The Ringing Bell [Us Import] [Import]

I've been a fan of Derek Webb since the early days of Caedmon's Call, and his solo career has taken one unexpected turn after another. With Mockingbird he turned to more political themes, and he joined an exclusive club of Christian artists that make me think I'm not insane after all. So much of the Christian subculture is so ready to tow the conservative Republican party line on every possible issue, and breaking from the agenda is seen as reason enough to question one's faith. I live in a very conservative area, and I know from experience that to speak against the current president and against war is to open yourself up to taunts of heresy from many of your Christian brothers and sisters.

Derek undoubtedly knows this feeling very well. From the very start he's offended people's ideas of what Christianity is with his lyrics that tackle everything from deep theology, social issues, the music industry, and peace. Mockingbird was a very polarizing album, embraced by some and hated by many for his supposed abandoning of "the gospel" in favor of songs about peace and social issues. On The Ringing Bell he takes a step further in this direction, making a virtual concept album about peace. To Derek, peace is not so much just the absence of war, but it is a much more active concept, something we must practice and bring about in every area of our lives. With the exception of a few love songs to his wife, this album is very single minded in its pursuit of peace, and this common theme (along with common musical themes and the amazing artwork) makes this a wonderfully cohesive album that just begs for repeat listens. I pre-ordered and got it the day it was released, and in that time I've probably listened to it over 25 times. It is very short, and the second it finishes I find myself hitting play again. It has yet to get old, and I honestly don't see that happening for a long time.

Musical standouts are the opening two tracks, "The End" and "The Very End," which run together seamlessly and form a beautiful Beatles inspired intro to the retro rock sound that is to follow. "I Don't Want To Fight" has beautiful jangly guitars, "Name" has an original-yet-familiar melody, "Can't Be Without You" is full of ethereal beauty, and "This Too Shall Be Made Right" concludes the album on a sublime acoustic note. There is just the right balance of variety to keep things interesting and allow every song to stand on its own, yet enough similarities to make this a true album and not just a collection of singles. The overall mood is at the same time more upbeat and heavier (not so much as in heavy guitars or beats, but a certain urgency and weight to what he is saying) than his previous work. Lyrically the whole album is pretty strong, although a lot of these lyrics don't look so good on paper and must be heard to get the full effect. If you really want the FULL effect, you would do well to order the special edition that comes with the graphic novel. The drawings take album artwork to a new level in this age of downloading where artwork has become so secondary to many listeners. Reading the lyrics and looking at the panels of the novel while listening to the album helps to create a mood and allow you to dive deeper into the subtleties of each song.

It's a little early to say, and Mockingbird is such a great album, but this might just be Derek's masterpiece. In an amazing musical year like 2007 is shaping up to be, it really means a lot to say that this disc stands head and shoulders above almost everything else that has been released up until now. Any fan of great music, whether they be Christian or not, liberal or conservative, old or young, etc, would do themselves a huge favor by picking up The Ringing Bell.

As one opens the packaging on this album, it becomes clear that this is completely unlike any other Derek Webb album we've held in our hands thus far. First of all, gone is the traditional and simplistic art - it's now almost U2-esque with all the bullseyes and full cover art showing the two men shaking hands with weapons behind their backs. He has also released a graphic novel to go along with "The Ringing Bell," much like U2 did with "How To Dismatle An Atomic Bomb."

Of course, Webb has not left everything behind. Just looking at the track listing will reveal that much of this album is political, just as "Mockingbird" was. And when you put the CD in to play, the first two tracks are primarily accoustic.

But it is at that point that Webb turns electric, emulating The Beatles and Bob Dylan and other classic rock acts perfectly. Some kudos could be taken away for that if it were not for the perfect meshing of all the sounds to create his own. And an electric Derek Webb sound is astounding. . . I love it.

And of course there are his lyrics, which are his focal point anyways. Since he is on an independent label, Webb has control over what he does and when he does it. So if he does not like a song, he cuts it and all the songs that are on his albums are what he really and truly believes in. One major difference between this album and "Mockingbird" is that "The Ringing Bell" is less like a punch in the gut lyrically and more personal in nature, even when political.

And on a side note, if you are someone who is feeling skeptical about Webb, this is a good album to try out. I know a few people who were skeptical about him as well; they were swayed upon listening to "The Ringing Bell". . . it really is that good.

Controversial Christian artist Derek Webb has been sparking controversy ever since he began his solo career in 2003. Formerly part of a the pleasantly upbeat folk rock band, Caedmon's Call, Webb's first solo release was blockaded from most religious radio for it's controversial lyrics. Webb made headlines again with his 2005 release "Mockingbird," by criticizing the church's habit of kowtowing to the Republican party. He also gained national attention by making the entire album available for free download - an opportunity that more than 80,000 listeners took advantage.

Now Webb is back with his May 2007 release entitled, "The Ringing Bell." Once again, it's clear that this exceptionally creative artist is still evolving - and this time it's the music that stands out the most. Known mostly for his folk/Americana stylings, Webb is such a popular acoustic performer that he has been known to tour completely by himself. "The Ringing Bell," however, features Webb fully plugged in, with raucous electric guitars, rollicking riffs, and Beatle-esque arrangements. Once again, Webb doesn't shy away from controversial social issues - note in particular the sarcastic "A Savior on Capital Hill." However, the album also includes a roll your windows down-type love song ("I Wanna Marry You All Over Again") and the hope filled acoustic finale, "This Too Shall Be Made Right." While still pointed - particularly for contemporary Christian fare - the lyrics are more subtle than "Mockingbird."