The response should be overwhelmingly positive. Classic hymns like They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, I Need Thee Every Hour and It Is Well With My Soul allow this disc to catch the attention of anyone who's ever sang a hymn, because it is pretty likely that they've sang at least one of these three. But for those looking for traditional renditions of the songs on this disc, prepare to be surprised and/or disappointed. Jars is anything but traditional on this disc. With their typical pop/rock songs mixed with a touch of country, the band creates thirteen tracks that will be eye-opening for a lot of people. Most of the tracks on this disc are solid. Hiding Place, On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand and Thou Lovely Source Of True Delight are tracks that will get you to start enjoying hymns a bit more. The lyrics have even been updated, so, aside from a few Thee's and Thou's, the tracks are written in modern-day English that will be easily understood.
Unfortunately, the record label screwed up big time thinking that they knew what was best for this disc and for Jars' creative juices. Thinking that they could use another "radio-friendly" track, the label forced the boys to produce a "fun, upbeat" version of It Is Well With My Soul, even though Jars did not want to on any level. Still, the label forced it upon them. And what came out of this? A very average version of a great song, and that's being generous. Generally speaking, a band like Jars Of Clay is really set up quite well to do a great job with a song like It Is Well With My Soul. But the record label thought they knew what was best. Instead, the record label proved that it really has no idea how to make good music unless they hear it on the radio.
But I digress because, aside from that one flaw, the disc is great. The cream of the crop comes in tracks three through six. God Will Lift Up Your Head provides a smart choice for a single, as it wasn't forced upon the band, and the difference definitely shows. Even without the promotion of what the radio says is "good" music, this track is good. It is probably one of the best tracks on the disc. And then the surprising amount of feature artists begins. Jars Of Clay is not a band that features artists on it's tracks as a habit. However, these next three all feature various artists from the Christian music industry. First up is Sarah Kelly, featured on I'll Fly Away. Another classic, well-known hymn, Kelly doesn't really add or take anything away from this disc. It doesn't really matter though, because Jars Of Clay manages to pull off one of the better versions of this song out there all by themselves. Next up is a collaboration that few CCM artists could ever dream of pulling off. Because of the pop/rock sound with a slighlty country twist that Jars puts out there (matched only by Third Day in the big names of the genre), they become one of the only bands that could feature The Blind Boys Of Alabama. In fact, they choose to do it twice, both times with great results. Along with the previously mentioned On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand, The Blind Boys are featured on Nothing But The Blood. This one is definitely one of the best tracks on the disc (and arguably the best), and The Blind Boys' role, while somewhat small, provides the extra boost this song needed to be great. Lastly, Jars Of Clay feature Martin Smith from Delirious on Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder. Like Kelly's part in I'll Fly Away, Smith's performance really doesn't add or take away from the song at all. But, again, Jars pulls the song off on their own anyway, so the extra voice really doesn't matter much.
Overall, this disc is a great example of how hymns can be created and used successfully in today's world of "modern" music. Aside from one scrape on the knee in the form of It Is Well With My Soul, Redemption Songs goes through the wringer and comes out relatively unscathed. Whether you're a fan of hymns or not, this disc will give you a fresh look at some great classics.