The year was 1997 and
Allure's self-titled debut -- with the chart-topping remake of
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's "All Cried Out" -- seemed to poise the R&B quartet for instant and sustained success. Alas, the band's then-label,
Mariah Carey's Crave, folded and the girls found themselves shopping a new deal. Fast-forward to 2001.
Allure has found a home on MCA, which released the group's sophomore release,
Sunny Days. Within minutes of listening to the disc, audiences will think, This is like all the other girl-group R&B fare on the radio today. And it is.
Sunny Days is rife with contemporary danceable grooves, guest flows, urban flavor, and several grab-the-Kleenex ballads. And what's wrong with this?
Allure, at this stage of its career, doesn't need to redefine the genre. If it sits alongside
Destiny's Child, then, for the time being, this is an accomplishment after the group's four-year studio-recording hiatus. To be sure, the band has matured. The songs -- which address the usual: good-time partying, relationships, and self-respect, among other themes -- sound more seasoned this go-round. Perhaps four years of trying to find their place in the musical arena has put some notches on the life belts (ouch!) of the
Allure ladies. Also, their voices sound more robust and confident. There's some really nice harmonizing on the ballad "Never Let You Go." The album's first single release, "Enjoy Yourself," is a winning upbeat R&B dance jam in the style of
Zane and old-school tracks. This song will have audiences dancing and having a good time whether in their living room, car, or on the dancefloor. Welcome back,
Allure. Here's hoping for more sunny days. ~ Liana Jonas