Allison Kile

Item: Walk The Talk
Author: Steve Timm

Walk The Talk

(1995)

Reviewed by Steve Timm

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Label Freedom RecordsThe LighthouseJuly 1996

ccm dance pop r&b

Allison Kile blazes new musical ground with this release on Freedom Records. Lenard Brown is assisted as producer by Eugene and Eric Bates. Kile wrote three songs on the album, including the title cut, "Walk The Talk." To her credit, these are the best songs on the album. The whole album is arranged in a slow dance beat, with a strong drum mix throughout, and lots of synthesized horns and strings.

The album begins with a cover of "I Just Want To Celebrate," which was also the first cut on the first album of Kim Boyce, but the dance beat here is much rougher and includes a long rap segment. There is also rap on the title cut and on "Every Minute, Every Hour." The dance tunes tend to be repetitive and not very upbeat, and it sounds like some of the tunes which are arranged in a dance mix were not really meant to be dance tunes.

The redeeming features of this album are the ballads, where the mix seems more natural and Kile is allowed to showcase her voice. These include "See" and "Heal My Broken Heart" (both of which were written by Kile). "Together" is also a very tuneful ballad-almost worth getting the project just for this song.

Lyrically, the album explores a great deal of territory. "Walk The Talk" refers to consistency in Christian life, asking if you can live what you say you believe. "If Loving You Is Wrong" is a love song, as is "Together." "See" tells about reassurance from God, telling us that He is with us always. The album ends with "God Is My Strength," an expression of faith in God.

In short, inside this unimpressive dance album is a good vocalist and songwriter trying to get out. Cindy Morgan was also in a similar situation after her first album; perhaps Kile will also be that fortunate. This project grew on me after a few listens (as Morgan's first also did). This music is also similar in style and quality to the recent release from Gina. One could add a bit of soul and speed to the music and then it would be comparable to what Angelo & Veronica are doing.