The Webb that Derek Weaves: Review of Stockholm Syndrome

Congratulations to Derek Webb! He now has the second album of his career that has been banned from some Christian retailers and radio stations across our country. Derek's first and best album, "She Must and Shall Go Free" was not sold in some Christian retail outlets back when it arrived on the scene. Apparently, upper level managers in suburban Christian America were unsettled with the song "Wedding Dress" where Derek calls himself a "whore" and a "bastard child". Nevermind that some of the inspiration for this song comes from the Biblical book of Ezekiel.

The controversy for Derek's latest album, "Stockholm Syndrome", has seemingly gone to an entirely different level. Derek got into a major disagreement with his Christian record label to the point where he sometimes had doubts as to whether the album was going to be released at all. Most of the arguing was centered around one song, "What Matters More" and wouldn't we know it...the controversy centered around the use of the word "shit". The apparently unmentionable word was in the context of Christians being so wrapped up in addressing certain societal sins (that they deem worse than other sins) that they ignore poverty. Long story short, because of this song, the record label agreed to release the album in a clean version and an explicit version. Derek was upset about this decision stating to Christianity Today: "What kind of an artist would I be if I let the constraints of the label that I'm on, or the market that I'm in, dictate the kind of art that I need to be making instinctively? I would not be an artist that should be trusted."

"Stockholm Syndrome" is a ballsy album on a couple of different fronts. The first front is innocent enough and directly involves the evolution of Derek himself as an artist. Derek's long time fans know his roots are solidly in folk rock while starting off as one of the lead singers for Caedmons Call. About 7 years ago, he started a solo career that has now spawned five records. The early records were in the style of singer/songwriter and folk rock. Derek has abandoned this style for the latest album. "Stockholm Syndrome" ventures into an electronica kind of sound with strong elements of hip/hop. I can certainly understand some skeptics at this point raising their eyebrows but having had the album playing the last couple of weeks, I can safely say that the style works.

The second major aspect of ballsiness comes in the form of the lyrics. Derek is decisively less theological and more political with his lyrics. Of course, elements of theology come into play but Derek's challenge is more along the lines of how can Christians who know the gospel hold certain political perspectives. Therein, lies the supreme element of controversy especially given that the record has a strong challenge to the American churches own self-righteous hypocrisy.

On "Freddie, Please", Derek hammers the charlatan pastor Fred Phelps whose church is known for holding up signs: "God Hates Fags" and "God laughs when American soldiers die in Iraq". This church has even shown up at military funerals in our country to hold these reprehensible signs up in front of grieving families. Derek sings, "How can you tell them you love me, when you hate me ? Freddie Please..." And retorts, "Brother, you're the one who is queer."

Other songs include hot button political issues. The civil rights movement is addressed in "Jena & Jimmy" in a very catchy and creative way. In "The State", Derek discusses the potential dangers of big government and in "American Flag Umbrella" sings about civic injustice especially related to immigration:

please take your hands off my brother
please take your laws off my lover
the agents of law
should always be blind and on time
till there’s freedom for everyone

One of my favorite songs is "Becoming a Slave" which certainly fits the definition of the wider album theme of "Stockholm Syndrome":

becoming a slave is easier than you think
there’s always a price to pay
it’s gotta hit somebody’s back
trust me, new worlds don’t just build themselves

progress has more than one face
evil isn’t always itself
there’s nothing you can change without changing
everything else

"Stockholm Syndrome" may be about the church becoming more in love with the very ideas/philosophies (read: sins) that enslave it. The album is certainly provocative and unsettling. In the hands of a lesser artist, the record may have had an angry bent but having listened to the songs quite a bit, I don't sense any anger in Derek's tone. He may be one of the only artists I can think of that can pick at the "elephant in the room" while still sounding gracious.

At any rate, this is a bombshell to the Christian sub-culture in America. Many Christian retail giants and radio stations are staying far, far away. But that doesn't mean that we should.

P.S. I want to post the lyrics to one of my favorite songs on the album which is self-explanatory. The song is "Heaven":

I was killed in a shopping cart
turned upside down and left for dead
i saw a clown try to speak to me
as i floated overhead
i found my way to a familiar place
i swear i’d been sometime before
i would’ve thought it was the marketplace
but i could not find the door

(chorus)
oh i have been to heaven
and i have walked the streets
but i couldn’t find a hand to hold
to keep me on my feet

paradise is a parking lot
a spot up front is your reward
and all the rest walk down streets of gold
to the house they could afford
i got lost in the swelling crowd
i could not afford to eat
you only have what you came in with
so i’m living on the street

(chorus)
oh i have been to heaven
and i found no relief
‘cause i couldn’t find a hand to hold
to keep me on my feet

i heard Jesus Christ was there
he had a car that’s bulletproof
that way everyone is safe
from the man who tells the truth