Customer Reviews

Mockingbird

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Mockingbird" is Derek Webb's latest love potion: a mirror, emetic, and trail mix for the Christian wandering this modern landscape. A very consistent effort, it examines personal and societal obligations through the lens of love. Surprisingly engaging, it boasts a number of songs worth adopting.

The Content: Touted as an album about "God, politics, and social issues," as suggested by Webb on his "How to Kill and Be Killed" DVD, "Mockingbird" presents meditations on the truth and consequences of love. Webb presents love as an act of intense loyalty to the Savior and those He loves. In that context, politics, the art of getting along with other people, becomes sacred business, and having songs of love and politics rub shoulders becomes quite natural.

"Mockingbird" is the confessional opener, presenting Webb's search for authenticity, truth, and solid ground in this world of many songs. "A New Law" is a powerful plea for an uncomplicated life, presumably referencing John 13:34. "A King and a Kingdom" is a genuine rallying cry that veers into truly frightening territory--in my mind, the most powerful song on the album. "I Hate Everything (But You)" was co-written by Webb's wife, Sandra McCracken, and it's a good one, a nice love song. With love and allegiance surveyed, "Rich Young Ruler" and "My Enemies are Men Like Me" tackle poverty and war powerfully, in part through the eyes of the Savior. I don't quite get "Zeroes and Ones" yet--the lack of a lyrics sheet doesn't help. "In God We Trust" is a simple meditation on trusting God--and oh there are many situations worth noting here. "Please, Before I Go" is a pretty little love song. "Love is Not Against the Law" summarizes what came before.

The Music: The tunes are melodically simple, the arrangements clean and interesting, and the vocals affecting. Much tighter than previous efforts, it holds up well to repeated listenings from start to finish. "A Consistent Ethic of Human Life" is an instrumental touchstone that features strings, brass, and bells, providing an important structural framework for the album. (For example, if you hear horn and trumpet, expect love to be an important theme of the song.) Their presence makes this album a much richer experience. "Rich Young Ruler" boasts an electric guitar solo! but not by Derek Webb, alas. (I do wish he would make a more electric guitar-driven album with solos done by himself.) Overall, this might be Derek's best solo effort, musically.

Concerns: "A King and a Kingdom": Webb has been very concerned about Christians making Jesus into their own image (see, for example, "I Repent" from ISTUD: "by domesticating you until you look just like me"), and the "white Middle Class Republican" line is quite in keeping with that. (Many Sunday School materials show Jesus as a cute white guy with long hair. Some black churches portray Jesus as being black. This sort of thing is not uncommon and worth noting.) As with the use of "whore" in "Wedding Dress" from SMASGF, Webb uses "hell" quite literally--shock value, but not profanity, intended: i.e. sure as hell is real, our enemy is _____. "My Enemies Are Men Like Me": Though naive on the surface, it acquires its power from the eye-opening stanza about Jesus' example. Most of these songs paraphrase or imply Scripture (e.g. "Mockingbird": Matthew 12:43-45 and Mark 5:9-10.) and merit careful consideration. Webb lets you know where he's coming from--search the Scriptures to see if he's on target or not.

Impression: This is Derek Webb's most accessible album to date. The music is attractive though not ground-breaking. The lyrics are thought-provoking. For those who appreciate Webb's efforts to promote self-examination, this is a must-have and food for thought.

Also recommended: Keller's "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," which echoes the high view of the Lord presented in the album. Also check out Sandra McCracken's new album, "The Builder and the Architect," a fine collection of hymns dressed in contemporary garb and a good counterweight to Derek's output.

I've loved Derek Webb's music for something like the past six years. I t was at that point that I moved to Houston and had my first taste of Caedmon's Call. In fact, 40 Acres is still my favorite CD. But since Derek has set off on his own he's had a somewhat different tone than he did with Caedmon's. His music and lyrics have progressed (as should be hoped for and expected), but his heart has turned to an open call to the church to be what we so often fail to be. Mockingbird is, no doubt, an exceptional addition to a very great solo career of proclaiming to the people of a kingdom that they must never forget their king and first love. Everyone in the church is effectively called out b Webb to change their lives and love the hungry, lonely, sick, poor, tired and undesirable of this fallen world with the love that will one day permeate creation and drive out the wickedness and fallen-ness that plague it today. This both a humbling and encouraging call, one that I'm sure Webb will not (and has not) simply over-looked in his own life.

