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Her self-titled debut in 2000 catapulted Mullen from backup singer/songwriter to pop diva in her own right. Talk About It, her sophomore release, is an equally stellar collection, using jazzy R&B grooves and gentle ballads to deliver its message that all things are possible with God. This is largely an album of comfort and encouragement, lushly produced and beautifully embellished with sampling and rich backing vocals. Children's voices resound throughout, from the opening title track to the closing coda where Mullen sings with her own children -- a playful reminder that we are all children of God. Mullen has never shied from tackling social and moral issues in her music, and Talk About It is no exception. On the groove-rich "Baby Girl" she urges self-esteem and self-respect to a 14-year-old: "Baby girl don't you know your wealth/ You're a diamond hiding on the shelf," she reminds her young friend. Brilliantly, "Baby Girl" segues into the tender "Call On Jesus," where Mullen reveals her true worth: "I'm so very ordinary, nothing special on my own... But when I call on Jesus all things are possible." Talk is a more worshipful collection than Nicole C. Mullen, which largely explored her family and roots, but there's plenty of energy and depth, making it one of the strongest releases of the year. Lisa Zhito, Barnes & Noble