"The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord."
This message from the timeworn hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," gets a fresh take as the seeming theme of She Must and Shall Go Free, Derek Webb's first solo venture. "She," of course is the church, and Webb, up to now, has been known mainly as one-seventh of the group Caedmon's Call.
Melodic vignettes of Jesus' love for the sinners and saints that populate today's church, and deep, gritty songwriting run constant through this project. Some of Webb's analogies, such as comparing today's church to a "whore," may be a bit uncomfortable. But as Webb says, "These songs are not for the faint of heart." The music is casually folksy, but serious in subject. Probing lyrics turn a mirror on Christians, making us examine our sincerity.
She Must and Shall Go Free is the antithesis to the safe, often predictable and mindless babble of mass-appeal Christian music. Webb actually has something insightful to share. After listening a few times, it becomes clear that the lyrical emphasis, although confrontational, conveys Christ's love, grace and hope for a dying world.
Musically acoustic, emotionally stirring and intellectually challenging, She Must and Shall Go Free simply should not be ignored.
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Review by: Rich Brock