Stars

Mick Hucknall shelves the covers for impossibly smooth instant classics on an undeniable fourth album. And evidence of why this 1991 record marked a colossal breakthrough for his rotating band of soul crusaders lurks in every corner. “Freedom” is a strutting funk workout, “Model” adds bubbling reggae to the mix, “Stars” mints an entire sub-genre of shimmering pop R&B, and “For Your Babies” is a stately showcase for the nimble power of Hucknall’s voice.