Allure

One of the first CDs released by the famous Westminster Concert Bell Choir, this is a pleasing collection of well-known Christmas carols arranged for handbells. Westminster is home to one of the earliest and best-known university handbell ensembles in the country, started by Don Allured in the early '70s. This recording suffers from poor sound quality (the high bells have a crashing sound) and relatively stale readings. It is buoyed, however, by excellent arrangements by Betty Garee and Mr. Allured. Also, at this time Westminster played on the widest range of handbells in the world: over 7 octaves of bronze handbells. This CD is an essential for the collector and student of handbell ringing, as Mr. Allured and the Westminster Concert Bell Choir have had a dramatic impact on the modern art of handbell ringing all over the world.

"Head Over Heels" "Last Chance" "No Question" And "All Cried Out" Are The Songs I Love On This Album, I've Been A Mariah Carey Forever And 3 Of The Songs I Named Has Mariah's Trademark All Over Them. "Last Chance" And "All Cried Out" Sound Like Leftovers From Her Daydream Album [Which I'm Sure Is Not The Case, Just Making A Point Of How Much It Sounds Like Her Very Own], And "Head Over Heels" Is Interchangable With "Honey" From The "Butterfly" Album.

This CD Is Very Plain, There's Nothing Else Other Than The Songs I Mentioned. "All Cried Out" Has A Beautiful Arrangement But The Vocals Are Tired. "Head Over Heels" Is Actually The "Trackmasters Version" Featuring "Nas" Which We Could've Done Without [I Know This Because I Used To Own The Maxi Single And The "W/O Rap Version" Had A Prettier Sound, It's A Subtle Difference But It Works. "No Question" Is Another With Annoying Rap Verse Done "By LL Cool J", We Could've Done Without Him Also. The Rapping In These Songs Makes We Want To Cringe Everytime I Hear It. The Only Song That's Deceint All The Way Through Is The Beautiful Ballad "Last Chance" Which Has A Beautiful Melody, Lyrics And Instrumental.

Basically I Can See Why They Did'nt Go Far, Mariah Should've Sang The Songs She Wrote For Them Herself.

When this album was released, i thinked that these girls could aspire to a bright future. They seemed to be a solid group, with a promising career on the horizon. Unfortunately, their story hasn't followed the path that i predicted. The main problem has been a really bad promotion. But even the weakness of the producers involved in their second and third album has been a critical factor (aside the final line-up change, a thing that has surely caused a negative impact on the group).
Thanks to a solid production, even with the support of a lot of guest artists, this album has been the best of Allure's career (in spite of some natural "ups-and-down", that i consider an unavoidable feature in a debut disk). The songs are rather enjoyables, even if you can't expect to find a masterpiece within them. Allure's vocal skills was above the average, and this is a good reason to have some justified regrets, thinking about the following chapters of their artistical story.

Excellent cd and a Excellent group, it's a must have cd in your collection.

I was going through my cd collection and came across this gem. Released in 1997 and hyped as "Mariah's girl group", I gave it a chance and consider it a good debut for its time.

As a group, Allure harmonizes well but they really weren't able to distinguish their sound amongst the glut of r&b female groups that were out at the time. I was surprised that their remake of the classic, ALL CRIED OUT became a hit because to me, it's one of the weakest tracks on the disc.

Out of the 14 tracks, I really only still like 6 so while it was fun to listen to it again after so long, it's not enough of a classic to keep it in constant rotation. My favorite tracks are:

LAST CHANCE - pretty love song

HEAD OVER HEELS - the production sounds like a Mariah Carey song which is probably why it's my favorite, I like how Nas' guest rap doesn't overpower the song

THE STORY & ANYTHING YOU WANT - really showcases the group's vocals

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE ME & NO QUESTION - kind of filler material but highly enjoyable due to the reworked samples used on each

I'd recommend it to those trying to check out the r&b scene of the late '90's but honestly it'd be easier to sample the tracks you like and just download those since the album as a whole isn't one you'd likely consider a classic and keep in your collection.

