The number eight signifies new beginnings. For veteran singer Toni Braxton, this couldn’t be more appropriate. Sex & Cigarettes is her first solo studio album since 2010’s Pulse. A lifetime of events have happened since then. She has become a symbol of triumph for lupus, starred in the hit reality TV series about her family (Braxton Family Values) and released a Grammy Award winning duets album with Babyface. Then there was the biopic about her life. Oh, let’s not forget her recent engagement to Hip Hop mogul. Birdman. 

Toni Braxton has previously conveyed her disdain for the music industry. There was a time when she wanted to retire. Now, she’s back and sounds like she never left. “Deadwood,” the album’s first single, details her vulnerable side (as does much of the album). She acknowledges that an ex lover has her feeling down, but she will get him back. The title track that is a tender ballad that calls out a cheater’s inconsiderate flaunting of his not so secret love affair. “At least try and lie to me. Instead, you come straight to our bed smelling like sex and cigarettes,” she coos. 

“Long As I Live” is classic 90s Toni Braxton. The music video premiered on Braxton Family Values and she still looks better than many women half her age. She’s reminiscent of a past lover here and realizes she still isn’t over him. The album is only 30 minutes long, which some fans may find disheartening. However, I think it was a smart move to adjust with the times. Plus, it likely eliminated some of the filler tracks. One thing that has changed is how blunt Toni Braxton is this time around. She clearly isn’t up for mincing words on songs like “FOH”. “Boy you must be suicidal. Is that bitch right there beside you?” she sings. It only gets grittier from there. Ironically, the tender production suggests quote the opposite approach. 

“Sorry” is another sad, love song that finds Toni Braxton angrily singing about her shoulda, woulda, coulda’s of leaving a bad relationship. There is one feature on the album, from Colbie Caillat on “My Heart”. This is one of the most lyrically interesting songs on the project, which is no surprise because Babyface had a hand in it. Toni Braxton is the one apologizing this time, because she’s incapable of really giving love back to a man that loves her dearly. “Coping” details the aftermath of a breakup and showcases her vulnerability again. “Missin'” closes out the album on a much needed uptempo note. The C “Tricky” Stewart produced track has a current sound with an easy listening, dance appeal. 

Kudos are in order for Toni Braxton sticking to her signature sound. Nonetheless, with a clever album title like Sex & Cigarettes, I expected a little more of an audible roller coaster. A couple of more uptempo tracks like her classics “He Wasn’t Man Enough” or “You’re Makin’ Me High” would have really set off the album. Either way, it’s still a great listen from an artist who clearly isn’t done making her own brand of great music.