Toni Braxton  -  Toni Braxton (1993)

Tracklisting

1.  Another Sad Love Song 
2.  Breathe Again 
3.  Seven Whole Days 
4.  Love Affair 
5.  Candlelight 
6.  Spending My Time With You 
7.  Love Shoulda Brought You Home 
8.  I Belong To You 
9.  How Many Ways 
10. You Mean The World To Me 
11. Best Friend 
12. Breathe Again (Reprise)

(click on the tracktitle to listen or click here to listen to all tracks)

Toni Braxton won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best New
Artist, and "Another Sad Love Song" won the 1994
Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
"Breathe Again" won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best
Female R&B Vocal Performance. "You Mean The World To
Me" was nominated for Best R&B Song in 1995.
"I Belong To You" was nominated for a 1996 Grammy for
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
TONI BRAXTON is a smashing debut. One of the best
vocalists to break through the glut of R&B divas, the
sultry Braxton gives the pretenders to the diva throne
cause to re-evaluate their careers. It's going to be hard
to compete against this stylist.
Concrete songwriting also helps the album rise above the
others. Songs like "Another Sad Love Song" and "Seven
Whole Days" are perfect vehicles for her dynamic vocal
gymnastics, while the subdued ballad "Best Friend" comes
to a slow boil, after simmering for 4 and 1/2 minutes.
Braxton's unique voice combined with original,
impossible-to-label songs like the sexy standout "Breathe
Again" show what magic first-rate producers like L.A. Reid
and Babyface can do with an extraordinary singer. The
proof is in the sales and the awards generated from this
album; Braxton won the coveted 1994 Grammy Award for
"Best New Artist."
Braxton caresses her lyrics with jazzy, Anita Baker-ish
embellishments, slurred phrasing, breathy come-ons, and
leaping octaves. She swings, sways, wails and wallops
her way through this outstanding showcase.
The album ends with a refreshing reprise of "Breathe
Again." You just can't get too much of a good thing.