Sex & Cigarettes

Sex & Cigarettes
Studio album by Toni Braxton
Released March 23, 2018
Genre
Length 30:50
Label
Toni Braxton chronology
Love, Marriage & Divorce
(2014)Love, Marriage & Divorce2014		 Sex & Cigarettes
(2018)
Singles from Sex & Cigarettes
  1. "Deadwood"
    Released: September 15, 2017
  2. "Long as I Live"
    Released: February 9, 2018
  3. "FOH"
    Released: October 3, 2018

Sex & Cigarettes is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Toni Braxton, which was released on March 23, 2018, by Def Jam Recordings.[1] This is her first solo album in eight years and serves as her debut for the Def Jam label, after signing a new record deal. Sex & Cigarettes is Braxton's first album to be issued with a Parental Advisory warning, and an edited version was also made available.

The album was preceded by the release of two singles, "Deadwood" and "Long as I Live".

Background and promotion

On August 28, 2017, Braxton revealed via her social media she had shot the first music video "Deadwood" for her upcoming album, stating: "Had so much fun shooting @thunderstudios with my BFF @billewoodruff".[2] The music video was directed by Bille Woodruff, who has previously filmed several of Braxton's music videos.[3] On September 5, 2017, in an interview with The Insider, Braxton confirmed the title, Sex & Cigarettes, stating: "I feel like I'm older, I wanna say what I feel. I don't wanna be censored".[4] To promote the album, Braxton held a private album listening session in London[5] and also appeared on the daytime show Loose Women to promote the album and the single "Long as I Live".[6][7] On March 9, 2018, Braxton announced the album was available for pre-order, revealing its cover and track listing of eight songs.[8][9]

Singles

"Deadwood" was released as the lead single on September 15, 2017.[10] The audio video was released to Braxton's Vevo account on September 13, 2017.[11] The music video was released on Braxton's Vevo account October 6, 2017.[12] On December 2, 2017, the song peaked at number thirty-four on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and spent a total of seventeen weeks on the chart.[13] On December 9, 2017, the song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart and spent a total of twenty-one weeks on the chart.[14]

"Long as I Live" was released as the second single on February 9, 2018.[15] The audio video was released on Vevo on February 8, 2018.[16] It reached no. 1 on US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard) and the most successful single from this album.

In October 2018, "FOH" was announced as the third single from the album. It was serviced to Urban/UAC stations with an edited version.[17]

Promotional singles

A remix EP of "Coping" featuring five remixes of the song was released on November 10, 2017.[18] On February 10, 2018, the song reached number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and has currently spent a total of sixteen weeks on the chart.[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Exclaim![22]
The Guardian[23]
Los Angeles Times(Positive)[24]
Pitchfork6.8/10[25]
Spinmixed[26]

Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 74/100 from Metacritic.[20] AllMusic writer Andy Kellman gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars.[21] The Los Angeles Times' Mikael Wood gave the album a positive review, stating: "Even in her excitement, though, Braxton's singing — low and smoky, with just the right rawness around the edges — suggests she can sense trouble on the horizon."[24]

Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that "A very strong trio of songs open this record, beginning with Deadwood, which has a fantastic singalong chorus alongside acoustic strumming and chardonnay-doused strings. Perhaps it could have benefitted from a more traditional power ballad arrangement, but it's very good nonetheless."[23]

Matt Bauer of Exclaim! gave the album a 7 out of 10 score, writing that "while not a classic, 'Sex & Cigarettes' is a solid effort from R&B's true queen of heartbreak."[22]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200 and number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[27] The album debuted at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart[28] and number one on the UK R&B Albums Chart.[29]

Track listing

Sex & Cigarettes[1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Deadwood"
3:59
2."Sex & Cigarettes"
3:46
3."Long as I Live"
  • Braxton
  • Dixon
  • Boutin
4:50
4."FOH"
  • Torimiro
  • Edmonds
  • Braxton[a]
  • Boutin[a]
2:47
5."Sorry"
  • Braxton
  • Ogoo
  • Doherty
  • Ball
3:56
6."My Heart" (featuring Colbie Caillat)
  • Braxton
  • Torimiro
  • Colbie Caillat
  • Edmonds
  • Glasper
  • Torimiro
  • Edmonds
  • Braxton[a]
  • Boutin[a]
4:08
7."Coping"
3:54
8."Missin'"
  • Medor
  • C. "Tricky" Stewart
3:30
Total length:30:50

Notes

  • ^a signifies a vocal producer

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 189
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[32] 170
Greek Albums (IFPI)[33] 70
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 46
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[35] 71
South African Albums (RISA)[36] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[37] 33
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[38] 1
US Billboard 200[27] 22
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[39] 14

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref
Worldwide March 23, 2018 Def Jam [1][40]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Toni Braxton on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Toni Braxton Prepping New Music; Shoots Video For "Deadwood"". Singersroom. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Toni Braxton Talks New Album: 'I'm Excited to Be Doing What I Love Doing'". The Insider. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ "That Grape Juice on Twitter "Great night at @ToniBraxton's 'Sex & Cigarettes' album playback! The project sounds amazing!"". Twitter. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Toni Braxton debuts engagement ring on Loose Women". Daily Mail UK. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Toni Braxton Opens Up About Her Struggle with Lupus and More". YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Toni Braxton on Twitter "I am SO EXCITED to announce that my new album 'Sex & Cigarettes' is available for pre-order! It will be available everywhere on March 23rd. Pre-order here #SexAndCigarettes"". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Toni Braxton's Sex And Cigarettes Now Available For Pre-Order". Def Jam Recordings. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Deadwood – Single by Toni Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Toni Braxton – Deadwood (Audio)". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Toni Braxton – Deadwood". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Toni Braxton Deadwood Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Toni Braxton Deadwood Chart History: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Long As I Live – Single by Toni Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Toni Braxton – Long As I Live". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  17. ↑ https://www.allaccess.com/urban/cool-new-music
  18. ↑ "Coping (Remixes) – EP by Toni Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Toni Braxton Coping Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  21. 1 2 "Sex & Cigarettes - Toni Braxton Songs, Reviews, Credits – Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  22. 1 2 Bauer, Matt. "Toni Braxton: Sex and Cigarettes". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  23. 1 2 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben. "Toni Braxton: Sex and Cigarettes review – exquisitely anguished R&B". The Guardian. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  24. 1 2 Wood, Mikael. "Toni Braxton knows how to trouble works on new album 'Sex & Cigarettes'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  25. ↑ Lobenfeld, Claire (March 29, 2018). "Toni Braxton: Sex & Cigarettes Album Review | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  26. ↑ Juzwiak, Rich (March 28, 2018). "Review: Toni Braxton's Sex & Cigarettes Needs More of Both". Spin. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  27. 1 2 "Toni Braxton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Toni Braxton | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40, 30 March 2018 – 5 April 2018". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Toni Braxton - Sex and Cigarettes". Target. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Toni Braxton – Sex & Cigarettes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Toni Braxton – Sex & Cigarettes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 14/2018)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 13: del 23.3.2018 al 29.3.2018" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  36. ↑ "SA Top 20" (in Afrikaans). Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Toni Braxton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  40. ↑ International releases of Sex & Cigarettes:
    • In the UK: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    • In France: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (France). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    • In Australia: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    • In Canada: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    • In Spain: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (Spain). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
    • In Germany: "Sex & Cigarettes by Toni Braxton". iTunes Store (Germany). Apple Music inc. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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