CD GIVEAWAY: TONI BRAXTON - PULSE

After receiving Mr. Will-W.: Pop Maven's stamp of approval, Warner Music Canada and yours truly are teaming up to give away three copies of sexy and soulful Toni Braxton's latest effort, Pulse.  And judging by some of your reactions, some of you are just about as excited as I am about her big return and debut effort on Atlantic Records. 

Three winners worldwide will be drawn at random and to qualify all you have to do is e-mail mrwillw@mrwillw.com with the names of any one of the three singles released thus far off Pulse.  The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 12:00 PM EST.   Good luck, Peaches!

REVIEW: TONI BRAXTON - PULSE

I'll be the first to admit that I had my doubts about Toni Braxton's latest effort Pulse, her first from Altantic Records/Warner Music after many successful albums with Arista and a forgettable one under Blackground/Universal Music.  And usually the appearance of a Grammy-winning artist appearing on ABC's Dancing with the Stars to me is a sign of a career in struggle mode.  

I have always loved Braxton and followed her career religiously from her debut, reaching the point of feverish obsession with 2000's The Heat, where she decided consciously to amp-up her sexuality to the point where she had to axe plans to release her own music video for single Maybe.  The video's plot featured her undressing in front the window of her loft, while being pursued by a stalker who winds up getting intimate with her.  She thought it was too risque as an after-thought.  Maybe.  

I finally had the chance to see Braxton in concert at Casino Rama, a couple hours outside the city a few years back, and it was a dream come true.  I only wish I had forked out the money for better seats as she came into the audience and greeted fans by the stage and even sat on a few laps to which I would gladly agree!