A year or so after raising its creative bar with the hymn-based Redemption Songs, Jars Of Clay has delivered a new, original studio set, Good Monsters, that raises the bar yet another notch.

      For a band 13 years into the race, bold artistic leaps are not normally expected. Like anything in life, once you get good at something, time is usually spent perfecting and fine-tuning, not reinventing or relearning.

      In fact, according to a recent cover story in CCM magazine, that is where Jars of Clay was during the tour for Redemption Songs. The four members—vocalist Dan Haseltine, guitarist Steve Mason, keyboardist Charlie Lowell and guitarist Matt Odmark—were quite comfortable working with each other, yet did little to push themselves into new terrain, particularly in terms of spontaneity. They were accustomed to working through a song multiple times before committing it to tape or performing it live.

      Redemption Songs tour mate Ashley Cleveland is credited with providing motivation for the boys to loosen up. Knowing how long they had been together, she had made certain assumptions about their willingness to take risks and encouraged them to not squander their chemistry and abilities. She rocked their world by asking them to join her onstage at various times when—gasp!—there was only time for one shaky rehearsal.

      Cleveland's challenges pushed Jars to approach the whole tour with a new perspective. Not only were rehearsal requirements relaxed; as a whole, the performances were looser and more accessible. Mason stretched as a guitarist, and Haseltine expanded as vocalist and frontman by covering a wider vocal range and becoming more engaged with the audience.

      The newfound liberation was then channeled directly into the recording of Good Monsters. The record was self-produced and the tracks were mostly recorded with the band playing and singing in one room to allow more of a live vibe. That approach sounds successful, since the record does have a palpable immediacy and snap.

      Musically there is an unmistakable energy to Good Monsters, even with a number of ballads. The lyrics hit at a far more personal level, and Haseltine continues to develop solidly as a vocalist. Historically, his voice could sound more like a wisp, but here he crackles more like a whip. There are several key tracks, including "Dead Man (Carry Me)," "Work" and the monumental slow burn "Oh My God."

      Others besides Jars pitch in as well. Nashville favorite Kate York appears on "Even Angels Cry," former Sixpence None The Richer vocalist Leigh Nash is heard on "Mirrors and Smoke," and there is a remake of Julie Miller's "All My Tears." Also, the African Children's Choir sings on "Light Gives Heat," a song inspired by work the band has done in Africa through its nonprofit organization Blood:Water Mission.

      The critical response to Good Monsters has been smashing. The cover of the aforementioned issue of CCM declares that Good Monsters is its critics' choice for Album of the Year. Consistently excellent reviews have followed, including praise from USA Today, allmusic.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. All have been impressed by how the band has moved from the more acoustic folk leanings of previous releases to the more direct grit of a tight, four-piece modern rock band.

      Fans are not lagging too far behind, as the disc debuted at No. 58 on the Billboard Top 200. Lead single "Work" has been worked at Christian Hit Radio and crossed over to mainstream AC stations as well. The project has had quite a presence online, with AOL Music hosting an album listening party the week of release and Yahoo! Music debuting the video clip for "Work" soon after.

      The band is touring in support of Good Monsters, hitting a variety of venues from the House of Blues in Chicago to Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas. The fall leg of the tour kicked off in early October and runs through mid-November. Supporting the band will be newcomer Matt Wertz and Leigh Nash, who recently released her first solo record.

      Jars of Clay has already accomplished much during its career, including 5 million in total units sold, two Grammys and a few Dove Awards, but with Good Monsters the band achieves something simple yet profound: the creation of good music.