Customer Reviews

The Heat

5 star:		(137)
4 star:		(80)
3 star:		(44)
2 star:		(24)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

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!)

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?

...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...

I'm loving this cd man. I missed Toni so much it was hard to be objective while listening to it but I must say this is a great cd. ALL the tracks are great-from the slow pop influenced songs "Spanish Guitar", I'm Still Breathing" and "Fairy Tales" to the get down with the funky beat hip hop flavored ones-"The Heat", "Maybe" (toni actually raps on this one bone, thugs and harmony style and it works) and Gimme Some that people will be sure to dance to this album has it all. I simply can't recommend it too much. I was prepared for a good cd but I must say now that this is definitely her BEST WORK EVER. You will not be disappointed if you get it. She's got Babyface, David Foster, Rodney Jerkins and more producing the songs (and surprising she's got some she produced herself and they sound real good too) so she stuck with the right formula from her 2 previous albums. "You've Been Wrong" featuring her sisters is going to be the sleeper hit I think on radio this year-watch out for it!

I don't know what is wrong with some people! This cd is one of the best compilations of music I've heard in a long time! All the songs are well written, exquisitely produced, and magnificently sung by the lovely and talented Toni. I have no complaints except it may be not enough! I am so impressed by the efforts of Toni as far as producing and even playing instruments-she plays the keyboards on "Speaking In Tongues" and she wrote several songs. A great effort. "The Heat" is the jam-after you listen to this a few times you will just go "whoa" what a jam! I'm loving the beautiful "Spanish Guitar"(Dianne Warren written) reminds me very much of "Unbreak My Heart" but the melody can be described as more dramatic. "I'm Still Breathing"-the seeming like sequel to "Breathe Again" is very nice. And that acoustic guitar of Babyface's on "Fairy Tales" just moves me so much along with Toni's soulful voice-I love that song! Please people this is a wonderful cd. Listen to it objectively, and I guarantee you'll be playing it all day like I do.

Since it had been 4 years since Toni's last album, Secrets, I had forgotten why I became a Toni fan in the first place, but The Heat reminded me why. Hopefully we won't have to wait 4 years for her next album. What amazes me about all 3 of Toni's albums is that they're all different, but they still reflect her style. I love how she manages to keep evolving in her music yet still finds songs that fit her amazing voice. I can't say with certainty that if you loved her first 2 albums that you'll love this one, but I loved her first 2 albums AND this one. I'm amazed at how Toni always manages to work with the right people and she writes or co-writes many of the songs on The Heat, showing how her talent is growing.

My favorite songs on the album are "He Wasn't Man Enough", "The Heat", "Spanish Guitar", "I'm Still Breathing", "Fairy Tale", "The Art of Love", "Speaking In Tongues", and "Never Just For A Ring". I love how Toni always has such beautiful, sensual R&B songs on her album. I wish more R&B artists would do this style of music. I love putting on this CD and just daydreaming. "The Heat" is about summertime and it reminds me of just that. I can imagine lying on the beach as I listen to it. "Spanish Guitar" was written by Diane Warren and it does remind me a little bit of "Un-Break My Heart", but in this case, I don't think that's bad at all. It's amazing how much emotion Toni puts into her music. I can genuinely feel her longing as she sings about wanting a man who doesn't know she exists in "Spanish Guitar". "I'm Still Breathing" was also written by Diane Warren and it's a sequel to "Breathe Again". It's also beautiful. "Fairy Tale" just knocks me off my feet. The beauty of this song is breathtaking. It's an acoustic ballad with gorgeous lyrics and Toni's voice shines. "The Art of Love" also blows me away. It's a mostly instrumental song, with Toni whispering in the background. It's truly one of the sexiest pieces of music I've ever heard. "Speaking In Tongues" shows that Toni is a great songwriter, as she wrote the whole song by herself. It's a very sensual song. "Never Just For A Ring" just grabs me, it's another great song.

If you love beautiful R&B music, I definitely recommend The Heat. And get Toni's first 2 albums too if you don't already have them.

After the big success of her first album "Toni Brxton" which became 8 times multi-platinum in the US and opened Toni all the markets around the world came "Secrets" which also was a big impact around the world with the #1's hits "you're making me high" and un-break my heart", the album sold 12 million copies worldwide. After this success and taking home 5 Grammy awards, Toni had a very bad time in her life after having a fight with her record company because they weren't paying what she deserved.She came back in 2000 once again with Laface (her record company) with this magnificent album that debuted in the Billboard 200 at #2, the first single "he wasn't man enough" became an instant hit and brought Toni her Grammy #6.When I first bought "The heat" I found Toni's change but in a fresher way with songs like "he wasn't man enough".With "The heat" Toni opened a new style in her music, some of the songs have much more beat than her first ones, actually it's a great combination between rhythm and blues, pop and hip-hop...if you buy it I think you're gonna love as I do.

Let me first begin by saying that I am a dire hard Toni Braxton fan. I now own all of her albums. If you have read other reviews and are conflicted about whether to purchase this album, go ahead and make the investment. While the Heat is a solid R and B album, it is very different from her previous albums. If you are heartbroken and trying to find some tunes to ease the pain, put Sade into the CD changer instead. Toni Braxton's latest release does have ballads/slow songs but they are not the same he left me my heart is breaking. Her new found strength is magnified within this album. "Never for Just a Ring" and "Just be a man about it" (two of my favorite songs on the album) show a woman that has lost at the love game but will still survive. Toni's personal struggles financially and personally made have caused this transformation but at the heart is still a vibrant singer with a rich voice. Also unlike her previous albums, there are songs that you can really dance to like "He wasn't man enough for me" and "gimme some". Why hate on Toni for showing that she is a versatile artist and can do the uptempo R&B as well. (No one said anything when Mariah Carey who originally became famous on her ballads switched). Let's face it, the music industry has changed and to be current with the times, Toni has also. Also noteworthy cuts include "Spanish Guitar" and "The Art of Love".

Toni Braxton's 3rd solo-album is a sign of a powerful return. She continues to be one of the leading stars of R&B. The most romantic track of the album "Spanish Guitar" and the 1st single "He wasn't man enough for me" are the most successful songs. If you have liked her previous album "Secrets", probably you'll enjoy "The Heat" too. Buy it now not to regret later :)

This cd is flawless she keep the flame burning with songs like Just be a man about it ,He wasn't man enough oh and my favorite The Heat .If you don't have you are not apart of the heat.