Welcome Home (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Brian Littrell (vocals, background vocals); Brian Littrell; Christopher Rojas (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Billy Mann (guitar, keyboards); Basil Fung (guitar); Kris Wilkinson, David Davidson , David Angell, Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen (strings); Chris Kent (bass guitar); Dan Needham (drums); Jason Gaines (programming, drum programming); San Stancil, Kimberly Mont, Kevin Stancil, Keisha Williams, Mark Kibble, Elicia Brown, Luke Brown, Janice Corder (background vocals); Chuck Butler (guitar, programming); Dan Muckala (keyboards, percussion, programming); J.J. Hodges (drums).

Audio Mixers: Jeremy Luzier; F. Reid Shippen; Drew Douthit; Marcelo Pennell.

Recording information: Glorified Mono Studio, Nashville, TN; Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA; RMI Studios, NY; The Bennett House, Franklin, TN; Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA; Verticall Sound, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Marina Chavez.

When he was bumping and grinding as a member of definitive boy band the Backstreet Boys, it would have seemed unbelievable that Brian Littrell would one day emerge as a Contemporary Christian pop artist. However, that's exactly what's happened, as evidenced by his solo debut album, WELCOME HOME. With lush arrangements that largely eschew rock and R&B leanings for a straight-up pop approach, WELCOME HOME also makes it clear that the other secret weapon that's been in Littrell's possession all along is a huge, soaring voice fully capable of making him a solo star. Packed with emotion-drenched paeans to faith, Littrell's first album makes a big footprint in the world of contemporary Christian music--perhaps even big enough to make new fans forget about his secular past.

If Welcome Home is just judged on its sonic merits, it would be hard to distinguish this album from many other slick, sweet contemporary Christian releases, but it stands out from the pack for one simple reason: it's the solo debut album from Brian Littrell, one of the five members of the Backstreet Boys. Breaking away from that mega-successful boy band, Littrell has decided to revamp his image, if not entirely his sound, by dedicating himself to Christian music. Since many modern CCM albums aren't that far removed, at least in production terms, from mainstream pop, it's an easy transition for Littrell, and Welcome Home would be equally at home on either CCM or adult contemporary radio, since its smooth, polished surfaces go down easily. There's a preponderance of ballads here, balanced by the occasional surging anthem like "I'm Alive" and insistent pop tunes like "My Answer Is You," but there's not a great distance between these extremes. All the songs blend together pleasantly, and if no individual song particularly distinguishes itself -- the smooth jazz vibe of "We Lift You Up" comes the closest -- they do all fit together to make a comforting, relaxing listen that establishes Littrell as a credible CCM vocalist, even if it doesn't necessarily go a long way to establish a distinctive musical personality of his own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize