I Want to Be A Star

Sounds like … classic CCM that blends the soulful sounds of Andrae Crouch and Bryan Duncan with the pop of Keith Green and the inspirational orchestrations of Steve Green.At a glance … though primarily geared for Larnelle's loyal fans, there's something charming about this throwback to the classic Christian pop of the '70s and early '80s.Track Listing Soon If Not For The Storms I Will Pray …But God Anyone I Want To Be A Star When Fear Comes Knocking The Greatest Of These Look At Your Hands More To The Story

It's been thirty years since Larnelle Harris made his debut, and his recent recordings suggested that he's past his artistic prime. But his twentieth album, I Want to Be a Star, surprisingly shows some new life. Don't let the title fool you—famous for humbly shunning the limelight, Harris isn't looking for personal glory. It comes from the poignant title track, which could serve as a theme song for Harris' own life. Inspired by Daniel 12:3, it's simply about wanting to point people to Jesus, just as the heavenly light led "the humble and the wise" to the Christ child.

The album refreshingly steers clear of forced sounding dance tracks or formulaic AC pop. Instead, working with producer Kent Hooper and the writing team of Scott Krippayne, Steve Siler, and Tony Wood, Harris has recaptured the classic CCM sound of the late '70s and early '80s without sounding dated or clichéd. Some, like the bright and hopeful "Soon," are reminiscent of Andraé Crouch—pop songs rendered with soulful R&B sensibilities. Likewise, "When Fear Comes Knocking" recalls the catchy piano groove of early Keith Green.

Songs alternate one-for-one between upbeat and balladry, and the slower tracks move along more predictably. Orchestrated tracks like " … But God" and "The Greatest of These" are a bit tedious, though they will nonetheless appeal to a certain audience—the latter's adaptation of 1 Corinthians 13 has strong wedding potential. And while "If Not for the Storms" is more of the usual inspirational pop, it's an appealing testimony of faith with programmed production that's a little different from the norm. There's something undeniably charming about the old-school sound, and considering that this 58-year-old still sounds like his old self, this Star really does shine.