One of my friend and I would have hear this album all day long. Our favorite song is "All Cried Out." It makes us relaxed in somehow. I love it. You should give it try :)

Living in Indianapolis, what put this project on my radar was that the executive produce was then Indiana Pacer Ron Artest. This project was released less than a week after the infamous 2004 brawl in Detroit (just after Artest was suspended for the rest of the year), and less than a month after Artest said he wanted time off from the team to work on music (which he says he was joking). This project shows he's as good at music as he is on the basketball court (Artest is one of the best defenders in the NBA).

I always enjoy female singers, and I loved the sound of the harmonies and the background music. The only thing that made me uncomfortable: on the same project is the very seductive "Sitting At Home" and a wonderful Gospel Interlude. On the liner notes, all three singers start off praising Jesus. I'm not them, but as a Christian I consider the two paradoxal and not belonging on the same project, and I would not be comfortable singing or producing "Sitting At Home." Just my opinion.

If you like female trios and R&B, and don't mind an occassional rap, you would enjoy this project.

I used to love this group with their first two albums, but with the departure of Linnie and a major label it definitely shows negatively on this album. My favorite would be " Let Him Go", "Relax and Unwind", which took a couple of listens,"Stay", and "Long Lost Love" . There's great ballads which are better than the uptempos. On the flipside, you do get to see more vocal skills from Lalisha and Akissa. They need to get on a better known record label and get their stuff heard. Don't count these girls out, I'll still support ya'll thats what a real Allure fan does.

I guess radio stations and video channels think one girl group is enough but they missed out on this hot cd. Too bad for Allure. The songs on this cd are far more better than Destiny's flop of an album in 05'. There should be room for everybody in the music industry not just the commercially viable sell out groups.

Allure "Chapter III" marks the 3rd album by this beautiful, talented, yet highly underrated group from the NYC. The album does have its high points: "Hate 2 Luv U" is a song that makes you feel like it's summer lovin' all over again, "Long Lost Love" and "Frustration" are pure R&B/Soul at its tightest, and "Sitting At Home" sways like a swing at the playground. However, a few tracks take a while to really get into: "Can't Stay Here With You" has an odd ragga beat but the girls harmonize so sweetly throughout, "Uh Oh" is a groovy reggae/dancehall track with a cloudy hook, and "Relax and Unwind" requires a few listens before you really feel it.

Overall, a solid effort from Allure. Highlights include: "Hate 2 Luv U", "Long Lost Love", "Sitting At Home" and "Frustration".

The song "Hate To Love You" is a remake of 3LW "Hate To Love You" that can be found on the "LOVE DONT COST A THING" soundtrack. That is the movie with Christina Milian and Nick Cannon. It is the same exact song.

This group is a real representation of how foul the record industry is. As someone on the outside I really can't understand spending money to record an album then not lifting one finger to help promote it. I enjoyed Allure's debut then assumed that they'd broken up since I never heard anything else from them. Imagine my surprise when I found not only this but a third album by this group. Given the promise I heard on their debut, I wasn't surprised that this follow-up continues to showcase their terrific harmonies along with good musical arrangements.

I read one reviewer's comment that compared this group to others who emerged in 2001 when this was released and can't help but feel sad about the comparisons because the groups mentioned were "girls" while the members of this group are "women" so it's kind of like apples & oranges to compare the song content & arrangements. It's also what's so sad about the r&b field from about the late 90's till now - the addition of the hip hop element has made anyone who is trying to sing traditional r&b virtually obsolete.

Anyway this disc features more mid-tempo & ballad tracks but I appreciate this as it allowed me to enjoy the vocal performances more. I think that if I'd known this group was working on a sophomore set, I would've expected more tracks like those on their debut & more input from Mariah Carey but I'm quite satisfied with this album and consider it a good progession from their debut.

The stand-out tracks to me are: SUNNY DAY, EARN MY TRUST, WORE OUT YOUR WELCOME, LADY, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU & ENJOY YOURSELF.

I don't know where to begin. This is the worst CD ever! This is the CD you used when you are looking for something to balance an uneven bookshelf. The entire album was fillers. I was very confused about the message behind some of the songs. I can't believe someone signed off on this album. Those people are the ones to blame. Song after song I waited for something to... you know... make me feel that the money I spent for the CD was justified. This CD was very painful to listen to. Believe it or not... they made another cd after this.

