Album Results
Album Reviews
Most modern-day female pop singers start their careers doing their sexy, stylish dance-oriented material then settle into a career as an adult contemporary crooner. Toni Braxton didn't follow that route. She started the '90s singing elegant, refined quiet storm ballads and ended it singing sleek dance-pop tunes as she slinked around in skimpy outfits. She wasn't the only one of her peers to follow this trajectory -- Mariah Carey pretty much did the same thing, only to the extreme -- but it's a little odd to listen to Braxton evolve from the sophisticated urban contemporary crooner to oversexed R&B thrush, even if it's not a bad thing at all. One thing that elevated Braxton above her peers is that she was a controlled, powerful singer who rarely oversang, and she had a good selection of material, much of it written or co-written by Babyface. That's why her 18-track hits collection Ultimate Toni Braxton works well even through her shifts in style -- she is a confident enough performer to sell both the slow romantic ballads and material that swings harder. That's not to say that there aren't some slow spots here -- the previously unreleased cuts are no great shakes, and sometimes the abundance of slow numbers makes things sound too samey -- but she was one of the top urban soul singers of the '90s, and this is the album that illustrates why. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Track Listing
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Don't Believe In Love Dido |
| After almost 5 years, Dido is back...and was it worth the wait? The single sounds like it could have come off the last album, with a great chorus and sumptuous strings carrying the melody and packing an emotional punch in the process. Apparently this and most of "Safe Trip Home" was written about her recent breakup. Well, it worked for Winehouse with 'Back to Black', so why not? However, lyrics aside, it's actually a good little pop song and it's surprising how little radio play it has had, resulting in a relatively low chart placing. Maybe people are waiting for the album (now out), which she has worked on with the likes of Brian Eno & Jon Brion (Keane), as her sales are remarkably high due to her loyal fan case. The first two shifted over 24 millions copies worldwide between them. After a brief listen, it seems that Dido has released the strongest song first, as she did with 'White Flag' from her last effort. However, this is not of that magnitude unfortunately and the album feels a bit low key and 'samey'. But, as with all great albums, only time will tell and this lead single more than merits the wait: the haunting vocals and polished production will at least push the extremely talented Dido back into the public's consciousness, where she belongs! | |
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