Toni Braxton's second album,
Secrets, follows through on the promise of her eponymous debut. Like her first album, the majority of
Secrets was co-produced by
Babyface and his partner
L.A. Reid, while the material is divided between songs written by outside songwriters like
R. Kelly,
Tony Rich, and
Diane Warren and originals by
Braxton and
Babyface.
Braxton and
Babyface's collaborations are the highlights of the album, combining rich melodies and gorgeous choruses with subtle, clever lyrics that are never laced with cliches. Nearly equalling the original numbers are contributions by
Tony Rich (
"Come On Over Here") and
R. Kelly (
"I Don't Want To"); with these tracks, both musicians demonstrate why they are considered two of the top songwriters in '90s
R&B and
soul.
Secrets does have a couple of weak moments. The numbers produced by
David Foster are too predictable in their slick commercial appeal, but
Braxton manages to infuse the songs with life and passion that elevates them beyond their generic confines. And her vocal talent is what unites
Secrets and makes it into a first-rate
contemporary R&B collection.
Braxton is a singer who can cross over into the smooth confines of
adult contemporary radio without losing or betraying the
soul that lies at the foundation of her music, and her talent burns at its brightest on
Secrets. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
