Anthology - The Writer & His Music

Album Review

Detroit gospel artist Deitrick Haddon emphasizes his talents as a songwriter on this best of, which begins with an authoritative voice intoning an introduction ("The Preview") that would not be out of place as a commercial for the WWF. Haddon himself is soon at the microphone, making like an MC with such exhortations to the crowd as "Somebody scream!" and "Everybody on the floor!" Soon enough, however, he is handing things over to a succession of impassioned gospel singers who perform his songs in styles ranging from religiously oriented quiet storm to anthemic rock. Among the latter tunes are "We Worship You" and "Totally Committed," songs proclaiming faith and devotion with a sense of inspirational uplift. "I Can't Praise You Enough" is just as reverent, even if the arrangement is slinky and sinuous. After "Don't Let Me Fail," which sounds like a Michael Jackson ballad, Haddon pauses to give an interview to promote his live-instruments, no-synthesizers approach, as if this were a radio show playing excerpts from his album, rather than the album itself. He returns to the microphone for the propulsive "Chainbreaker," which could be a late soul number by James Brown. The changes of pace include the ballads "Fresh Wind" and "Sweeter," which cast back to ‘70s soul. Throughout, Haddon and his fellow singers and musicians maintain their sincere statements of faith, dressed up in attractive music that constitutes a history of pop music in the later decades of the 20th century, music that no doubt reassures Haddon's numerous followers.