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Whether or not we realize it, we all have preconceived ideas that dictate how we react to the world around us. In music, we break things up by genre and our idea of what defines a specific genre guides our acceptance of the albums filed in that category. The same is true to some extent in every practical aspect of life. We judge people (consciously or not) by stereotypes that involve the groups they associate themselves with, how they appear, or any one of several other factors. These generalizations often serve as distractions, drowning out our ability to recognize the truth behind what or who we have encountered. Derek Webb has become known for using his music to preach the truth in a bold and uncompromising fashion and his latest release, The Ringing Bell continues that reputation.

Though leading off with some more experimental tracks that would've fit in nicely on I See Things Upside Down, the album unfolds at track three to reveal the rockier project that Webb had promised. The opening strains of "A Love That's Stronger Than Our Fears" draws the listener into the album with a nice tempo that continues throughout the remainder of the album. All but abandoning the acoustic guitar that's become common among singer songwriters such as Webb, tracks like "I Don't Want to Fight," "Name" and "I for an I" give The Ringing Bell a bonafide 70's folk rock sound akin to The Monkees, The Beatles and The Byrds. The album peaks with "A Savior on Capital Hill" with a dissonant musical arrangement that's matched by Webb's screaming vocals.

"The End" and "The Very End" may seem to be odd fits musically, but from a lyrical standpoint, they prove to be a perfect introduction to the album, pointing out the glaring discrepancies between perception and reality. "A Love Stronger..." continues down that path, challenging the cultural standards and their influence within the church. Elsewhere on the album, Webb tackles the topics of seeking peace ("I Don't Want to Fight", "I for an I"), pursuing love ("I Wanna Marry You All Over Again", "Can't Be Without You"), and avoiding broad categorization ("Name"). As expected, "A Savior on Capital Hill" has a slight political message, reminding listeners that the government isn't going to bring us true peace or freedom. Capping off the album is the powerful track, "This Too Shall Be Made Right," a song dealing with the injustices of the world in light of God's promise of eternal peace.

With a solid multi-platform presentation, Derek Webb is sure to attract a wide audience with this latest effort. Pre-order options included a delux edition of the album that included a graphic novel and an immediate digital copy of the album prior to the release date. The album was also streaming via a special eCard-esque mini-website, offering fans a chance to have a taste of the album before ordering. The cover art ties in with the graphic novel and is intriguing to say the least and certainly open to interpretation. The downside of the Free Derek Webb promo from last year may come into play, however, if listeners believe that they'll eventually get the album free of charge, but overall, the presentation is quite appealing.

Previous releases have found Derek Webb compromising either musically or lyrically as he navigated the waters of being a solo artist. Quickly being tagged as a singer songwriter with a potent message, it seemed as though Webb went out of his way to try to prove his musical ability - even to the point of an abstract sound that left many listeners scratching their heads. While Mockingbird was a clear step in the right direction, The Ringing Bell seems to be the first release that marries the message with the music in such a way that both aspects of the album are allowed to shine through on each track. As such, this may be the most artistic Derek Webb project in that it most acurately displays where he is as an artist.

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