For the last two days I’ve been listening to Derek Webb’s ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ off and on.  In between phone calls and the crowded bus, I’ve been able to catch the ‘gist’ of the record, but haven’t really dove into it yet.  My initial thoughts?  ”Dang.  He stepped up his musical game for sure.”  Now, it’s not that Derek’s stuff has ever been musically sub-par or anything like that, but this record is a new level of Derek Webb.  The loops are cool, the beats are cool, and the melodies are some of the best I’ve heard come from him. That alone is worth getting the record.  And that’s not even mentioning the amazing sixty minute video of the making of the record.

Now, I know there’s plenty of controversy about ‘the cussing song’ and I’ve read a lot of different opinions of people expressing their now “loss of respect” or “gain of respect” for Derek Webb.  So I’m curious.  What’s the crowd here’s consensus?  He cusses in a song.  Yep.  The big ol’ ‘SH’ word.  I’ve seen things written from parents saying they won’t let their kids listen to it because he’s supposed to be a ‘Christian’ and there’s nothing Christian about cussing.  I’m curious though.  How many of those parents allowed their kids to see any of the latest ‘big movies’ this summer?  Any cussing in those movies?  Any sexual references?  Any “explicit” content?  I’m guessing there was.  And I’m not saying that just because you let your kids see Transformers, you should let them say whatever they want, but I’m curious about the folks that are so quick to throw Derek under the bus because he says one word that might offend you. We’re you not offended in those movies?  Or is it because he’s a Christian and only sinners talk that way?

Here’s what I don’t want to come out of this post.  I don’t want to start a fight between the ‘Webb-heads’ and the ‘Christian-Christians’.  I know there are plenty of folks out there who live and breathe anything Derek says and I think that’s fine, but let’s do our best to keep it civil.  So what do we think?  Who’s heard the record, and what are your thoughts on it musically, lyrically and (since the conversation will go this way anyway) what do you think of the ‘cuss word that shook CCM’?