Jars of Clay

It's no surprise that intelligent design and Christian rock — à la Jars of Clay — are so popular with the same Lord-lovin' crowd. Both are trumpeted as more relevant than their secular counterparts by every Bible-beating asshole you meet. And, more important, both lose all credibility outside of the church, despite futile attempts by Bush and his mouth-breathing supporters to bring them into the mainstream. Nonetheless, props are in order for the members of the decade-old Jars of Clay, who have jumped the CCM hurdle by smooshing their messiah message into an unassuming, catchy alt-pop vehicle without drawing too much unnecessary attention to their cause. If not for good songwriting and memorable, guitar-driven acoustic rock, this Illinois quintet would still be a niche player rather than a household name. Then again, the Jars should also be forced to take responsibility for creating the holier-than-thou radio mentality that made Creed an international superstar.