Bursting on to the Contemporary Christian Music scene with their eponymous debut album in 1995 Jars Of Clay took everyone by surprise.

Driven by a unique combination of drum loops, alternate-tuned acoustic guitar strumming and organic string accompaniment, Jars Of Clay didn’t sound like grunge or other alternative bands, or like much of anything else CCM was cooking up at the time.

Taking their name from a verse in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7 the drummerless foursome penned songs which were honest, intense, poetic, and harmonic with sonic influences as diverse as Gregorian chants, mandolin, and gothic layered vocals. With their overtly Christian lyrics these fresh faced college kids from Greenville Illinois were a refreshing break from the pessimism and angst that dominated the mid-90s music scene.

Jars of Clay not only succeeded within the realm of Christian music but thrived outside of it with their Adrian Belew produced single ‘Flood’ getting regular air play on secular radio stations and becoming a crossover radio hit that made them as close to a household name as any Christian band ever managed.

24 years on and 12 studio albums later they’re still going strong. But have they ever topped this initial groundbreaking platinum release?

Find out with Ben and Alex upon clicking that Play button.