Stockholm Syndrome refers to a hostage sympathizing, identifying, and aligning their loyalty to their captor. With Derek Webb’s habit of criticizing Christian culture, you may see where he’s going with this album.

Webb has done few things that can’t be interpreted as offensive by the Conservative Christian media in his solo career. His very fist release in 2003, after breaking from the Contemporary Christian band Caedemon’s Call, She Must and Shall Go Free, ruffled a few feathers when he used the rather biblical language “whore” and “bastard” that family-friendly radio stations weren’t comfortable with. In 2007, his breakthrough electric album The Ringing Bell criticized politic-pushing-pulpits on the track “A Savior on Capital Hill.” A year later, during the election year, he re-released his Mockingbird album for free on Noisetrade with a bonus track in which Webb communicates to his listeners their right and moral obligation not to vote if they cannot, with a clear conscience, choose a candidate.

In summary, controversy is nothing new to Derek Webb.

Why then are so many fans who have stuck with him through four albums now turning their backs and calling Stockholm Syndrome the final straw? It would seem he has chosen a line to cross that many people are finally unwilling to go over with him.

Basically, in a nod to a speech made by Tony Campolo, Webb uses obscenities on the track “What Matters More” which deals with the Christian community’s mistreatment of the gay community. That’s what is really getting people fired up. To say that is the only song on Stockholm Syndrome that will ruffle feathers would be to overlook other blatant and offensive language on the album, but the obscenities are what’s really going to have Webb dodging all the stones that will be cast at him come September 1st… and some have already started to fly (I found quite an interesting blog entry that really gets behind the song, you should check it out).

While everyone’s turning their attention to “What Matters More” (irony), there are many other abrasive songs that will be overlooked… that also need to be heard.

The Song “Black Eye” calls out Christian passivism, ignorance, and adaptation to culture, stating “Time looks the same at the ones who hate and the ones that do nothing” while “The Spirit vs. the Kickdrum” addresses Christian’s convenience-skewed view of the Godhead. Webb continues his political trend with “The State” and even makes an interesting address to Westboro Baptist Church’s Fred Phelps in what I would consider one of the most notable tracks on the album, “Freddie, Please.” And that’s only the first half.

I recently scheduled lunch with a friend from high school who, since graduation three years ago, has come out as a homosexual. When I made the passing comment about meeting him, I was teased about our “date” by some of my friends and family. There where people very close to me, and the person I was going to meet, who did not really love him at all, and it hurt. Honestly, what Webb has to say on “What Matters More” needs to be said.

However, I believe the greatest risk run by the lyrical content of Stockholm Syndrome is not actually one or two words, but the actual language Webb uses throughout the album. The obscenities are not the greatest concern here. If we’re going to draw the line and mandate language, google the lyrics for the song and look at how many christian bloggers chose to type out “damn” but censor “s—.” Where do we draw the line? My only conern of how this album will be received is that in calling out real, critical points in the American Church in the way that he does, Webb has run the risk of sounding as sharp and in-compassionate as the very people he criticizes.

My final suggestion, for what it’s worth… buy the album. Decide for yourself. Not just if Derek Webb’s approach is right or wrong… but what’s the heart behind the songs, and what will you take away.

Note: Anyone who claims this is all a marketing strategy to sell records is just mudslinging. For $10 you get both the clean and “explicit” versions of the album and the album booklet reads:

“I wholly support the free distribution and consumption of music. Please share this record.”

In other words, Webb is giving away the unedited copy for free. He really just wants this song to be heard.