New Derek Webb Album

Just yesterday, Derek Webb’s new album, Stockholm Syndrome, became available for pre-order.  It’s been a little over a year since his much-loved and critically acclaimed The Ringing Bell came out.  From all that I have heard, this album is going to be a lot more electronic and is supposed to be his “most ambitious album to date.”  The new album was originally scheduled to come out sometime in May of this year, but as recording process progressed, things began to get a little complicated as Webb started running into some problems with his record company.

Here is little information was trickling in earlier this year via Twitter:

* well, I think this new record might be the one that finally does it. what ‘it’ is, I won’t say.

*spent a few hours conspiring with the record company this morning. things are going to get interesting soon

*headed over to the booking company to rattle the cages, prepare for the madness that will be the stockholm syndrom tour

*when stockholm syndrome comes to where they’re keeping you, you never know what time it is

*the better part of 8 songs & a record cover finished. last flight out to nashville…

*considering goin to new lengths to ruin my reputation

Now if that isn’t a way to get your fans excited about your new album, I don’t know what is.  Not that I think any of this is just a publicity stunt.  I feel like Webb is one of the few guys out there whose sole purpose is sharing truth with conviction.  And boy does he do that.  The main controversy with the record label appears to be over one song, “What Matters More.”  Take a listen to the song that caused all of the fuss.

Personally I love the song and the message that Webb has to give.  I like how straight forward he is about calling out Christians for sabotaging our Savior’s message of love with their hatred toward sinners.  Obviously the main issues stem from his use of the word “shit” and his bringing up of the homosexuality issue.  I’m sure there are plenty of people out there right now that are so focused and upset about him using the word shit that they can’t even see the people in their lives that they are hurting.  I just hope that this song will at least spark some positive conversations and encourage people to rethink the way they treat others.

On May 12, Webb sent out a message to his e.mailing list saying, “It seems I’ve finally found the line beyond which my label can support me, and apparently I’ve crossed it. At this point we’re not sure when the record will come out and in what form. The majority of the controversy is surrounding one song, which I consider to be among the most important songs on the record…because of various legal/publishing issues we’re having to be rather careful with how we do what we’re going to do next.”

I’m not sure exactly what happened between then and now, but the album is definitely coming out, along with a 60 minute documentary film about the making of Stockholm Syndrome. If you want to hear the album now, just head over to derekwebb.com and if you pre-order the album today you can get a digital download right now.

Stockholm Syndrome Trailer from Derek Webb on Vimeo.

Is it just me, or does that album cover look like a Gap ad?

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1. Derek Webb is truly a Revolutionary
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3. Album Review: Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers “Songs in the Night”