I Hope Your Ears Bleed » derek webb

Seven Swans Reimagined

Nathan — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:53:45 +0000

Seven Swans, the legendary album from Sufjan Stevens is being “reimagined” by a collection of indie artists for charity. All profits from the album will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen For The Cure breast cancer foundation. The project was organized and put together by an independent compilation company, On Joyful Wings. They got 15 different and unique artists, ranging from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy to Joshua James to The David Crowder Band, to deliver their own re-working of one of the Swans songs. I think the song I am most looking forward to hearing is Derek Webb’s interpretation of “In the Devil’s Territory.” The album will be released next Tuesday, the 29th. You can pre-order it here.

The Gregory Brothers – The Dress Looks Nice You

New Derek Webb Album

Nathan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:07:09 +0000

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?

Best Albums of 2007

Nathan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:07:03 +0000

i realize that i am extremely late on this, but i think it’s ok because i just started this a couple months ago. plus i feel like i need this much time to process. had i made this list back in january, a couple of these well-deserving albums would have been left off the list. so here it is.

10 Wilco – Sky Blue Sky

like most great albums this one took a little while to grow on me. but i am glad i gave it the time, because i have definitely found some great gems on this album. if you love wilco already just listen and enjoy. if not i suggest you see them live, it will surely help you to appreciate this album. at least it did for me.

wilco – hate it here (removed 2/13/09)

9 Beirut – Flying Club Cup

balkan music at its best. seriously. if you have never listened to this one man band you are missing out. each track has just gorgeous horn and string arrangements, and condon’s voice accompanies the music so well.

beirut – in the mausoleum (removed 2/13/09)

8 Derek Webb – The Ringing Bell

easily the best christian album of the year. webb continues to write enjoyable pop candy that is not only enjoyable to listen to, but challenges out way of thinking at the same time. i cannot tell you enough how much i love this guy. oh and did i mention he is giving this album away for free?

derek webb – can’t be without you (removed 2/13/09)

7 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

spoon has outdone themselves. by far the best that they have put together thus far. lots of intricate but simple instrumentation if that makes any sense at all. they didn’t try to hard, they have just taken what they do and brought it to the next level

spoon – you got yr cherry bomb (mp3 lost during a site crash 7/23)

6 The National – Boxer

Be patient with this one. It took a while before the national had a regular spot on my playlist, but once it got there it hasn’t left. Most of the songs on this album have very complex but very addicting rhythmic pattern. Give it a chance to entrance, for it surely will.

the national – fake empire (removed 2/13/09)

5 Band of Horses – Cease to Begin

Despite the loss of their co-founder, Mat Brooke, this stellar band not only managed to avoid the sophomore slump, but with their song “No One’s Gonna Love You” they managed to put together what is, in my humble opinion, the greatest song of 2007.

band of horses – no one’s gonna love you (removed 2/13/09)

4 Iron & Wine – The Shephard’s Dog

This is definitely one of those cases where change isn’t so bad. straying from his lo-fi acoustic roots, sam beam churns out another batch of songs that will last us a lifetime. it’s very rhythmic and has a much fuller sound than we’re used to, but it works.

iron & wine – flightless bird, american mouth (removed 2/13/09)

3 Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight

These former child stars have never sounded better. Lewis’ voice is as gorgeous as ever and Sennet’s guitar sounds like it has been in the 70′s for a while and came to show us a thing or two. An incredibly catchy album. Anything but a disappointment.

rilo kiley – give a little love (removed 2/13/09)

2 The Once Soundtrack

This incredible soundtrack to one of the best films of the year is a must. Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Marketa Irglova star in and provide the soundtrack to this modern day musical that tells the story of two people whose lives collide just once. Watch the movie and you will surely have to buy the album.

glen hansard & marketa irglova – when your mind’s made up (removed 2/13/09)

1 Feist – The Reminder

Leslie Feist has yet to let me down. I have loved everything that she had done so far. Especially this incredibly catchy album. Easily the record that I listened to the most this past year. It is infectious, once you start you can’t stop. Trust me.

feist – past in present (removed 2/13/09)

Honorable Mention: The Shins – Wincing the Nigh Away, Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests, Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha, Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

well i hope you enjoyed my list. and just to help clarify this list was based on a combo of what i thought was the best musically and lyrically and then also what i simply enjoyed and listened to the most. but still feel free to let me know if there are any albums that you felt should have been on the list. i am sure there are still some great ones that i missed.

also the plan is for this to be the first of many. i am starting a project of creating a list like this for every year dating back to the year i was born (1985). should be fun. until next time…

Derek Webb is truly a Revolutionary

Nathan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:07:15 +0000

i just continue to be amazed by the work of derek webb. from leaving the comfort of his successful contemporary christian music band (caedmon’s call) to venture out on his own, to constantly speaking his mind regardless of the flack he was sure to receive from the christian community, to giving away his album mockingbird for free over the internet (yes, he did it long before radiohead, and he didn’t even ask for a penny), he never seems to stop finding ways to challenge himself and to challenge his audience. if you have never listened to any of webb’s music, either from his solo career or his work with caedmon’s you are are really missing out. and because of derek’s constant drive to challenge the way things are, you can now download his newest album for free at noisetrade.com, the new web-site that webb just started where you can either download the album for free with the stipulation of sending a message to three friends letting them know about the album, or you can pay what you want. personally, i think this is brilliant. they only have 11 albums available right now. but i think it is only going to get bigger and that it is the beginning of a trend to come. so check out derek webb and go to noise trade and let me know what you think.

derek webb – i wanna marry you all over again (removed 2/13/09)