marketed outside of the current demographic.

I saw them 2 weeks ago, and when Dan started talking about their motivations for the album, a bouncer who had been walking around next to me stopped the conversation he was having and listened to everything Dan said, and then just stood there and listened for the remainder of the show.

I could easily see any song off the new album playing on mainstream radio, and getting call-ins saying “why haven’t I heard this band before”.

I think you nailed it when you said they are writing “culturally relevant” music, but CCM giants like Jars “aren’t supposed to” write culturally relevant music, they’re supposed to define CCM culture (typically with a sound that isn’t very relevant at all).

I think the CCM crowd sees them as “Classic Rock” (even though they’re still writing) and the “culturally relevant” crowd writes them off as CCM before they give their sound a chance.

No expert here, but I’ve puzzled the same question about these guys. Basically, anytime I’ve seen them live I, myself, have wondered “why aren’t these guys massive?”

Why aren’t they more popular? People don’t want to think. People don’t want to be told the truth. People don’t want to have to “dig” for meaning behind a song. They want to listen to generic pop songs or dirty rap music, etc etc. It’s too much work to make the effort.

Now the people who do go the extra mile are extremely blessed and brought closer to God through JOC’s music. But the problem is simple. People are too lazy!

A favorite song or album is a hard thing to pick! Worlds Apart and The Valley Song are probably my faves..

I like every Jars record, but my favorite is still Who We Are Instead.

My all-time favorite song is “Oh My God” … from what I hear, it’s the duet with Bono that never happened.

I definitely think that, had they started out on “secular” radio and record labels they’d have an even wider audience, who would “get” and appreciate the amazing art they create.

But, as things are, I appreciate them. A lot.

P.S. “Worlds Apart” is still the best written, produced, and performed song I’ve ever heard.