Jars of Clay's The Shelter takes its title from the old Irish proverb, It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. The veteran folk/pop combo captures this theme by making the album a communal project with the aid of a veritable who's who of Christian artists. The songs here lyrically blend a modern sense of angst and yearning with timeless messages of faith. Driving acoustic guitars, galloping dance beats and touches of retro-synthesizer lend these tracks an idiosyncratic yet accessible sound. It's the guest vocalists that give The Shelter its real impact, though. Mac Powell, tobyMac, Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, and Leigh Nash are among the luminaries who join Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine in songs of praise and reverence. David Crowder and Fireflight's Dawn Richardson help infuse Lay It Down with fiery passion, while Amy Grant adds to the sweetly contemplative tone of Benediction. The album's title track gathers a full choir to lift up the tune to soaring heights. The Shelter is a unified and moving statement of transcendent faith. - itunes