It's such a poor CD, there are so many better soul girl group's out there. Get En Vougue's Soulflower instead.

Back in '97, Allure stepped on the stage of the Keenan Ivory Wayans show singing a song called "Head Over Heels", a song that sounded like it should have been on Mariah Carey's Butterfly album. They sounded good, but needed a bit of polish. Their debut album came out soon after and spawned four singles - "Heels", "No Question", "All Cried Out", and "Last Chance". After seeing them on Vibe singing the latter, many people thought that Allure would just be no more.

Fast forward four years to November of 2001. Because of the September 11 attacks, Allure's sophomore album was heavily underpromoted by MCA, a label widely known for its lack of promoting good artists while pushing so-so artists to the forefront. It's a shame, for this album could easily be the most overlooked album of 2001.

If you don't have it, get it. Why? Because there is not one song on this album that is a misstep. Allure had a hand in co-writing four songs on this album, versus having a whole album done by Mariah Carey. Also, whereas their debut album showcased safe vocals with sugary mid-range notes, Allure shows true development in their vocal versatility and shows you they can truyl saaang. Not convinced? Check out the song "Earn my Trust", a song that will have you thinking of the old-school song "Have You Seen Her". This song was produced by Full Force and showcases the women's voices wonderfully; easily the best song vocally on the album. "Never Let You Go" has that same effect; sure, the song is a bit cliche' but it flows nicely, and the high note at the end will have you saying "whoa!" A cannot-miss song is "The Shore (Wanna Be Your Lady)", featuring a then-unknown Miri Ben-Ari. The song just has that laid-back feeling with a hint of diva thrown in for good measure.

For more vocal effect, definitely check out the interludes. "Love Me", immediately following "Enjoy Yourself", is beautifully arranged and sung. Akissa starts it off with a nice Spanglish (Spanish and English) voiceover with Hem-Lee cooing in the background. This interlude should have definitely been a full song, for it is impressive. Also, the gospel interlude "Only For A While" shows that harmony that the girls have obviously perfected. This could have easily been performed acappella at any gospel outlet and won rave reviews!

There are some good upbeat joints to dance to. "Enjoy Yourself", the first single, is a nice "I'm-finna'go-out-to-the-club" anthem that will have you bopping your head. And if the intro song "Bump" featuring a nice rap from Nucci Rey O (whoever that is, he still can spit) doesn't get you moving, then you are just a lame! "Kool Wit Me", produced by the AllStars, has the classic AllStars beat and even has some elements of the 80s, but still is a good listen.

Allure definitely came hard with this album. It's just sad that MCA practically dropped this album with barely any mention or promotion. If you don't have this album, pick it up...trust me, you will not be disappointed.

This is a good CD but bad promotion.

"Head Over Heels" "Last Chance" "No Question" And "All Cried Out" Are The Songs I Love On This Album, I've Been A Mariah Carey Forever And 3 Of The Songs I Named Has Mariah's Trademark All Over Them. "Last Chance" And "All Cried Out" Sound Like Leftovers From Her Daydream Album [Which I'm Sure Is Not The Case, Just Making A Point Of How Much It Sounds Like Her Very Own], And "Head Over Heels" Is Interchangable With "Honey" From The "Butterfly" Album.

This CD Is Very Plain, There's Nothing Else Other Than The Songs I Mentioned. "All Cried Out" Has A Beautiful Arrangement But The Vocals Are Tired. "Head Over Heels" Is Actually The "Trackmasters Version" Featuring "Nas" Which We Could've Done Without [I Know This Because I Used To Own The Maxi Single And The "W/O Rap Version" Had A Prettier Sound, It's A Subtle Difference But It Works. "No Question" Is Another With Annoying Rap Verse Done "By LL Cool J", We Could've Done Without Him Also. The Rapping In These Songs Makes We Want To Cringe Everytime I Hear It. The Only Song That's Deceint All The Way Through Is The Beautiful Ballad "Last Chance" Which Has A Beautiful Melody, Lyrics And Instrumental.

