Customer Reviews

Pulse

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Toni Braxton has delivered a wonderful album. She is awesome! I flipped through all the songs to see which ones I would want to listen to, and all of them were great, so I bought the album. Not a loser in the bunch.

To be perfectly honest, I had not paid much attention to announcements of Toni Braxton's new album "Pulse." She has experienced so many problems industry and self brought on that it seemed she was in danger of being relegated to the classification of "those how once were." By accident one night I came across the video for "Hands Tied," and was stunned. There before my eyes was the gorgeous Braxton in a hot, sexy video by Billie Woodruff making a successful plea not be forgotten. At 42 she was giving those half her age a run for their money and with a good song. I found myself playing the video continually (there were already 110,000 views). I then downloaded the album and was pleasantly surprised. The entire album, wrapped around one of the most expressive voices in the business, is a success. Such song as the solo version of Yesterday (I did not miss the duet with Trey), Woman, Hands Tied, and the uptempo Make My Heart more than bring Braxton into 2010. Another personal favorite is the sexy "Why Won't You Love Me" (this should be the next single) which demonstrates what made Toni Braxton a star in the first place...is simply sublime. Ye, some will quibble with the attempts to rival such singers as Rihanna, she doesn't need, she is so much better. I am sure this was most likely influenced by record executives. The important thing is her incredible sound which swallows even the marginal songs. If you like her before, this is a must buy.

It has been a lackluster couple of years with artists not coming out with strong albums. But in R&B, there have been a lot of artists that've charted big back into the mainstream still knowing how to thrive in their music. Sade and Monica have shown that well with their albums that definitely topped the R&B charts. Hopefully, Toni Braxton can be able to duplicate that feat. It has been 5 years since her last album, Libra and a lot of things in her life were very hard for her to go through from a surprising breakup with her husband Keri Lewis to seeing her son Denim embattle autism, all while she had a strong appearance in 2008 on Dancing With The Stars. But with all the things Toni had gone through, she definitely has not stopped with the ambition of good music, and her latest is on the "pulse" of the music scene.

Toni Braxton's latest album Pulse, her first in 5 years and her debut on Atlantic Records, shows that Toni is definitely going back to basics, and delivers a better record than her last 2 records, More Than A Woman and Libra which didn't deliver strongly in the music scene. The songs here are well-written and deliver a strong appeal for die hard Toni fans, as well as newcomers alike. The collection of songs here are strong including Yesterday which she scored well with Trey Songz as a single (but not actually on Pulse,) but Toni has her solo version which is just as striking, as well as her recent singles Make My Heart and Hands Tied, and the intimate songs Woman and the soulful Why Won't You Love Me. Each track feels refreshing from start to finish, and in each not is mostly well worth the wait. Even with time, Toni has not even lost her voice and gains back the appeal she missed out from before onto a new generation of R&B that seems to be so fixated on wannabes like Rihanna and Beyonce', whom been more overexposed in their videos than strong in their songs.

All in all, if you're a hard core Toni Braxton fan, I definitely recommend Pulse. It honestly is one of the better albums that is well worth the wait. Toni's latest definitely is up there with her beginnings from her LaFace days with Secrets and The Heat as well as her self-titled debut. This pulse doesn't feel like it has lost its edge, and strong as the feeling of a young heart feeling alive and new. Welcome back, Toni.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B+

Price: A-

Mastering: B 1/2+

Overall: B+

I have been a fan of Toni since the beginning in 1992. I have also watched the music industry change since 2000's The Heat. Looking at her past too albums (Libra and More Than A Woman), they both had great songs on them but they werent great albums, if that makes any sense. Now its 2010 and we have Pulse. After listening to the album for a few hours I feel its a very good album from her, with a few weak spots. Yesterday, Hands Tied and Pulse are stellar and bring to mind the 90's Toni that we all fell in love or cried with. Lush harmonizes, tight production, poetic lyrics, Toni has always been the queen on creating pretty imagery to her music. The uptempo tracks are hit or miss however, Make My Heart works, while Lookin' At Me doesnt work.

