The Shelter (2010)

The Shelter is the tenth full-length studio album by the American rock band Jars of Clay, released on October 5, 2010 by Gray Matters/Provident Label Group. The band produced the album themselves.

The project was heavily inspired by the old Irish proverb, "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live," focusing heavily on themes of community and mutual support. The concept became deeply personal for the band when the homes of frontman Dan Haseltine and guitarist Matt Odmark suffered severe water damage during the historic Nashville, Tennessee floods in May 2010, just months before the release. During that timeframe Jars of Clay rush-released a digital EP on their website titled Flood(ed): A Benefit, in which the proceeds for the sale of the EP went to the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief fund to help local victims and musicians who lost everything.

In sticking with the theme of community and helping one another, the band enlisted the help of CCM musicians and vocalists on guest vocals, giving it an "all-star" feel and in some ways, incorporating elements of worship. Featured guest vocals include Amy Grant, Third Day lead singer Mac Powell, Brandon Heath, David Crowder, Sara Groves, Matt Maher and others. The lead single "Out of My Hands" featuring Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer and Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. The Shelter charted and peaked on the following Billboard album charts:

-No. 5 Top Christian Albums

-No. 78 Billboard 200

-No. 25 Top Rock Albums

-No. 25 Top Rock & Alternative Albums

-No. 13 Top Alternative Albums

-No. 11 Top Independent Albums

In 2011, The Shelter was nominated for two Dove Awards for Praise & Worship Album of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, losing in both categories.

Track listing

All songs written by Jars of Clay, except where noted.

1. Small Rebellions (featuring Brandon Heath) -4:47

2. Call My Name (featuring Audrey Assad and Thad Cockrell) -4:08

3. We Will Follow (featuring Gungor) -4:09

4. Eyes Wide Open (featuring Mac Powell, Derek Webb and Burlap to Cashmere)

(Jars of Clay, Phillip LaRue) -4:29

5. Shelter (featuring TobyMac, Audrey Assad and Brandon Heath) -4:50

6. Out of My Hands (featuring Leigh Nash and Mike Donehey) (Jars of Clay, Gabe

Ruschival, Jeremy Lutito) -4:14

7. No Greater Love (Jars of Clay, David Crowder, Laura Story, Gabe Ruschival,

Jeremy Lutito) -4:07

8. Run In the Night (Psalm 27) (featuring Thad Cockrell) (Jars of Clay, Thad

Cockrell) -5:25

9. Lay It Down (featuring David Crowder and Dawn Michele) (Sara Groves, Aaron

Fabbrini, Ben Gowell) -4:03

10. Love Will Find Us (featuring Matt Maher and Sara Groves) -5:45

11. Benediction (featuring Amy Grant) -2:52

Personnel

Jars of Clay:

Dan Haseltine -lead vocals

Charlie Lowell -keyboards, backing vocals

Stephen Mason -guitars, backing vocals

Matt Odmark -guitars, backing vocals

additional musicians:

Gabe Ruschival -bass guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5 -7, 9 and 10)

Jeremy Lutito -drums (tracks 1 -3, 5 -7, 9 and 10)

Jake Goss -drums (tracks 4, 8 and 10)

Brother Henry -strings on track 3

Radio singles

2010 "Out of My Hands" featuring Leigh Nash and Mike Donehey -#27 Billboard

Hot Christian Songs, -#27 Billboard Christian Airplay, -#27 Billboard Christian

AC Airplay

2011 "Shelter" featuring Brandon Heath, Audrey Assad and TobyMac -#32

Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#32 Billboard Christian Airplay

Previous release: Live at Gray Matters, Volume 2: The Rewind Edition (EP) (2010) 

Next release: Live at Gray Matters, Volume 3: The Christmas Edition (EP) (2010)