::ALBUM REVIEW::

It’s hard not to recognize the hardworking regimen of the Rance Allen Group (Rance Allen, Tom Allen, Steve Allen). For over thirty five years, this legendary group continues to defy the odds by recording quality records as well as showing signs of strength and diversity with their cool soulful splash of contemporary gospel. To trace their roots back to their glorious years on Stax and to witness their journey floating from labels like Bellmark, A&M, Word and finally making a home with their present record home - Tyscot Records - says a lot about the group’s enduring work ethic. Not all of their full-length records have been favorable in sales and innovation, but the sacrifice and endurance the group oozes out is a milestone in the Rance Allen Group’s resume’. A lot has been done for the group since their Tyscot debut in 2002 with All The Way. “Do Your Will” became a popular hit; showcasing the classic Allen Group sound and a spanky guitar performance. And the 2004 follow-up - the group’s very first live album - featured the group’s walk down memory lane at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit with a list of amazing special guests including LaShun Pace, Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond. Now the group is geared up with their twenty-first album to date - Closest Friend. Solely produced by Ohio native Chris Byrd and strongly supported by lead vocalist Rev. Rance Allen, the Rance Allen Group walks through a bold sixteen track offering fusing their trademark quartet-like soul harmonies into slick modern styles and smart studio enhancements including the heavy horn arrangements from Lloyd Barry.

Particularly bright spots include the party grooves of “For Your Feet” (a slice of funk from Prince’s systematic songbook merged with James Brown ol’ skool and features marvelous highlights from Rance Allen’s supporting guitar), “Melody of Love” (an infectious R&B number containing laid-back drum loops and light synths), and pretty much all of the power ballads using charming and sexy-sounding smooth grooves, whether it’s the oozing “Reach Out” (featuring Tom Allen on supporting lead) or the worshipful “Oh How Amazing.” The title cut, appropriately chosen as the lead single, feels just right for the group with its modern blues texture and the savvy Quiet Storm posture. Allen’s performance, just like the group’s biggest soul hit “I Belong To You”, blossoms with every inch of the word due to his gut-wrenching vocals highlighted by emotional outbursts, growls and falsetto leaps. But songs like the smooth R&B-ish “Doin’ All Things”, focused on the popular Philippians 4:13 verse, and the Mighty Cloud traditional sounds of “Let’s Praise” are equal choices for the perfect “Closest Friend” follow-up and help complement the album’s stretch of creativity.

Surprisingly, the album still contains a good dose of enjoyment, even in the most pecuilar places. “Keep On Blessin’” finds Steve Allen providing lead on a breezy track that feel like a production that would easily benefit Musiq Soulchild or John Legend. The sentimental whirls of Chris Byrd’s synths, the dreamy vamp along with Myrna Allen-Austin supporting duet and background vocals also add to the song’s depth and delicious texture. Popular lead guitarist Jonathan Dubose, Jr works aside Allen on the heartfelt “Be Thou Exalted;” the closest the group gets to Integrity/Hillsong intimate worship. Songs like the VaShawn Mitchell-supported “Heaven”, the traditionally seasoned “Season of Jubilee” and the gospel soul vibes of “My Help” , not overwhelmingly captivating, still comes off as being ear-candy due to the group’s expertise on what feels like standard B-sided material.

It is a very bold decision in this day and time to attempt to record a project using old personnel since a new guard has since appeared and now controls the tide in most music genre’s future. But as the old saying goes - if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Chris Byrd, longtime musical director for the group, has upped his production game and appears to have beefed up his songwriting skills. Maybe the collaborations with Rance Allen Group members and others helped in making this an enjoyable album, but the end result of Closest Friend is a pleasing offering containing hearty old school soul and contemporary R&B that speaks of the group’s consistency to their rich gospel roots. Even though the album tends to linger on for quite an extended period of time - the album’s grueling downfall - Closest Friend is more enjoyable than the bulk of contemporary quartet projects these days. It also makes a difference when a project inherits a voice as superb and golden as Rance Allen’s. You can almost believe, even in this day of age of urban hip-hop beats and gimmicks, that he could easily sale an album full of jingles and nursery rhymes.