The Heat

Toni Braxton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 25, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00004R7SN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (302 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,811 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After a nearly four-year absence from recording, Toni Braxton returns with The Heat, her third album. Full of drama--sometimes melodrama--it unsurprisingly puts Braxton's rich voice and command of nuance front and center of one state-of-the-art track after another. Unfortunately, The Heat plays up her taste for ballads to such a point that the disc bores itself into a quiet-storm rut. The big exception is the Rodney Jerkins-produced first single, "He Wasn't Man Enough." The song's smoldering rebuff and Jerkins's measured funk make a perfect match for Braxton's matter-of-fact hauteur. She also delivers a tough take on reality with "Just Be a Man About It," which pits her against Dr. Dre in a breakup scenario that carries much more force than weightless trifles such as the filler sex-me-up "The Art of Love" and Diane Warren's "Spanish Guitar." --Bob Roget

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haven't stopped playing "The Heat" since I bought it!, April 30, 2000

By 

"hennessytweek" (Fort Bragg, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heat (Audio CD)

As an avid Toni Braxton listener from way back in the day when she first came out, I was doubting that Miss T.B. would be able to top her previous two smashes. What a surprise to buy the CD, listen to it (almost 10 times through now hehe), and find it's her hottest and most blistering album to date!

Each song has its own individuality and special meaning to the listener, but there are a few songs that really stand out. The Diane Warren-penned "Spanish Guitar" and "I'm Still Breathing" showcase Toni's ability to put her gorgeous voice to latin grooves and instruments! The first single from the album, "He Wasn't Man Enough", is an instant club hit with its uptempo one-two punch from Toni to a rival girl who is dating Toni's ex. And finally, my personal favorite song, "Never Just For A Ring", is a must-listen-to. Ballads have always been Toni's shining point in my eyes, but this particular song takes the cake as the best one I've heard. Its hypnotic beat and Toni's voice, dripping with pure emotion, will take your soul places musically that its never been.

New and diehard fans alike can agree that Toni will always be the goddess of the R&B scene, and this entire album proves just that!

(By the way, Toni, I'll always be your FANatic!)

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some great monents on a fine CD!, April 28, 2000

By 

"riverwide" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heat (Audio CD)

I'd always quite liked Toni Braxton's previous material, though I sometimes felt that she relied too heavily on formulaic ballads. Some of those ballads are undeniably impressive (Unbreak My Heart, Breathe Again, I Don't Want To) but I'm glad to see her tackle some more uptempo and contemporary tracks on this album.

Things get off to a great start with the Rodney Jerkins produced "He Wasn't Man Enough". It bears all the hallmarks of his production style which is also why it's so enjoyable. I just wish that Jerkins had worked on more than this one track. I'd have loved to see what else they could have come up with together. "The Heat" didn't impress me at first, but like some of the best songs, it's a real grower. Very subtle melody! Likewise with "Spanish Guitar", I was disappointed at first, expecting an instantly likeable Diane Warren ballad. I felt it was flat and rather uninteresting but after a few listens I'm hooked. It's not as bombastic and overblown as other Warren songs and it's all the better for it. Definitely one of the album's highlights.

"Just Be A Man About It" is another grower, but I loved "Gimme Some" straight away. The pace definitely picks up with this well-produced Babyface track. I'm afraid that "I'm Still Breathing" leaves me cold, and in my opinion is one of the weaker tracks on the CD. Fortunately it's follwed by one of the strongest, "Fairytale". This sweet, semi-acoustic song has Babyface written all over it. Similar in style to "Let It Flow" it has a gorgeous melody and Toni sounds great, as she does on all the tracks it has to be said.

"The Art Of Love" is quite a surprise. It's an almost instrumental track with some interesting Euro-style production. Intriguing! Three of the less impressive tracks follow, but the album's closer is also a highlight. "Never Just For A Ring" is unlike anything I've heard Toni sing before, with it's unusual beat and sparse production.

All in all, it's a fine effort which showcases Toni's unique vocals. All I could ask for is some more Rodney Jerkins next time around please?

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish There Were More Stars!, April 27, 2000

By 

David Joseph (NYc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heat (Audio CD)

...Toni Braxton does it again.After 4 long awaited years without a solo release, she hits us with an incredible album full of touching ballads and great R&B + hip hop flavoured tracks.I believe Toni's voice is stronger than ever, on the track "The Heat", she delivers an emotional performance on the song, that it deserves to be a number one smash. "He wasn't man enough" produced by the greatest Rodney Jerkins, is a powerful song which transmit a sincere message to all the sisters out there and also is a bouncy R&B FUNK which will appeal to a new generation of Toni Braxton's fans.Diane Warren lends two tracks to the album including "Spanish Guitar" which is prduced by both David Foster.The songs incredible bass line will have you hooked instantly and brings you to the...7ieme ciel.Another Warren track is "I'm still breathing", produced also by David Foster.It is such a terrific ballads which features Toni delivering her most laid back performance since "Breath again" from "Unbreak my heart".This album has something for everybody and Toni proves once again that she is still one of the best in the business, unique and a Diva.I hope from the very deep of my heart, this album will bring her back where she truly belongs...U Go Girl, i luv U....and for those who haven't purchase Toni's latest, go out there and check her up if you're a true fan of hers, i strongly recommand it...