Secrets - Braxton, Toni (CD 1996)

The Main Idea:
In 1996, newcomer Toni Braxton released her sophomore LP, Secrets, to outstanding reception. The album ranks as Toni's most successful and best work to date and has become an instant R&B classic. Though Secrets is mostly ballads with only one halfway danceable cut, it's still unique in that it's startlingly soulful and really allows Toni's talent to shine through. There's nothing fancy about Secrets, and that's what makes it so memorable. It's simply a well-crafted R&B record that's meant to further introduce us to a very talented and soulful singer. Secrets was created before all of the glitz and glamor of the hip-hop era, which Toni quickly submitted herself to, so it sounds amazingly fresh and original when you listen to it now.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. COME ON OVER HERE - Tony Rich of the Tony Rich Project produced this mid-tempo swing cut. Its hook is catchy - "Just come on over here/And I will take care/Of your every need/'Cause I've got love to give to you" - and the background vocals, though sometimes a bit overpowering, are excellently arranged. It's quite addictive and infectious, though it's not too terribly upbeat. Very sweet, soulful, and a great way to open a record, as it sounds just a bit different from all of the other songs - 5/5

2. YOU'RE MAKIN' ME HIGH - This is another swinging R&B cut, though it sounds a bit more sexy and sensual, which isn't so surprising since the lyrics include such lines as "Light my fire," "Blow my flame," and "I can imagine you touching my private parts." A little raunchy, but it's done in a very tasteful way. Babyface adds some great background vocals, and Toni herself makes the song really convincing and soulful. Definitely a guilty pleasure for me, as I can't help but sing along - 5/5

3. THERE'S NO ME WITHOUT YOU - I swear, this song has a real country vibe to it, mostly because of the guitar and percussion. The lyrics are romantic and full of longing - "There's no me without you/There's no meaning to life without you/Tell me why should I care 'bout doing my hair/When I can't stop the thinking about you" - and Toni sings in a particularly low tone. Though it's not one of my favorites, it's still excellent and has a lot of texture and personality - 4/5

4. UN-BREAK MY HEART - So, here it is. That Grammy-winning, show-stopping ballad which has quickly become Toni's signature. I don't know what to say about this one - it simply blows me away and gives me chills every time I hear it. Everything from the choric background vocals to the acoustic guitar is perfect. Definitely Toni's best song yet, as well as one of my favorite songs of all time. I don't know how anyone could not love this song; it's just so powerful and emotional - 6/5

5. TALKING IN HIS SLEEP - This is the only song on the record that I'm not fond of, and that's just because of all of the speaking parts. Other than that, it's very smooth and pleasant with production that really sets the mood. The lyrical concept is about a man doing Toni wrong (what a shock) and talking about it in his sleep. This would have been a five-star song had they just eliminated all of those speaking sections, as they really get on your nerves - 3/5

6. HOW COULD AN ANGEL BREAK MY HEART - My second favorite Toni Braxton song of all time. It's yet another ballad with stunning, well-composed lyrics "How could an angel break my heart/Why didn't he catch my falling star/I wish I didn't wish so hard/Maybe I wished our love apart/How could an angel break my heart." Kenny G plays the saxophone on this one, and I like the way the piano is played in pace with Toni's vocals, which are, as always, beautifully emotional. Another great tear-jerker - 5/5

7. FIND ME A MAN - This song is nice and classy with some good piano playing, but it's nothing special. Toni's delivery is really what saves it from obscurity, though it's not enough to make it one of the best songs on the album. Not particularly impressive, as it's rather slow and repetitive, but it is bearable and could be a lot worse. I'm just not feeling it that much. I don't know what else to say. It's quite mediocre, but Toni does halfway save it - 3/5

8. LET IT FLOW - I really love this cut, which also appears on the "Waiting To Exhale" soundtrack. It's pretty mellow and not quite as R&B as the rest of the record with good lyrics: "First thing early Monday morning/I'm gonna pack my tears away/Got no cause to look back/I'm looking for a better day." It's an excellent song with great background vocals and nice, smooth production. Another one of my many favorites from this album - 5/5

9. WHY SHOULD I CARE - Another smooth, mid-tempo track with superb vocal arrangements and keyboards. It's fairly simple, but more poppish and radio-friendly than the majority of this record. It gets repetitive at times, but that doesn't take away from the overall quality of the song. Toni delivers it very convincingly and with a lot of passion, and that is what sticks out about this tune the most. Once again, there's nothing in particular that is just incredible, but that's what makes it so refreshing - 5/5

10. I DON'T WANT TO - This ballad was written and produced by R. Kelly. It's nice, but WAY too dramatic for this album. The lyrical concept is the same as any we've heard from Toni before, and the piano and production are very theatrical and take some of the emphasis away from the vocals. Now that doesn't ruin the song by any means; it's still very enjoyable. I just think the production and instrumentals should have been toned down a bit and allowed for the vocals to really shine through - 4/5

11. I LOVE ME SOME HIM - Soulshock and Karlin are the masterminds behind this fun mid-tempo ditty with a simple, yet addictive hook: "I love me some him/I'll never love this way again/I love me some you/Another man will never do." The song itself is very simply arranged, if a bit too radio-friendly at times, and features background vocals from Andrea Martin (check her out, too), who also co-wrote the cut. A little cheesy, but cheesy in a sweet way. Not that nasty cafeteria nacho cheese - 5/5

12. IN THE LATE OF NIGHT - Another overdramatic ballad that's similar to "Un-Break My Heart" but not as good. There's more saxophone from Kenny G as well as some well-arranged strings and nature sounds, which give it a very classy sound. Toni sounds heartbroken and emotional on this track, one of her best deliveries of the whole record. Oh yeah, and the album lists a little interlude tacked onto the end of this song called "Toni's Secrets," but there's actually nothing there - 5/5

The Big Picture:
In a music world where nearly every female singer had to be able to hit "that" note, Toni's deep, controlled voice sounded a bit out of place, but she quickly found her place with Secrets. Full of heartwrenching torch songs and the occasional catchy hook, Secrets is unique in that it doesn't try so hard to impress you with the flashy production or heavy instrumentals. Toni's voice is really what becomes the instrument, and that's what's brought to the forefront on this record. It's pure, unadulterated talent with a clear, crisp sound and a voice that's like no other in the R&B world.. Secrets is, in my opinion, one of the best R&B albums of all time, simply because it's so understated and elegant. It proves that you can be successful by using your talent to sell records instead of your looks (though though Toni is still a stunningly beautiful woman, even without the boob job).

Secrets is fully enjoyable from start to finish. Even in the couple of spots where it stumbles, it stumbles only briefly, and those rough spots aren't nearly as rough as those on other records. As I said, I'm a big fan of Toni's voice because it's unique and proves that you don't have to shatter glass or explode ear drums to be a good singer. Her voice is ultimately what makes Secrets so special. If anyone else had sung this album, I wouldn't have been nearly as impressed. Secrets's material is best suited to Toni's voice and Toni's voice alone. Anyone else would have sounded silly. So before the skimpy clothes and before Toni tried desperately to fit in with the umpteen million talentless teeny bopper vocalists of the late 90's, there was Secrets, an unrestricted display of what R&B could and should sound like, and that's what truly makes it so memorable.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.583
Best Songs: "Un-Break My Heart" and "How Could An Angel Break My Heart"
Worst Song(s): "Talking In His Sleep"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 5 stars
Lyrics? 3 1/2 stars
Production? 5 stars
Timelessness? 5 stars
Artistry? 4 stars

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