A beautiful effort with some new classics, including "A New Law," which is just as good as "Wedding Dress." Lyrically, Derek is challenging as always, while sonically he takes it up several notches thanks to a brilliant production and engineering team (Cason Cooley and Shane D. Wilson). The horns and strings are tasteful and go well with this more acoustic approach.

Many of the reviews here are deeply unfair. Lumping him in with Jim Wallis is libelous. Derek is not a liberal/Democrat-- or a conservative/Republican, for that matter. In fact, one of the points of this record is to try and get people to think Biblically before they think politically. While I don't agree with everything he says, it is important to be challenged and question your long-held political beliefs, re-examining them in light of Jesus's life and teachings. Derek makes me think more deeply- and Biblically- about war, allegiance, enemies, etc.

Not many people mention that there is also a great pop love song on here: "I Hate Everything (But You)." While its musical similarities to "Reputation" (from I See Things Upside Down) are a little too close for comfort, it is an amazing song that I wish could get radio play.

This is one of my top 5 records of 2005, and will be for 2006 as well. Highly recommended.

Derek has in my opinion written and recorded one of the best albums in "Christian" music today. The truth of the gospel echoes in every line. It calls American "Christianity" to account for it's failures. It calls Christians to consider the path that they are on and seek the Lord in repentance. Furthermore, at no point does the music detract from the truth but always and only, as one reviewer writes, "serves as a canvas" for the truth which he proclaims. In so much of modern "Christian" music we find bastardizations of the classic truth filled songs of the past ages, which have served to encourage and edify the body of Christ, with modern marketable-music that distracts and draws attention away from the truth contained with in the songs. The review of this album in Christianity Today hints at fleshly desire of Christians today for music that makes them feel good when it notes that radio stations will not pick up this album because it is not catchy and marketable.

What is Christianity about and what is the problem? Is it supposed to be easy and popular? Today music must be catchy, like the worlds music, the truthfulness dopes not matter when it is considered for air time on "Christian" radio. We reject the meat for milk. Emergent church ideas and the existentially driven modern Christian who wants has an emotional experience to call an encouter with God, though it be the product of men and music and nothing of the holy spirit and void of biblical truth, are a large consumer base in the "Christian" world and this album contains little in the way of uplifting emotionalism that they will pay for. Therefore we should not expect to hear it on the radio. Why would we? The religious people of the day killed the prophets and Derek seems to measure up to that office in many ways. He can only say what he has heard and he says it so well.

On the other side Derek calls us to search out the ways of the holy spirit, to learn how He the third person of the trinity works. He calls us to law down our laws and be freed as Christ intended us to be when he took up the law of the flesh and broke its chains. This call can have a wide range of application in both our personal lives and the life of our churches.

All in all this is again one of the best albums today. Prophetic in the sense that Derek is calling us to give an account to God for our erring. He is calling us to holiness; the greatest need today. He is calling us to step out of our complacency and thoughtless Christianity.

Derek Webb has taken a must needed stand in the church with this album...Songs like "A New Law" and many others on the album meet head on with some of the modern western churches issues of legalism, hypocracy, and short sidedness. Derek doesn't complain though, he simply states his opinion. The music is great too.

First my gripe, then my praise.

"Mockingbird" heavily marketed and reviewed as containing "thought provoking controversial lyrics" cannot be fully appreciated at least, not until you visit "Derekwebb.com" to obtain them.

Annoying? Yes. A trip to the computer to obtain the essential element needed to fully appreciate an artist's work is hopefully not a trend intent upon remaining.

The latest Kevin Max release "The Imposter" (another artist appreciated for great lyrics) required a visit to Kevinmax.com to obtain his lyrical work as well. A CD without lyrics is like bell with no ring.

