::ALBUM REVIEW::

Quartet music is the post-modern comeback. Look at illustrious groups like the Soul Seekers, the Texas Boyz and even 7 Sons of Soul and you can see why there is a sudden emergence of glorification upon this overlooked style of gospel. New to the "national" recording mix is Darrell McFadden & the Disciples, and they are rocking their EMI Gospel debut, "I've Got A Right", with killer traditional numbers merged with lots of soul and R&B-influenced beats. Styled like a modern Temptation Revue, McFadden & the Disciples traces familiarity from the R&B legends O'Jays to gospel favorites Canton Spirituals, while developing an unique sound of their own with their well-crafted studio production, rich background harmonies and seasoned cuts.

Mostly all of the cuts is written by McFadden and group members Gene Peoples and Prathan "Spanky" Williams. And while they inquire a fresh innovative sound for their debut, they don't stray too far from the norm. The mix is highly rewarding. Things open up with the right energy and right drive on "Be Ready"; which flows very much like a tune straight from the vaults of Stax (the empire of Memphis soul). With its edgy, dance spark and reminiscent grooves from back-in-the-day hits like Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" or Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love", the song is just the perfect introduction for this group. "Calling Me", strongly engineered by Prathan "Spanky" Williams' keyboard programming, is an urban feast of modern soul interpretations due to its heavy synth usage and vocodor inclusions from Gene Peoples. "Hold On" is a traditional powerhouse number that bears the usual foundation of uptempo Sunday morning firestarters. McFadden provides delicate ad-libs and leads the group through a zesty vamp that is bound to gravitate a good share of attention. Other worthy inclusions include the delightful "Who'll Be A Witness", which blends hip-hop with contemporary gospel and features a cameo appearance from former SWV lead vocalist Cheryl "Coko" Gamble, and a soulful "Thank You", showcasing the youthful and glistening lead vocals from Spanky. When the song flows into the vamp, the song enters into a quiet vibe that allows the music to minister in a very prolific way. There's even a few impressive keyboard and bass chord shifts that may alter one's impressions of quartet groups.

While innovation is key to this album's engaging perception, there's a good dosage of gospel quartet-friendly numbers on board. "Shackles" (not to be confused with Mary Mary's popular hit) takes the familiar concept and gives birth to a foot-stomping, hand-clapping jubilant jam. Stretched out to seven minutes, it may be hard to imagine a song like this could be extended to such lengthy proportions especially for a studio creation. But McFadden and Company gets away with it. The album's title cut flows with a simple melody used in much quartet music and is highly engaged in the traditional style of things with peppered guitar licks from Joey Williams and the right background vocal support from the Disciples. You can easily hear how Lee Williams & the Spiritual QCs and the Mighty Clouds of Joy as influenced their musical direction. The album bows out gracefully with "Oh How I Love Jesus/Further Along"; a nice arrangement of two respected classic hymns.

Usually a group making a debut of this caliber finds crafty perks and gimmicks to draw fresh audiences to their product. Maybe big-time guest appearances or a few cuts penned by recognizable songwriters. Amazingly, McFadden & the Disciples avoids these things to develop this effort. The cover art and neat photography is well beyond the norm for quartet gospel - you almost think this is a soul/R&B group just by looks along. But there's no real gimmicks in sight. McFadden & the Disciples definitely have all the talent and creativity to birth their own successes and have done so here. They showcase desires to challenge the musical norm, embracing their traditions and all members reveal a professionalism that is glossed with excellence. Barely an amateur move in sight. If only the album was a bit longer and more ballads were on board. Overall, "I've Got A Right" is a musical delight.