The standout track is the closer Why Wont You Love Me. Its a Duet with producer Harvey Mason and its the gem of the album. Toni's voice is perfect for duets with male artist that I wonder why she hasnt done more besides the one's with Babyface and Michael McDonald. This is signature Toni where she (and he) made a sad song sound so sexy its perfect background music for a date.

The biggest problem I have with the album are the tracks that were left out because of internet leaks over the last few months. I completely agree with the other review who said there are some tracks that should have been included instead of some of the ones on Pulse. Clockwork, My Ring, Caught Feat. MoNique, and Not A Chance should have DEFINITELY been on the album. Those 4 songs alone equal Platinum selling album to me! I dont understand why Atlantic Records didnt include those when Wardrobe and Hands Tied were leaked around the same time. Its a very good album but 4 of the best songs arent on the album. B+

This is the best cd I've bought in a LONG time! You can put it in and just let it play. How often does THAT happen?

It's been quite a while in industry time since Toni Braxton's last album, Libra, an album which I enjoyed. In fact I'm a big Toni Braxton fan. With a voice eerily similar to one of my favorite singers ever Anita Baker and classic songs to match, I was definitely excited to see Toni making a comeback.

I've given this one time to marinate (even though it leaked so long ago) and tried to force myself to like this but I'm just not feeling this album. I hate to compare this R&B legend to a relative newcomer but this album sounds like something Leona Lewis would record. I don't know if they channeled the same producers or what but PULSE doesn't sound like a Toni Braxton album to my ears.

Even though she has recorded some powerful ballads throughout her career, she's more suited to grooves or sexy midtempos. The groove is not supported on Pulse. There are some songs I like though such as Yesterday, Hero, Hands Tied, and Woman. Why Won't You Love Me is the closest thing to vintage but updated Toni Braxton as the album gets.

Overall, I'm simply glad that she's back to making music again and look forward to hearing more in the future. PULSE however isn't recommended unless you are at least a fan of Braxton as it is not up to par. While not her worse album (More Than A Woman anyone???) you know she's had better and hopefully will have better. 2.5 stars.

Pulse
I was a little skeptical about buying this album, since lately most artists from the 90's tends to sound younger than they really are to appeal to the age 16-30 crowd. But I've always been a TB fan [and having the same birthday doesn't hurt :) ] so I was pleasantly surprised to really love this album. Toni sounds great!! It reminds me of her first two albums, which really capture her "essence" - the voice, the tone, the emotion. I really hope people go out and support her new album and other artists like her that give us great music. Especially now with the crap on radio. You won't be disappointed!!

This album is great, no doubts about it. I can listen to it all of the way through, without skipping songs. That, to me, is the mark of the great album. Even 20 years later, Toni still sounds and looks great (unlike other artists who shall not be named).

Favorite songs are : Hands Tied, Make My Heart, Lookin' At Me, Wardrobe, Hero, and Why Won't You Love Me. But, as stated before, the whole album is great.

It's a shame that the album hasn't sold better in the US. Perhaps we are so used to crap music that we can't appreciate real singing right in front of us. Also, Toni needs to get a better promo machine behind her because this album should be Platinum (or gold at the very least--unfortunately even a year later this wonderful album hasn't hit gold status).

This album by Toni Braxton has a few strong tracks but what stands out more than anything else is that it is over-produced. Toni, unlike many of the other "singers" out there today, has a beautiful, powerful, distinctive voice. Yet, in so many of the songs, her incredible instrument is drowned out by layers and layers of production. It is almost as if the producers were trying to make Toni sound like many of the current artists (whose work is more video-driven) who need 48 track studios to give heft to their voices. That is not Toni and I hope that in her next offering, the producers let her audience enjoy that incredible instrument.

WOW! What a return for one of my all-time favorite vocalists. Toni Braxton's not only still got it, she's sounding better than ever. There's not a mediocre song on this album. It's ALL good. I didn't even know Toni had released a new album until my daughter's voice teacher told her she got shivers when she heard her, because she sounded so much like Toni Braxton. We came home and I looked up her older songs for my daughter, who's just fourteen. Once she heard this album, she realized what a compliment it was for her teacher to make such a comparison. Interestingly, my daughter's also a Braxton look-a-like, and her initial's are also T.B. Look for her soon! Taryn. LOL