ok, i know i've joked about it before but it crystalized today and i've decided. seriously. i'm making a worship record this year.

8:45 PM Dec 28th, 2009

my announcement on twitter of nearly a year ago might have caught some of you off guard. even some of my closest friends were suspicious when i first told them that i had decided to make a "worship" record. but i also realize that some of you might have no idea why.

the very idea of "worship" has become a complicated one. arguably, it's what we all do, 24 hours a day (regardless of what we're worshipping). but in some christian circles, some of which i feel as though i move in and out of, there have been very rigid guidelines regarding what qualifies to be called "worship," especially in art. it can typically be identified by a particular sound or look, narrow subject matter, and an uncomfortably predictable and yet mysteriously expected response of those who consume what might be called "worship product."

so these are troubled waters to wade into as an artist. and i have happily and naturally avoided them. but near the end of my last creative season, including touring 'stockholm syndrome,' i decided that this might be the moment to contribute to this tangled conversation. and it wouldn't be consistent with my creative ethic to record a collection of corporate-ready choruses for local churches to sing, nor does there seem to be a general need for that. there is plenty of modern "worship" music and are certainly many other artists who are more appropriately gifted and positioned to provide those songs. i wanted to do something that would be challenging to both me as a creator and to those who might engage with it. make no mistake, there is a deeply spiritual component to getting in way over your head.

so i got together with my great friend/collaborator josh moore (co-producer/creator of 'stockholm syndrome') and my wife/collaborator sandra mccracken, and dreamt up 'feedback.' it was immediately conceptual and ambitious, so much so that i genuinely wasn't sure i could do it. but again, this seemed to be the perfect posture in which to create something worthy of being called "worshipful" as a piece of art.

these were our coordinates:

we would seek to make a worshipful, instrumental, electronic music recording, classically composed into three movements, based strictly on the structure and content of the 'lord's prayer' (which has three major sections, reflected in the three movements of the composition).

and that's what we've done. we studied, meditated, struggled and prayed our way through this creative process, and it's easily the most difficult thing i've ever done in my creative vocation. but i believe it's been worth it, even just for the ways it's stretched both my creative process and my faith as a follower of the Way.

in order to engage the listener as fully as possible, i also commissioned two abstract artistic works from two great visual artists. one is 9 paintings (one for each line of the prayer, the same structure as the songs on 'feedback') from my friend and painter/performance artist scott erickson. the other is a series of 9 abstract photographs (again, one for each line in the 'lord's prayer') from my long-time friend and acclaimed photographer jeremy cowart. and these works will all be available with the release of 'feedback,' and an essential part of the meditative experience.

which brings me to the release. 'feedback' will be available on november 2nd, exclusively at http://derekwebb.com. it will be available from itunes, etc. sometime after the first of 2011.

lastly, a story. we decided that since the central context of the 'lord's prayer' is that it is corporate (our father, not my father or your father), we should take it out publicly before the end and field record the last track (a traditional 'amen'). so yesterday (wednesday, september 29th) josh moore and i showed up to a coffee shop in houston (where we're finishing/mastering 'feedback') with only a few hours warning on twitter and played the last movement of the album over the speakers for a roomful of vigilant fans, then live-recorded the 'amen' at it's conclusion.

so now the recording is finished, and this strange creative detour is finding its way back around to the paved road. and only god knows where we're going next.

Relevant Magazine - #9 for 2009 - Stockholm Syndrome
Website

Christianity Today - #9 for 2009 - Stockholm Syndrome
Website
by Jeremy V. Jones

Jesus Freak Hideout - Staff Top 10 - Stockholm Syndrome
Website
By Scott Fryberger, Jen Rose, Laura Nunnery

CCM Magazine - Top 10's for 2009 - Stockholm Syndrome
Website
By Andy Argyrakis, Matt Conner, Andrew Greer

Rhapsody - #5 for the Decade - She Must and Shall Go Free
Website

Derek is featured in the music section of FORA.tv.

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FORA.tv helps intelligent, engaged audiences get smart. Their users find, enjoy, and share videos about the people, issues, and ideas changing the world.

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With their community of savvy users and an extensive, growing library of smart videos, FORA.tv is at the forefront of the ongoing integration - and transformation - of the traditional media, TV, cable, and online industries from mass-market to high-quality, high-value content.