To fully appreciate "Mockingbird" retrieve the lyrics first if possible. Now the praise.......

Piano,acoustic,folk,pop-all blend with thought provoking lyrics beautifully. Derek Webb has strong control of his voice and delivers a total package of perfection. Addressing life, politics,poverty and the manner in which many people view the world today. You may not agree with his outlook or many of his lyrics,however you will surely give pause to "think about" rather than push aside the many questions Christian's face today.

Open eyes and heart,listen with a heavy dose of personal honesty. Ponder the questions Webb asks of us as Christian's. Are Webb's lyrics really all that controversial? "Honesty" seems befitting as an overall description of "Mockingbird"

Derek Webb, an artist willing to ask real questions even at great risk and critcism. Brave, bold and outspoken, Derek Webb has what it takes to step outside the "perfect expectations" fans place upon those we admire as great artist's of Contemporary Christian Music.

Too many times in the Christian music market today you see artists get pigeon-holed into a rut of singing bland, non-challenging lyrics or repeated praise choruses that have almost lost their meaning to the listener. Andrew Osenga (formerly of The Normals and now of Caedmon's Call) told me just the other night that his band's old label forced them to record a second praise album - they did not have a choice really. And he told me not to buy it because "it sucked. Our hearts were not in it. . . It is not what Caedmon's Call is. Never was."

Derek Webb has refused a "real label" and instead has chosen to stay indie (a move I see repeated my multiple artists in CCM now), and subsequently has been able to stay high above that rut which has unfortunately become the norm. He has always stayed true to his faith and at the same time, created great music with challenging lyrics.

But Mockingbird is different: you find yourself wincing at times because of the cold, hard truth that has been packed into it. He shakes up what we thought to be true and reminds us of what the Bible actually commands: that we are called to give to the impoverished, that "peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication," and that the second great lie is that "Jesus was a white, middle-class republican, and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him."

It feels a bit like a needed punch in the gut, but in the end you feel the need to sing along.

At first, I was less than enthusiastic about this album. But, after several straight-through hearings, I'm hooked. I understand that many are turned off by the sometimes odd mixing and arrangements, as well as the pointed and confrontational lyrics. But, as someone trying to figure out how to be a responsible Jesus-follower in the American culture, while not falling prey either to the white middle-class Christian ghetto, on the one hand, or the anything-goes relativism of the world, on the other, Mockingbird has become a tremendous encouragement and breath of fresh air. Every time I listen to it, I think to myself, "I'm not alone."

It's funny how musical tastes differ, and how devoted fans will see an artist's album as either "incredible," "an average effort," or "disappointing." Regarding Mockingbird, I am in the camp that considers this album his best yet. Furthermore, this review is based more on musical value than lyrical value: I consider Webb to be one of the most thoughtful and poetic songwriters, and regardless of muscial quality his lyrics are always well-crafted, thought-provoking, and, well, provocative. Webb doesn't disappoint lyrically with Mockingbird; it's the musical value that sets this album apart for me. The title song especially is catchy, staying in your head without having that "brain worm" quality that so many pop songs have. I guess I find the songs on this album overall to be more melodic and the music even more passionate than his previous two albums. I'm just happy Derek Webb is out there continuing to create and release new music - his albums are diamonds, especially compared to most pop music (Christian and otherwise) being released nowadays. I hope a new studio album is in the works!

Before I get started, yes, this albusm does have some strange-sounding mixing at times, but this album is not killed by some sound experimentation. Derek Webb has proven himself an expressive modern poet, a distiguished singer-songwriter that somehow, at times, reminds us of elements of Bob Dylan or Rich Mullins, mixed with an unquenchable honesty that either completely appeals or deturs his listeners. Even those who love Derek Webb's music can be offended by it. For the Church, it pokes its finger at our hypocricies, blind politics, and lack of involvement in social issues. Yet these issues are challenges to us to explore our lives and where we truly stand, aside from what churches or the media might tell us. Finally, Derek's songwriting skill and performing ability, as always, shine through and make for songs that you can listen to over and over again - and you will.