I Was Wrong, I’m Sorry & I Love You
Artist: Derek Webb
Label: Fair Trade/Columbia
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Duration: 12 tracks, 52:18
With an extremely full, well engineered sound, distinctively
crystal clear vocals, vast sounding chorus as if sung in a deep, cavernous
cathedral, and acoustic foreground Derek Webb’s I Was Wrong, I’m Sorry & I
Love You recently hit the stands with many an opinion. From those stating this is
his request for forgiveness of stated opinion to the desire to increase his fan
base. I Was Wrong, I’m Sorry & I Love You is, in some respects a sequel to
Webb’s first solo LP, She Must & Shall Go Free. Also, in his own words,
this is perhaps his most personal album to date. Somewhat tuned down, both
lyrically and musically, this album is a collection of solid songs of faith.
With clear and vibrant melody, the album has a big sound. Gone are the bits of techno-beat, and distortion found in
the last few efforts. Electronica is toned down but occasionally present as a
background. With the occasional esoteric lyric, there is little of the controversy
of the past few of Webb’s albums. Rather than coming back to an earlier place
in his repertoire, he is leaning forward in a faith-based maturity we all have
or hope to find in this life. While still on the cutting edge of questioning
what has become of true Christian faith, Webb has ‘boiled down’ his questions
and concerns to a beautiful truth of Christian faith in simple love, respect,
charity and kindness.
With strong message
and melody, “I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You” opens with a message of
apology, but one has to ask is it Webb’s or ours? “Eye Of The Hurricane” follows being both introspective
and having lyrically sweet poetry, like many of Webb’s recent works:
Cause I am the man from which I am running
So even if I wanted to, I can't escape
This is the man that I am becoming
Running in the eye of the hurricane
So even if I wanted to, I can't escape
This is the man that I am becoming
Running in the eye of the hurricane
“Lover Part 3” is a
follow-up to “Lover” on She Must & Shall Go Free and “Lover Part 2” on I
See Things Upside Down, each telling of Christ’s undying relationship with each
of us.
Lyrically, songs
vary from Christ’s love for us as in “A Place At Your Table” and Everything
Will Change” to our faith failing as in “Heavy” and “The Vow”. “I Measure The Days (Simplified Anglican
Chant)” is spoken word set to harp-like backing giving this song a magical
quality with beautiful lyrics of praise. Light and airy, the appropriate
closing is found in “Thy Will Be Done” giving
prayer-like sweet lyrics to be kept in our hearts:
If but
my fainting heart be blest,
With Thy sweet Spirit for
its guest,
My God, to Thee I leave
the rest,
"Thy will be
done!"
"Thy will be done!
Theological, artistic,
and political growth can be found in each of Webb’s albums. While in his way forever
being held as one working for social and political change, he has also brought
the listener to a point of faith-based understanding. Webb supports both those
in need and those issues in need of Christ’s love and forgiveness. For this
writer, I only wish he would also take a stand for environmental issues as God’s
creation is deeply in need of.
Scott S Mertens
4 tocks
No comments:
Post a Comment