Derek Webb
Is it more shocking to hear Derek Webb use a potty word during “What Matters More”, or does Stockholm Syndrome’s keyboard-saturated electro-pop sonic startle you most of all? Clearly, Webb wants to shake the listener up, just as much as he’s intentionally stirred up his own operational procedure pot. Listening to Webb take on the culture wars, over a music bed without seemingly one acoustic guitar in sight, might be a finger-in-the-light-socket moment for some. But sometimes doctors use shock to get hearts restarted, which means that shock can sometimes be a good thing.
Webb’s new aural formula works best on “The Spirit Vs. The Kick Drum”, which comes off like the winning combination of Beck and U2 — in one of their more danceable moments. This ‘dancing to the beat of a wrong drum’ lyric, is sung to a groove that is the funkiest thing we’ve ever heard out of Derek. And it’s a welcome musical moment. “Jena & Jimmy”, with its bouncy beat, is also an aural delight. “Heaven”, by the way, temporarily relocates that lost acoustic guitar, and “American Flag Umbrella” opts for acoustic piano, rather than the more amplified variety.
“What Matters More” is this CD’s controversial and most talked about track. As we might say in our household, Webb uses the “S” word on it to get the listener’s immediate attention. The song’s lyric demands love and empathy for the gay community, which is a people group that sometimes only sees Christians as haters of homosexuals. Webb is not only angry about homophobia, however, but also peeved that believers have such one track minds; they don’t even give a (“S” word) about starving people around the world. “Freddie, Please” with its ‘50s ballad musical style, is presumably sung to Fred Phelps from a homosexual’s perspective. Phelps has been described as an anti-homosexual activist, and the character in this song can’t understand how a so-called minister of God’s love, can seemingly speak so hatefully about gays.
Ironically, Webb’s vocals on this work oftentimes sound like those of Rufus Wainwright, particularly during “The State”. This is especially ironic because Wainwright is an openly gay man. Many times, Webb seems like he’s straining his voice in an attempt to get every last ounce of emotion out of each and every lyrical phrase. There’s no doubting he means what he sings, that’s for sure.
So what are we to make of Webb’s non-Fundamentalist lyrical leanings? Well, he immediately touched a nerve with INO, his label, which released both “explicit” and “clean” versions of the CD. No doubt, sensitive Christians will have trouble with his questionable language. Yet many of the best songwriters force us to face our prejudices. We say we hate the sin and love the sinner, but do we, really? When it comes to homosexuality, in particular, Webb suggests we have fallen far short of that high ideal. Even if you are put off by Webb’s abrupt approach to politics, it’s difficult to find fault with the man’s stylistic stretches, which are amply exemplified throughout Stockholm Syndrome. To his credit, he doesn’t sound like a completely different artist; just one with a few additional musical tools.
Webb is not the first Christian artist to court controversy. Sometimes these unbecoming behaviors have caused us to question the hearts and motives of our beloved Christian performers. But to his credit, Webb’s actions have forced us to focus more intently on the issues at hand, rather than wonder where exactly his head was at when he created these songs. And that factor alone makes Stockholm Syndrome a brave step in the right direction.
Dan MacIntosh is a freelance writer from Bellflower, CA.
Wednesday Sep 2nd, 2009 • View all posts by Dan MacIntosh • View all posts in Album Reviews
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Now I’m dying to know … what’s the album’s score?
Great review. I agree with everything you said.
Yes, do tell. What’s the final score here, as it were?
Oops…that’s an editorial error there (aka, Mine!), Brian. Check the score now…:)
I love DW but I couldn’t even rank this album an 8/10. Vocals and lyrics were right on but the music seemed like he had the ideas in mind but missed on the execution. I gave it a 6.5/10. It’s not his best overall album but it’s one of his strongest lyrically.
I disagree, Aaron. The music is one of the things that hooks me on the album and keeps me interested. There’s not a track on here that leaves me bored.
There are some songs that are great musically, but it’s not consistent from start to finish.
A crucial factor in listening to Derek Webb’s lyrics is understanding point-of-view of the speaker. That said, you clean missed the speaker of “Freddie, Please.” It is written from the vantage point of Jesus, which dramatically changes the understanding of the song. Go back and listen carefully.
When I listen to an album, I’m most concerned with understanding and catching the spirit of the album. I can’t quite open up my spirit to something until I can line it up with God’s Word, and in this case something specific like Phil 4:4,8, both of which are distinctly missing in this album.
I hesitate to play the judge here, because then I’d be doing exactly what I criticise DW for, but I did think it ironic in his controversial S-word track that he had the lyrics “You wouldn’t be so reckless with the words that you speak”. Oh dear.
As for the homosexual theme, I agree to a degree with where he is coming from, but his position on the matter leaves a little bit of concern. Consider for instance the words “Please take your laws off my lover”. I know he’s married, but lyrics like that serve to create confusion more than clarity – he maybe loving the sinner, but I wonder what happened to hatred of the sin? It’s a balancing act and it seems everyone is prone to extremes (including me of course).
I loved the creativity of DW’s musical invention – I just wish I could have embraced it as though I was embracing the heart of Christ, for whom it was said “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame”. Artists like Chris Rice and Mark Hall have also taken up some similar positions on social issues, but at least they have a thread of Jesus-centeredness and joy running through their albums.
I think it’s one of my favorite albums of his. Just saw him live in Portland on April 27th, 2010 (review, setlist and photos on my site).
~Dan
Does it Resonate with you?