The Heat - Braxton, Toni (CD 2000)

The Main Idea:
Though Secrets is a tough album to follow and is definitely the peak of Toni's career, she made a great attempt at a follow-up with The Heat. This album is a bit of a new sound for Toni in that it's more upbeat and catchy and doesn't have as many of the slow, soulful ballads as her previous efforts. After filing for bankruptcy in 1998 and a series of contract disputes with LaFace Records, it sounds like Toni wanted to start afresh, and that's apparent on The Heat. She's working with a greater variety of producers and is trying her hand at writing (however sucky her efforts may be) and testing out new styles vocally. The Heat ranks as Toni's second-best effort to date, simply because she took risks that actually worked out for her in the end.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. HE WASN'T MAN ENOUGH - This sultry Rodney Jerkins-produced first single introduced us to the new Toni in a very big and very good way. Toni delivers the verses with attitude and sass - "Who do you think I am?/Don't you know that he was my man?/But I chose to let him go/So why do you act like I still care about him?" - over sparkly, guitar-laden production that really sets off her voice well. This is definitely the best upbeat song Toni has ever made; a great change for her - 5/5

2. THE HEAT - Though not one of my favorites, this title cut has a nice summery vibe and some cool stuttering production courtesy of Toni's future husband, Keri Lewis of Mint Condition. Toni's vocals are low and seductive and fit the mood of the song perfectly. It's fairly short and simple and nothing about it particularly stands out, but that's actually refreshing in this case. A catchy mid-tempo tune that sounds a little bit like some of the quicker songs from Secrets - 4/5

3. SPANISH GUITAR - This Latin ballad is helmed by the same people behind Toni's biggest hit, "Un-Break My Heart." The lyrics are very beautiful and emotional - "Steal my heart with every note you play/I pray you'll look my way/And hold me to your heart someday/I long to be the one that you caress with tenderness/And you don't know/You don't even know that I exist" - and I love the guitars and keyboards. The background vocals are excellent as well. One of my favorites - 5/5

4. JUST BE A MAN ABOUT IT - Teddy Bishop produced this mid-tempo single that never really got much airplay. It features some spoken bits from Dr. Dre and isn't particularly remarkable, but a nice addition to the album. Toni sounds like she really is fed up with her man and the production, which is pretty calm and easygoing, sets the mood well. This is a very smooth track with great background vocals and a nice way to calm down the album a bit - 4/5

5. GIMME SOME - This Jazze Pha production has an addictively danceable start-and-stop beat and catchy lyrics. There's also a clever rap from the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of labelmates TLC that adds some edge and attitude to the song. It's a little more poppy than what you'd expect from Toni, but I think her husky, sexy voice gives this otherwise lighthearted tune a new spin. I probably would have hated this cut if it was sung by anyone but Toni - 5/5

6. I'M STILL BREATHING - With its tear-jerking chorus - "Not me, I'm still breathing/And this heart of mine is still beating/And I, I'm not feeling any pain/No baby, not me, I'm still breathing/This old heart of mine is still beating/The tears I've cried have dried/You have gone and I've survived/I'm still breathing" - it's obvious that this is another Diane Warren and David Foster creation. There are more elegant guitars here and great background vocals. Toni sings with a lot of emotion and depth on this heartfelt ballad - 5/5

7. FAIRY TALE - This is another one of my favorites because it's so simple and sweet and shows that Toni would be lost without Babyface's magic touch. There's just some easygoing acoustic guitar to accompany her on this mid-tempo ballad along with great background vocals from Mr. Edmonds himself. The lyrics are equally as simple and stirring and unusually catchy. I think this song is just stellar and really showcases Toni as, above all else, an artist - 5/5

8. THE ART OF LOVE - This isn't a real song with real lyrics or instrumentals or anything. It's just some random production and some occasional fake-orgasmic vocals from Toni. It's sort of spacey and voyeuristic, like something Janet would do, but it doesn't work for Toni at all. This is another collaboration with her future husband and is the only really disposable track on the record. It just sounds fake and stupid, like Toni is trying way too hard to sound sexy - 1/5

9. SPEAKING IN TONGUES - Don't get me wrong - I love Toni's music and support her all the way. But her producers should not let her write songs my herself because her lyrics suck: "315-3769 call me boy anytime/Don't need no caller id, 'cause I won't have anybody/Interrupting our call/Talk dirty to me baby without talking at all/You got me singin' baby." Despite the fact that it's extremely cheesy, this song is rather smooth and Toni also plays the keyboards - 3/5

10. MAYBE - I love the fast-paced lyrics of this sexy song in which Toni questions whether she should let her man get some or not. There are some nice strings and good background vocals on the bridge and ad-libs, though the simple, breathy hook doesn't fit in with the song very well. The song is very smooth and grooving and Toni pulls it off flawlessly. I would have liked to hear a bit more going on production-wise and it's a bit short but, other than that, it's perfect - 5/5

11. YOU'VE BEEN WRONG - Toni brings in her sisters to sing the background vocals on this catchy song, which could have made a successful single. I like the melody and the verses - "Friday night, it's 10:15/You're working late, am I naive/To believe that it's true/Finally I've realized/Your lies have opened up my eyes/This love affair, now it's over, over" - as well as the guitars and the sampling of "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)." A great up-tempo tune, though not a favorite - 4/5

12. NEVER JUST FOR A RING - This mid-tempo ballad is full of attitude as well, though Toni still manages to sound remorseful and forlorn. I love the production, which is modern yet chic, and the stuttering way Toni delivers the verses. I actually get some Destiny's Child vibes from this one merged with just a little bit of Whitney Houston. It's a really catchy, slightly danceable number that's a great way to close an album as it sums up the overall sound of this record perfectly - 4/5

The Big Picture:
Many people wrote Toni off after Secrets was such a massive success because they didn't think she could do it again. Even more thought her career was done after her many personal problems. But she proved them all wrong with The Heat. Toni revealed her fun, funky, sensual side on this record and proved that she wasn't just a soulful balladeer. It may seem like she sold out on this album, and maybe she did just a little bit, but I admire Toni for trying something different and not being afraid to take risks. The Heat was one of the best R&B records of 2000. It's classic Toni with a new twist. The distinct, powerhouse vocals are still there, the sass is still there, and the soul is still there. This album just takes it to a whole new level and broadens Toni's horizons a bit more.

Though her following foray into hip-hop fell flat on its face, The Heat ushered in a promising new era for Miss Braxton. It has a couple of shaky spots (if I ever hear anything even remotely similar to THE ART OF LOVE again from her, I will scream), but, for the most part, this is a very well-thought out record that flows excellently from song to song. Most importantly, it has a more diverse sound and isn't nearly as monotonous as Toni's first two efforts. The Heat sounds like she was having more fun with her music and actually enjoyed recording this album. I hope Toni makes more records like this because, though I still think Secrets will always be her album to beat, this fun, infectious new sound makes her seem like a more interesting artist. Just as long as she stops writing her own songs (some people just aren't cut out for songwriting and Toni is definitely one of them), she will continue to be successful.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.167
Best Song(s): "He Wasn't Man Enough," "Fairy Tale," and "Spanish Guitar"
Worst Song(s): "The Art Of Love"

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

Also Recommended:
Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love
Monica - The Boy Is Mine
Mariah Carey - Butterfly