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player ready...Jars of Clay
If I Left The Zoo (Silvertone/Essential Records)
With their 1995 debut, Jars of Clay became instant alterna-folk favorites, largely on the strength of their smash single “Flood.” To their credit, these former students of Downstate Greenville College have resisted retreading that hit — and on their third disc, move in an edgier direction that’s less ethereal and more visceral. Credit producer Dennis Herring (Counting Crows) with pushing the band to augment its hook-laden pop with an overdue dose of attitude. Singer Dan Haseltine sports some Mick Jagger swagger on “I’m Alright” (augmented by some fine gospel backups), and an alluring bittersweetness on “Sad Clown,” a song that makes effective use of a slightly detuned, dirge-like piano. Jars’ take on spirituality remains a constant but is tempered and toughened by some cutting humor. “Goodbye, Goodnight,” the album’s opening track, examines the millennium through the eyes of the Titanic’s string players, complete with a mock sea-shanty vocal. There’s a hint of autobiography as well, reflecting the stress surrounding the group’s last album and tour: “Strike up the band to play a song and try hard not to cry/ And fake a smile as we all say goodbye.”