Music: The Ringing Bell by Derek Webb

With Mockingbird, Derek Webb already entrnched himself as an artist willing to ask hard (and some would say controversial) questions. With this CD, Webb has continued in this same vein and continues to ask some hard questions that challenge the typical Christian view of, well, just about anything.

Webb has called this his first “rock” album and he’s right as long as you hearken back to the sound of the British Invasion in the 60s. For many today, this is not exactly the sound they conjure up when the term “rock and roll” are spoken. Still, it’s a great sound and it fits his voice and poetry quite well. It’s a nice departure from the folk-oriented style he’s so well-known for.

Covering topics ranging from being a prisoner to our own closed minds (”The End”) to the culmination of Christ’s glory (”This Too Shall Be Made Right”), Webb weaves a great set of songs that are designed to challenge as well as entertain. My favorite songs are the songs dealing with harder hitting issues and my least favorite are the love songs - no surprises there. The politically charged “Savior on Capitol Hill” and “Love That’s Stronger Than Our Fear” will surely raise some eyebrows, but they both address issues that most Christian artists are afraid to even touch in fear that they might upset the party line. After all, Christian = Republican, right? I told you I liked the harder hitting songs.

All in all, I truly enjoy this album with my foremost complaint being its length… it’s too short. At just slightly over 30 minutes, this album recycles itself too quickly in a CD player. Other than that small complaint, I find much to like on this album and heartily recommend it. It’s probably Derek’s strongest album yet.