I have this weird tendency that I cannot account for, but music that I end up loving almost always turns me off the first time I hear it. In fact, if I like something right away, that does not bode well for the longevity of its appeal. Of course, not everything I dislike ends up becoming a favorite - some things I just outright dislike. But then there is the music that gradually grows on me, and to that music I become devoted.

Such has been the case with every Derek Webb and Caedmon's Call album that has come out since 40 Acres.  I have faithfully purchased nearly every record, and end up setting each aside as a mistake.  But then, weeks, sometimes months later, I revisit the album only to discover that it is actually quite amazing.

I don't know why I do this. I guess I have to struggle with the music if its going to be a lasting relationship.

Anyway, this is what happened with Derek Webb's most recent album, Stockholm Syndrome. For a while now Derek (who I am not actually on a first name basis with, but calling him "Webb" just sounds silly) has been irking me lately with his preachy curmudgeounly hipsterness, and his move away from acoustic music towards what I like to think of as the "Sufjan-ification" of his songs. But that's probably me just being judgmental. So the first time I listened to this new album, which I bought the very day it came out, I was like "what the heck is this?!" And then I didn't listen to it again for weeks.

Well, recently I have started listening to Stockholm Syndrome again, and holy cow, it's actually quite amazing. Well, to be more accurate, about a third of it is amazing, a third of it is pretty good, and a third of it I skip over. But the third that is amazing, WOW its...amazing.

So, enough of this jibba jabba about what I think, here are the two songs that I keep listening to over and over and over. Please to enjoy!

Update:  I should probably also include the "controversial" song that Derek says is the most imporant on the record.  It is also a really great tune, with lyrics that are provoking to some people.

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