When I first saw the images for the new album, I was like this is all wrong! She should go back to the short black hair like when we all fell in love with Toni. Then I saw a picture from her perfomance on Ellen and it was short then I saw the video for "Make My Heart" which I really liked. The church ladies should have started dancing though. That would have really sent it over the top. Lol. But right now it seems that Toni Braxton is at least heading in the right direction. Vocally you sound right on point. You sound strong again and I can understand your lyrics. For quite some time, I was very frustrated with all the breathy, mumbling, and sensual sort of deliveries that Toni was giving me. If Toni Braxton couldn't sing, that would have been one thing, but from a songtress of her caliber I was very disappointed. So to hear you sounding like you did in the beginning again, a strong alto with a bit of grit and range, makes me very happy.
My advice now is to take down all the promo pictures on your site and elsewhere with the long flowing brown hair. They are pretty. Don't get me wrong. Toni Braxton is a beautiful woman and always has been. Long hair, short hair, it really doesn't matter as far as beauty is concerned. But when people come to the site and see the short dark hair and a new style it will be an instant signal that this album is different and going back to the roots of Toni Braxton. Also if you go to sites like Amazon.com's CDNow and you look at all of Toni Braxton's albums past and current. Pulse does not standout. It just blends in with all the other albums over the years that have been accepted with varying opinions. So changing the artwork and packaging is very crucial especially at this point in Toni's career when she is launching something of a comeback. A new look will lead to people paying much closer attention to the album. I think alot of the reason some of the fans have strayed from Toni Braxton is because they don't recognize her anymore. Toni went from the beautiful woman with the classic short crop and the low powerful voice of love to a dainty long haired diva that frequently mumbled lyrics in a breathy and almost incoherent fashion.
I would also only release the current album with the current artwork in limited edition. I would release one slow track next, maybe "Hands Tied" or "Hero" then abandon the album as it is. After that I would quickly follow it up with Pulse the Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition should feature the new short haircut in all the images and edgier street fashion along with maybe two new songs. The previous songs should be remixed as well. Not completely redone, but tweaked. Just a touch more club style with a heavier beat that is distinct and catchy should be added to the upbeat tracks. "Make My Heart" and "Lookin' At Me" are very good examples for how all the upbeat tracks should sound. They are well balanced blends of vocals, beats, and music. "Make My Heart" especially is very catchy. The slower songs should be stripped down a bit to sound closer to classic R&B more like the first Toni Braxton album with just enough of a modern twist to keep it sounding current. The tracks "Why Won't You Love Me" and "No Way" are perfect examples. Those tracks are spot on. Near perfection. Toni's vocals should be the stand out not the musical track. Nobody else sounds like Toni Braxton so that point should not be wasted. Right now much of the album sounds like everything else that is out. The Deluxe Edition should be kicked off with the release of "Lookin' At Me" and a hot video. I could really see it being a girl's night out with Toni and special guest Niecy Nash, Sherry Shepherd, and Vivica Fox. They are in a club and this guy keeps giving Toni the eye but he's kind of shy. The guy could be someone like Rick Fox, Gary Dourdan, or Jesse Williams. In between there are scenes of Toni Braxton dancing with male dancers against a solid background with very strong colors that pop. Toward the end of the video Toni takes the lead and walks up to the man. The video could close with a dance rountine with Toni and her girlfriends all on the dance floor dancing and everyone in the club behind them doing the same dance. Then as the video fades Toni walks out of the club with the guy leaving her girls wondering where she went. After "Lookin' At Me", should follow "Why Won't You Love Me."
But from here on out Toni Braxton should be that down to earth diva that can seduce us with a love song and then send everyone into a frenzy with a banging dance track. Do away with the luscious locks, chandeleir earrings, and red carpet worthy gowns for good. Focus on edgy street fashion that leans toward high fashion. At this point, I would avoid a major world tour. I would do some shows over seas where they really appreciate R&B divas a lot more than they do over here. Then with all the kinks worked out of the show, I would come to the US and do just enough dates to hit all the major cities and then call it a wrap. Long tours are hard on everyone and at some point there are destined to be bad moments and unavoidable snags. Right now Toni Braxton does not need that. I would really focus on online performances in places like AOL Sessions and posts the official music videos everywhere. I really really hope this album does well. I have always liked Toni Braxton and I wish you all the best. If talent were all that made a star Toni Braxton would be one the biggest and brightest always.