Derek has now released the Vocal-Only stems for Stockholm Syndrome. We've created a download file with each Vocal Track from Stockholm Syndrome, download, remix, submit.

DOWNLOAD VOCAL STEMS NOW

VISIT SOUNDCLOUD and the Derek Webb Stockholm Syndrome Remix Group for recently uploaded user submitted tracks, discuss remixes, share with your friends, and to submit remixes of your own.

Would you be interested in helping Spread the word about The Black Eye Tour?

With band and production rehearsals underway and eager to see as many of you on the road as we can, we'd love your help. We created a resource page for download of tour posters, a download that includes one full color version as well as two black and white copies to be easily printed and spread around.

TOUR RESOURCES

FIRST, thanks so much to everyone for your interest and ongoing support during Stockholm Syndrome's rough beginnings and eventual release.

Stockholm Syndrome has generated talk from both fans and critics and we wanted to share some with you.

REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

We're proud to announce that Stockholm Syndrome is available on vinyl, on two vinyl discs to ensure proper sound quality and comes with an immediate download of the record in MP3 format.

WHERE TO PURCHASE?
Below is an active group of records stores either currently carrying or with the ability to order the vinyl on demand. We have provided a direct link to each store for your convenience.

'LIMITED' supply on hand, and are available to order additional copies.
Oz Music- Tuscaloosa, AL
Princeton Records- Princeton, NJ
Record Breakers- Chicago, IL
Grimey's-Nashville, TN
Everybody's Records-Cincinnati , OH
Applause Inc. - St. Paul, MN
Horizon Records - Greenville, SC
Groovalicious Platters - Cedar City, UT
Rock-It-Man - Flagstaff, AZ
Co-Op Records - Peoria, IL


The following list of stores can ORDER the vinyl and are currently featuring Stockholm Syndrome in listening stations or on their websites.

COALITION OF INDEPENDANT MUSIC STORES
Cactus Music and Video - Houston, TX
CD World - Eugene, OR
Central Square - Seaside, FL
CD Connection - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Disc Exchange - Knoxville, TN
Earshot - Greenville, SC
Ear X-Tacy - Louisville, KY
Easy Street - Seattle, WA
Electric Fetus - MInneapolis, MN
Finders Records - Bowling Green, KY
Fingerprints - Long Beach, CA
Homer's - Omaha, NE / Lincoln, NE
Indy CD & Vinyl - Indianapolis, IN
Kief's - Lawrence, KS
Lakeshore - Rochester, NY
Looney Tunes - Long Island, NY
Lou's Records - Encinitas, CA
Magnolia Thunderpussy - Columbus, OH
Music Millenium - Portland, OR
Off The Record - Yakima, WA
Park Avenue CD's - Orlando, FL
Plan 9 Music - Richmond, VA
Pure Pop - Burlington, VT
Rainbow - Newark, DE
Record Archive - Rochester, NY
Record Exchange - Boise, ID
Rhino / Mad Platter - Claremont-Riverside, CA
Rockin' Rudy's - Missoula, MT
Salzer's Records - Ventura, CA
Schoolkids Records - NC / GA
Streetlight Records - San Jose, CA
Twist & Shout - Denver, CO
Uncle Sam's Music - Miami, FL
Waterloo Records - Austin, TX


ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDANT MEDIA STORES - VISIT SITE
52.5 RECORDS - Charleston, SC
BOO BOO RECORDS - San Luis Obispo, CA
CD CENTRAL - Lexington, KY
Criminal Records - Atlanta, GA
CULTURE CLASH - Toledo, OH
END OF AN EAR - Austin, TX
EXILE ON MAIN ST - Branford, CT
GOOD RECORDS - Dallas, TX
GRIMEY'S - Nashville, TN
GUESTROOM RECORDS - Norman, OK
HOT POOP - Walla Walla, WA
JACKPOT RECORDS - Portland, OR
LANDLOCKED MUSIC - Bloomington, IN
LUNA MUSIC - Indianapolis, IN
M-THEORY - San Diego, CA
ROCK-A-BILLYS - Utica, MI
SHAKE IT - Cincinnati, OH
SLOWTRAIN - Salt Lake City, UT
SONIC BOOM - Seattle, WA
STINKWEEDS - Phoenix, AZ
VINTAGE VINYL - St. Louis, MO
VINYL FEVER - TAMPA - Tampa, FL


