Reviewed by Tony Cummings

In the last couple of years Jars fans have had 'Live Monsters' and a digitally released 'Closer' EP (of which two tracks are released here) but this is the band's true follow up to their creative and commercial tour-de-force, 'Good Monsters'. And very impressive it is too. With veteran studio maestro Ron Aniello (Lifehouse, Leigh Nash) joining the band in the production seats there are new elements to the group's musical palette on this set with lots of synth parts integrated with the guitar rock sound. In fact, the songs "Boys (Lesson One)" and "Heart" are close to electro pop. What dominates the whole project is Dan Haseltine's ability as a singer/songwriter to conjure up wistfully reflective melodies and lyrics which explore the tensions of relationships, both human and divine. The first single from the album, "Two Hands", is already a Christian radio hit and is an insightful reflection on our innate desire to go our own way rather than God's. It features some of Dan's most telling lyric writing ("I am a house that is divided/In my heart and in my mind" and "I have a broken disposition/I'm a liar who thirsts for the truth/And while I ache for faith to hold me/I need to feel the scars and see the proof/"). Other standouts are the song from their EP release, "Closer", and the plaintive metaphor exploring escape from the world, "Headphones". Few bands convey poignancy as well as the Jars and this crafted set is well up to their best work.