R3- Deitrick Haddon’s LXW (League of Xtraordinary Worshippers)
Artist: Deitrick Haddon’s LXW
Album: Self- Titled
Label: Tyscot Records
Reviewer: Hasan James
When you think of choir music the names Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee and Ricky Dillard immediately come to mind and in a day where Praise and Worship is taking over the gospel airwaves, even the aforementioned choir masters have somewhat conformed to a more commercial ensemble sound, if you will.
Detroit native and Preachers of LA star, Deitrick Haddon, went back to his ROOTS (no pun intended) and presents us with LXW (League of Extraordinary Worshippers), a choir of about 20 people who take us back to authentic choir music from the 80’s and 90’s on their debut album. Haddon and LXW premiered their debut single “Great God” on the 2014 BET Celebration of Gospel and had everyone on their feet. Fortunately enough the music does not stop there but flows throughout the entire project. Recorded LIVE at the City of Refuge, D Haddy and LXW paid homage to pioneer choir directors who have come before him. Deitrick called on the likes of Hezekiah Walker on the Jackson 5/Love Fellowship Crusade Choir inspired “We Need Your Power,” Donald Lawrence on “Keep On Blessing Me,” and Ricky Dillard on “God Stepped In.”
This is definitely one album that you can listen to straight through and I am almost certain that church choirs across the world will be singing all of these songs in the near future. The vulnerability and unperfected vocals is what makes this offering so good, not giving way to over-saturated studio sound. “Tis So Sweet” and “With God” featuring Connecticut’s own Tiffany Morriar, are classic choir songs with passionate lyrics and powerful drives. Even Central South recording artist and Sunday Best runner-up, Jessica Reedy, stopped by for a modern day version of the 80’s classic “Don’t Pass Me By.”
If you love choirs as I do, you are gonna love this project! Kudos to the Haddon’s wife, Dominique Haddon for writing 95% of the songs on the album, proving that the Haddon Family’s reality is not just in television, but is and always will be in music.
