Brian Littrell
Author: "Fyne"

In an industry where lyrics, production and the big, will-it-sell factor amongst all other things, pushing and could I say pressuring some very major artist's, where is the limit? But in this case, it's not about the limit but about more and more high profiled artist's coming out from their comfort zones into a place where their freedom of expression and passion can be revealed.

Brian Littrell, is an artist whom has made not only his name known worldwide but also his voice heard from a band needing no introduction whatsoever.

This being his first ever solo project, it's interesting that he decided to release a solo in such a length of time as he has done bearing in mind that, he has been around the music business for well over 10 years and counting! It's however, refreshing to see yet another high profiled artist sharing the faith not underground but out there in the public for his fans to witness his source of strength.

Welcome Home is a diary of streaming faith composed of lyrics that will have both his old and new audience clinging on to hope. Although, this release may be strange or even out of touch to even his dedicated fans, Brian Littrell is surely displaying and exposing that he is indeed no people-pleaser. It takes huge risks and courage for any artist to change their style of music once the listener is familiarized with a debut release let alone change of genre in the case of this project.

Welcome Home is not another one of those financial crying-for-help kind of projects looking for mainstream advertising (not needed with such an already high profile with the Backstreet Boys). Its a testimony about a man that felt God leading him to make more personal music.

Having grown up singing in a Baptist church in Kentucky, Brian had first most planned to study music and youth ministry at a Bible College in Cincinnati until cousin Kevin Richardson persuaded him to try out for a budding vocal group. He now being a young husband and father returns to the music that was so formative early on, having won a Gospel Music Award for his cover of Michael English's "In Christ Alone" from 2005's WoW #1's compilation.

Brian has not at all left the Backstreet Boys yet, but has compiled and produced what he may well call his very first step to presenting to some and introducing to others a personal letter.

The opening track titled "My Answer Is You" is self-explanatory and is a track that reveals the direction and faith Brian intends on taking the listener to. Really and truly fans of the Backstreet Boys should easily flow with this release and should not attempt to balance it with his previous works with the band, because there is no comparison lyrically speaking.

An element of disappointiment from this solo release however is that, for the fact Brian is still young (even though it sounds he has been around forever via his band), the project lacks that Charismatic touch needed especially in drawing his fans closer to the faith.

To those that are already familiar and listen to Christian adult contemporary music, this release may not be that of a genre shaker, as much more artists within the genre have already set the path and inspiration. Nor can the same be said of Brian's voice as it is not fresh but similar and comparable. However, Christian or no Christian, Faith or no Faith this debut solo project is sure a positive step forward for where Brian is destined for.