Church On the Moon

Rather than think of the title Church on the Moon as silly, think of it as bold and fun, two qualities that help define Deitrick Haddon. The title to the contemporary gospel singer’s fifth effort is tied to the album’s key track, "Gravity," which finds Haddon observing the beauty of Earth from the Moon. It also refers to the futuristic side of the album, which is well aware of the slick club styles of Taio Cruz and the Black Eyed Peas. The singer crafts his own gospel futurism out of these influences, hyping up the word of the Lord with polished synth lines, rock-solid hooks, and that playful way Haddon delivers the gospel, where lines like “I ain’t talking about the King of Pop/I’m talkin’ about the Kings of Kings!” feel perfectly natural. Still, as forward-thinking as many tracks are, familiar R&B cuts like the aforementioned “Gravity” anchor the ambitious effort, and if you think Haddon has no sense of history, check the doo wop-fueled “Touch Me” or the powerful power ballad “Mighty God.”