Basically I Can See Why They Did'nt Go Far, Mariah Should've Sang The Songs She Wrote For Them Herself.

When this album was released, i thinked that these girls could aspire to a bright future. They seemed to be a solid group, with a promising career on the horizon. Unfortunately, their story hasn't followed the path that i predicted. The main problem has been a really bad promotion. But even the weakness of the producers involved in their second and third album has been a critical factor (aside the final line-up change, a thing that has surely caused a negative impact on the group).
Thanks to a solid production, even with the support of a lot of guest artists, this album has been the best of Allure's career (in spite of some natural "ups-and-down", that i consider an unavoidable feature in a debut disk). The songs are rather enjoyables, even if you can't expect to find a masterpiece within them. Allure's vocal skills was above the average, and this is a good reason to have some justified regrets, thinking about the following chapters of their artistical story.

Excellent cd and a Excellent group, it's a must have cd in your collection.

I was going through my cd collection and came across this gem. Released in 1997 and hyped as "Mariah's girl group", I gave it a chance and consider it a good debut for its time.

As a group, Allure harmonizes well but they really weren't able to distinguish their sound amongst the glut of r&b female groups that were out at the time. I was surprised that their remake of the classic, ALL CRIED OUT became a hit because to me, it's one of the weakest tracks on the disc.

Out of the 14 tracks, I really only still like 6 so while it was fun to listen to it again after so long, it's not enough of a classic to keep it in constant rotation. My favorite tracks are:

LAST CHANCE - pretty love song

HEAD OVER HEELS - the production sounds like a Mariah Carey song which is probably why it's my favorite, I like how Nas' guest rap doesn't overpower the song

THE STORY & ANYTHING YOU WANT - really showcases the group's vocals

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE ME & NO QUESTION - kind of filler material but highly enjoyable due to the reworked samples used on each

I'd recommend it to those trying to check out the r&b scene of the late '90's but honestly it'd be easier to sample the tracks you like and just download those since the album as a whole isn't one you'd likely consider a classic and keep in your collection.

One of my friend and I would have hear this album all day long. Our favorite song is "All Cried Out." It makes us relaxed in somehow. I love it. You should give it try :)

1. All Cried Out (Dance Remix) 4:41
2. All Cried Out (Extended Club Remix) 10:47
3. All Cried Out (Dub Remix) 7:45
4. All Cried Out (A Cappella Remix) 4:43
5. Everytime I Think Of You 3:29

After a long wait to hear something from Allure, I was definitely impressed with this silky party grove. I can't sit still when I listen to the song!

Vocals sound silky sweet and finely tuned like these ladies are ready to come back with a slamming CD. The music gives just enough umph to get up and grove and feel like going out and "enjoying yourself!"

A definitely 5 star jam! You will not be disappointed!

Allure first came on the scene in 1997 with their self-titled debut album on Mariah Carey's now defunct label Crave. They earned hit singles with "Head Over Heels" and the Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam remake of "All Cried Out" featuring R&B male group 112. Now Allure is back with a new label, a forthcoming album titled "Sunny Days" and this hot single.

"Enjoy Yourself" is an upbeat song that would get the crowd going when you hear it in a club or you can just turn it up in your car and let the groove flow. The lyrics of this song are reminiscent of Koffee Brown's "Weekend Thing" and Destiny's Child "Jumpin, Jumpin" because with all these songs the artists are all singing about getting ready to have a good time at a nightclub. The only difference is Allure is telling the guy to just "Enjoy Yourself" with his girl and glass of Hennessy. This song could be a sure hit and definitely a club tune but Allure needs the right marketing for it to get there. It's just a great song overall and definitely worth the purchase. This single also features an acapella and instrumental version of "Enjoy Yourself".

P.S. This single has been released since 7/31/01 and it's not even playing on local radio here in South Florida nor have I seen the video on TV. What's up with that?? How I heard of this song was from my music channel on digital cable. MCA Records really needs to get the ball rolling with promoting Allure because again, this song definitely has "hit" potential.