Search - Toni Braxton :: Playlist:The Very Best of Toni Braxton (Eco-Friendly Packaging)

Just Being A Woman About It

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 01/03/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There is no question about the comeback divas of this past year. While we've mostly seen the so-called but still questioning comeback of Britney Spears, there have been others who've made strong comeback in music and even dance. That has been proof for Toni Braxton. Her performance on ABC's Dancing With the Stars last Fall reintroduced her seductive appeal to a whole new era. While she did have setbacks from the past several years, including battling her work with management problems from Barry Hankherson, to the lackluster albums from 2002's More Than A Woman and 2005's Libra, she still has shown her true voice on radio well. Now, with a possible return to radio soon, with her upcoming album Pulse, there is a new opportunity to hear Toni's voice back at square one. But, is this collection worth buying, or another way to break the heart?



Playlist: The Very Best Of Toni Braxton is a part of SonyBMG's new compilation series that reintroduces classic artists to a whole new generation of fans, and the collection for Toni's features 15 tracks from Toni's 15 years of highs and lows, making seduction from her voice come alive. The songs here are remastered well, and include a lot of her big songs including her standards like the #1 smashes Un-Break My Heart, Breathe Again, and You Mean The World To Me, as well as fan favorites like the intimate How Could An Angel Break My Heart, and Seven Whole Days. While the collection shows a lot of promise well, and does a good job at showcasing her big hits, but there were a few of her great songs that were. I was surprised that there were a few greats that were overlooked like Just be A Man About It, and the original version of the seducing Spanish Guitar, rather than the remixed version that loses the appeal.



All in all, while hard core fans are eagerly hoping that Pulse can really reintroduce Toni well to that next generation, others will have to do with the classics in the meantime. While Playlist: The Very Best Of Toni Braxton could've been a better hits collection, unlike past ones like 2007's Essential Toni Braxton, it still fairs well as a simple re-introduction to Toni mostly well. I wish it could've been much better than people saying that they didn't feel like they were makin' it high.



Album Cover: B



Songs: C 1/2+



Price: B-



Remastering: B



Overall: C+"

Breathing All Over Again

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 10/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes down to R&B divas, it sadly has been more about the look on the outside, rather than the simplicity of the elequent voice on the inside. With a lot of artists like Ciara, Beyonce' and Jennifer Lopez being artists who have the hype, but they really lack a lot of heart with their songs. That is sad, especially when older divas have really delivered the soul in the eyes and the voice. Toni Braxton, nevertheless had so much she had to really prove to get to the top. But she had delivered with not just the voice, but also the look, especially with her recent performance on ABC's Dancing With The Stars. Now to celebrate her return, another hits album has been released, but is this one worth the effort, or just another lackluster hits collection.



Playlist: The Very Best Of Toni Braxton, is the latest hits collection to reflect the soulful songstress through her longtime career of highs and lows. The collection picks some of her big songs, but gives mixed signal to say you mean the world to. The collection includes some of Toni's big songs from her LaFace era in the 1990's, but does lack on some of her signature songs too. The collection does include her signature ballads like the #1 smashes Un-Break My Heart, and You're Makin' Me High, as well as her beatiful beginnings with You Mean the World To Me, and Breathe Again. While the collection does bring in some of her big hits, there were a few songs that were overshadowed that would've appeal to hard core fans, seduced from Toni's voice. I was surprised that songs like I Don't Want To and her breakthrough hit Another Sad Love Song were overshadowed on the collection. Not only that, but I was also drawn away from the remixed version of Spanish Guitar being on the album, rather than the seductive intimate version Diane Warren had written instead.



All in all, Playlist: The Very Of Toni Braxton doesn't do enough to appeal to hard core fans, where it is a simple reintroduction to her songstress style. But, if you're really looking for a better hits collection, I really suggest you get 2003's Ultimate Toni Braxton instead. Playlist fairs well, but just doesn't show that it is strong enough to be definitive.



Album Cover: B



Songs: C



Price: C+



Remastering: B-



Overall: C 1/2+"