*** Kirk Franklin, “Kingdom Come, the Soundtrack,” Fo Yo Soul.

The modern gospel composer and producer can always be counted on to come up with something fresh and lively, and the songs he’s written and produced for the soundtrack of the new Whoopi Goldberg movie are no exception. This isn’t gospel music of the traditional variety, but a hybrid of R&B; and pop that doesn’t stint on tender, down-home sentiments.

Fans expecting Franklin to revisit ground he covered on “Stomp,” the massive hit that jump-started his career, may feel shortchanged. That type of hip-hop energy may be in short supply here, but the emotional urgency of tracks such as “God’s Got It All in Control” and “Try Me” is equally satisfying. With guest artists such as Mary Mary, Jill Scott, Deborah Cox and Carl Thomas rounding out the personnel, this album offers a vibrant slice of gospel that is modern without sacrificing heart or relevance.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.