INDEPENDENT RECORD STORES
Boo Boo Records - San Luis Obispo, CA
CD Central - Lexington, KY
Disc Exchange - Knoxville, TN
Ear X-tacy - Louisville, KY
Electric Fetus - Minneapolis, MN
Exile On Main St. - Connecticut
Lakeshore - Rochester, NY
M-Theory Records - San Diego, CA
Music Millennium - Portland, OR
Park Ave. - Tampa, FL
Record Archive - Rochester, NY
Plan 9 - Virginia
Record Exchange - Boise, ID
Scotti's - NJ
Shake It - Cincinnati, OH
Twist & Shout - Denver, CO
Vintage Vinyl - St. Louis, MO
Waterloo - Austin, TX

Stockholm Syndrome Releases!

BUY ON ITUNES NOW ...

OR you can download the 'Uncensored' version NOW, directly from Derek, with any of six packages including 'digital-only' with lots of digital extras, 3 different quality resolutions (including HD) of 'Paradise Is A Parking Lot' (the hour-long documentary film about Stockholm Syndrome), full multi-track stems of the entire album (in WAV format) for remixing, limited edition Stockholm Syndrome t-shirts and much more.

BUY UNCENSORED VERSION NOW

DEREK WEBB WANTS YOUR REMIXES

Derek Webb not only wants to hear but wants to help you distribute your remixes of his new album Stockholm Syndrome.

With the purchase of the tier 3 (physical + digital) package from the STORE you will receive a disc of full album multi-track stems (WAV format) for remixing of Stockholm Syndrome.

VISIT SOUNDCLOUD and the Derek Webb Stockholm Syndrome Remix Group for updates on new user submitted tracks, discuss remixes, share with your friends, and to submit remixes of your own.


ADDITIONAL FEATURES OF TIER 3:
Special packaging, including Paradise Is A Parking Lot, 60 minute documentary film about Stockholm Syndrome DVD, and AUTOGRAPHED lyric booklet

Immediate download of Paradise Is A Parking Lot
VIEW TRAILER ABOVE
LARGE 1280x720 pixels (H.264 MP4)

Exclusive digital extras package - including digital booklet, 7 Stockholm Syndrome ringtones (MP3 & iPhone), 12 high-res desktop images, and high-res cover image

Exclusive participation and subscription to Derek's upcoming album of cover songs, Democracy Vol. 1 (more info to follow)

Exclusive Stockholm Syndrome T-Shirt

PURCHASE NOW

ANNOUNCING the BLACK EYE TOUR
with Special Guest Sandra McCracken

9/17 - Louisville, KY - 930 Listening Room
9/18 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Pour Cafe
9/19 - Jackson, Tn - Union University
9/20 - Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theatre
9/22 - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar
9/23 - Greenville, SC - The Handlebar
9/24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
9/25 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
9/26&27 - Vienna, VA - Jammin Java
9/30 - Winston Salem, NC - Confluence Underground
10/1 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
10/2 - Knoxville, TN - The Square Room
10/3 - Nashville, TN - The Rutledge
10/4 - Lexington, KY - The Dame

10/15 - St Petersburg, FL - The State Theatre
10/16 - Orlando, FL - The Plaza Theatre
10/17 - Jacksonville, FL - Murray Hill Theatre

10/23 - Waco, TX - Common Grounds
10/24 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
10/25 - Dallas, TX - Live @ Mokah
10/28 - Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar
11/1 - Akron, OH - Musica

BUY TICKETS NOW

A few minutes of footage from the making of Derek Webb's new, stunningly successful album, "Stockholm Syndrome" explains a lot about what Webb, the consciously controversial Christian singer-songwriter, is up to with his latest release. In the docu-video released last week on Webb's personal site , along with the album (which comes out, minus a crucial track from INO Records in September), Webb discusses some song lyrics with his former bandmate and current producer Josh Moore. Moore, lighting a cigarette, asks. "Well, what specifically are you talking about?"

"Nuthin'," says Webb, before mentioning unleaded gas, Indian casinos and bad credit, and finallly citing the Founding Fathers: "giving up security for freedom."

