Derek Webb
“I See Things Upside Down”
INO Records
12 tracks @ 63:47

The lead singer of Caedmon’s Call releases an excellent second solo CD. The overall feel to this record is best described as subdued acoustic.

“Ballad in Plain Red” alone is worth the price of admission. Featuring an old- school bass track that reminds me of the Sonny and Cher tune “And the Beat Goes On,” this is the coolest Christian song that I’ve heard since Sara Groves’ “The Boxer” (see the May 2004 AlphaOmegaNews reviews). Many (in the Christian music industry??) could look in the mirror after hearing these lyrics, “I’m turning shepherds into sheep, and leaders into celebrities, it’s holy sabotage, ‘cause everything’s for sale in the 21st century, don’t want the song I want a jingle, I love you Lord but don’t hear the single.”

WOW! And while my wife and I don’t always share the same taste in music (she loves Carmen-I could live without; I love Rebecca St. James-she could live without), we both agree that “Ballad in Plain Red” is one cool song.

Note the running time-there’s a lot more great music on this disk. All of the lyrics are available on his official web site, www.derekwebb.com. Thankfully there is little in the way of generic lyrics here.

- Rob S.