Derek Webb, former songwriter for Caedmon's Call, releases his first solo album, She Must and Shall Go Free, which is likely to confuse the everyday Caedmon's listener. Don't be turned off by the album's country finger-picking style in the beginning seconds of the album. While at first the musical tone of the album might seem hokey or mellow, the lyrics are far from that. Webb takes a bold step lyrically in calling the church out of its comfort zone with lyrics like "Truth is never sexy/ so it's not an easy sell/ You can dress her like the culture/ She'll shock 'em just as well" and "I'll say words that rattle your nerves/ Words like sin and faith alone."

Musically, the album primarily has that acoustic-driven feel that fans of Caedmon's Call are used to. Webb also gets a little countryesque on some songs and adds a pinch of blues on others. Overall, the music gives you the feeling your driving through some two-laned highway in central United States looking out over waves of grain fields blowing in a gentle breeze.

The song "Lover" is a beautiful piece of music painting the picture of Christ loving his bride through the turmoil she has gone through through the centuries, extending a hand of assurance to this generation, "Those who come, I can't lose one... You will be set free." Other high points of the album are "Wedding Dress," "She Must and Shall Go Free," "The Church," and "Take to The World." I've seen this album bring people to tears because of its sheer beauty and brutal honesty rolled into one. Thank you, Derek for pushing Christian Music into this realm.

- Review date: 2/13/03, written by Ron for Jesusfreakhideout.com