In his career, Webb has repeatedly given up security--of the Dove Award-winning band Caedmon's Call, which he quit in 2003; of a recording career safe in the Christian niche--for the freedom to be what he wants to be. Right now, that looks like an evangelical Justin Timberlake, with a nearly bald head and a fluting R&B voice, who adds crispness to his exacting techno songs by pronouncing "sex" as if it still had the power to provoke.

In Webb's Christian venue, of course, words still have that power. The closest thing to an official explanation I've heard for why INO won't release the song "What Matters More" is that it includes a dirty word beginning with "s." (In some evangelical circles, the shot of Moore smoking tobacco on his own Texas porch is proof enough that "Stockholm Syndrome" grew out of an atmosphere of moral lassitude.) Another strike, obviously, is Webb's thorough-going critique of the evangelical culture's moral self-regard, particularly its "reckless" rejection of homosexuals. "If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth," he sings on "What Matters More, "it sure seems like being straight is what this is all about."

But this kind of attack on Christian complacency is not news. In books, speeches and songs, evangelical thinkers and artists have been openly questioning their culture's strident emphasis on sexuality. The critique is not even a departure for Webb. His Dylan-esque 2007 album "The Ringing Bell" became notorious for its song "Savior on Capitol Hill," chiding Christians for trying to restore the Christian nation through politics. The news here is Webb's reinvention as a techno-beat wizard, and that, with his latest turnover in style, controversy has become Webb's only constant.

This makes for a slippery soapbox. Webb wants his fellow Christians to see how they have adopted the principles of the larger culture that has taken them hostage. (Stockholm Syndrome refers to the tendency of hostages to sympathize with the goals of their kidnappers.) Webb's refusal to fit a format, to accept what's merely working, to be hostage to an audience, is exciting to watch. But to see him do it while aiming for the Billboard Hot List risks confusion or, worse, disingenuousness. But the charge in "Stockholm Syndrome" is precisely its ambiguity, something few Christian artists have achieved, or even attempted.

Derek Webb's highly anticipated new album Stockholm Syndrome is finally here!

Because of controversy with Derek's record label, there will be two versions of the album released (a 'clean' and an 'explicit' version), hitting physical and digital shelves on September 1st, 2009. But directly from Derek will be the only way to get Stockholm Syndrome in its entirety and original sequence, including the controversial song 'What Matters More'.

And why wait until September? All pre-orders come with an IMMEDIATE full digital download of Stockholm Syndrome.

Choose from SIX different pre-order options, including 'digital-only' packages with lots of digital extras, 3 different quality resolutions (including HD) of 'Paradise Is A Parking Lot' (the hour-long documentary film about Stockholm Syndrome), full multi-track stems of the entire album (in WAV format) for remixing, limited edition Stockholm Syndrome t-shirts and much more.

PRE-ORDER NOW

friends-
this is turning into a bigger deal than we expected. as a result, we're having to temporarily _pull everything online down (can't explain now). and to be on the s_afe side, i'm going to pe_rsonally go offline while we sort this out. i re_ally shouldn't use my twitter account for now either so _don't expect any updates there.

make no m_istake, our trouble with the label over content i_s very real, and not as simple as one word; we're back_ed into a corner. but we have applied all of our creative resources to th_is, working furiou_sly to create something that we believe not only subverts any leg_al issues but should also be a _pretty wild ride.

so this will be the l_ast email for a while. we'll t_ry to lea_k information via a new tw_itter account, @ssyndrome. you're o_n your own so start payin_g attention. i'l_l see you _on the o_ther side-

derek

friends-
i haven't sent many personal emails to this email list but we're in a situation that has gotten a little out of control and it's time to fill you in. as some of you may know, i've been working for months on my new record, 'stockholm syndrome', which i've recently finished and turned in to the record label. they've been very supportive over the years, but this time we didn't get the response we expected. it seems i've finally found the line beyond which my label can support me, and apparently i've crossed it.

i consider this my most important record and am adamant about all of you hearing it. we had originally hoped to have 'stockholm syndrome' out this month (next week even), but at this point we're not sure when the record will come out and in what form. the majority of the controversy is surrounding one song, which i consider to be among the most important songs on the record. so we've decided it's an appropriate time to break the rules.

but because of various legal/publishing issues we're having to be rather careful with how we do what we're going to do next. that's really all i can say for now and i've probably said too much.

we have a plan and we're moving ahead, but we're not sure what kind of trouble we might be getting into. more news coming very soon-

derek