Most of the songs on the album aren't just good-they're DOPE. "The Story" is just that-a smooth track wondering how rushing into a relationship will turn out, "Come Into My House" is a very sexy-sounding interlude that makes you wish they made it into a full song, and their cover of Full Force's "All Cried Out" (featuring 112) is arguably one of the best remakes ever done. Allure's voices combined with the nicely penned lyrics throughout the album work very well together. There is no way anyone could dislike the smooth "Last Chance," and "Head Over Heels" is written so beautifully, if you read the lyrics first you'll be surprised that it turns out to be a fast song-but it works.

Since this album was made in 1997, of course it has its share of guest rappers. Nas helps out on "Head Over Heels," Raekwon spits a verse at the beginning of "Give You All I Got," and LL Cool J does some average rhyming in "No Question." (This was a weird selection of rappers because none of their albums that year were anything to celebrate.) The only weird guest spot was Nature (of The Firm fame) during the intro, because I have never heard of a guest rapper during an intro.

This album would have received one more star if it weren't for something that can make or break an album-the production. This album was produced by Track Masters, so what does that mean? Sample, sample, sample! "No Question," for example, contains a sample from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit." It doesn't make the song bad, but after hearing The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy," any other sample like that seems unimportant. And we all know Poke & Tone say "Track Masters" at the beginning of most of their songs, but do they have to say it at the end, too? Also, many of the songs are written by Mariah Carey or Mary J. Blige, which, combined with Poke & Tone, make some parts of the album sound like it should be called Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige present Allure. Don't worry too much about all that though-get the album.


A Stellar Debut   May 13, 2004
Myles Q. Davis (USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Okay, here's the story, told by me to you compressed so as to save valuable time. Allure, an African-american girl group (how strikingly original, right?) find themselves on Mariah Carey's doorstep. Well, actually, at "Craves" doorstep. Crave was Mariah's so-called 'vanity' label, and Allure were the premiere, and to my knowledge, only group they signed to Mariah's fledgling record company. Of course, even before the release of their excellent debut album, they caught flack, of course, for being mentored by the ultimate in pop divaness, Miss Carey herself. Many listeners will hear signs of Mariah spotted hither and thither throughout Allure's album, but that doesn't mean that Allure don't grow into their own groove somewhere along the way. As mandatory, writers and producers amassed to help craft this album.

The women of Allure mesh well enough to make their first album exactly that: their own. While they don't harmonize quite like En Vogue, groove like Xscape, or keep a party raging like Destiny's Child, they still sound, well, "pretty." Allure only fall flat on the sugary sweet remake of "All Cried Out", which by anyone's standards is unbearable. Ironically, it was their biggest hit.

While Allure's debut doesn't promise constant play in anyone's CD deck, it is a great effort. There is occasional filler, a wasted cameo by LL Cool J, and an overall "heard this before" vibe that doesn't fully emblazen this as an r&b classic. After Mariah's label 'Crave' folded, Allure went to MCA records with a new attitude, and *sigh*, new members to craft a harder edged album, but their debut stands as their best.


deinite allure.   February 17, 1999
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

though "head over heels" and "all cried out" took the charts by storm, allure's eponymous debut album did not garner the publicity evoked by other girl group debuts, such as en vogue, xscape or brownstone. the problem, perhaps, can be attributed by their inability to establish an identity (as a group, and as individuals). their material, which boasts songs written by mariah carey and mary j. blige, as well as guest appearances by nas, ll cool j and 112, traverse the musical domains of all of the above-mentioned diva-groups without claiming any of them as their own. some, of course, would point out that this speaks to allure's flexibility as artists which, of course, is true. the women tackle hip-hop, r&b and pop with a level-handed penchant and could, song-for-song, give any girl-group a run for it's money. however, for a debut release, a little more identity needs to be established-if not through material, than through publicity. the album version of "head over heels" while still stellar, doesn't hold a candle to the funkdafied remix released as a single. on "all cried out" the women do little to take advantage of their vocal majority, doing little to add any richness or complexity to the lisa lisa original. "mama said", however, is a emotionally stunning number that engenders the same juxtapositioning of hope and despair as zhane's "for a reason". overall, _allure_ is a good listen and shows a lot of potential for staying power. to realize that potential, however, in a climate in which the single is king, these women are going to have to endear themselves to fans and create an identity the way others have before them.


Allure Shines On Debut   April 3, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Allure bursted into the R&B scene in early '97, highly touted as the next hot girl group on the come up. As the first act signed to Mariah Carey's short-lived Crave imprint under the Trackmasters, there was definitely much hype surrounding the group. The introduction says it best (there are four major elements to Allure/Linnie, Lalisha, Akissa and Alia/these ladies sing like canaries and look tasty like French pastry).

The portion of this album that stands out starts with the very catchy first hit single, "Head Over Heels" was written by Mariah and featuring Nas...a pure pop/R&B groove, and still sounds sweet to this day. "No Question", featuring LL Cool J, samples "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume and it's a nice mid-tempo track. The platinum/top 10 hit "All Cried Out" is definitely the best song on the album, fueled with sweet harmonies and endless emotion. However, the most compelling song is "Mama Said", an emotionally gripping number, and a great way to end the album.

Despite having numerous guests, songwriters and the Trackmasters beats, Allure's voices are the key to this album. And while the material is not always on point, this is stil most definitely worth bumpin' in yo' trunk.