Snowflakes is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Toni Braxton, released on October 23, 2001, by Arista Records. Her first Christmas album, it is a follow-up to her 2000 studio album The Heat. Snowflakes consists of 11 tracks, featuring five R&B-led original songs co-penned with her former husband Keri Lewis and longtime collaborator Babyface, as well as several remixes and cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, one of which is a collaboration with Jamaican musician Shaggy. Throughout the creation process, Braxton also collaborated with L.A. Reid, Poke & Tone, Daryl Simmons and her younger sister Tamar Braxton.
The album received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom compared its nature to Braxton's other work but found the stylized production and original material too contemporary to conjure images of Christmas. Upon its release, Snowflakes debuted at number 119 on the US Billboard 200, and at number 57 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. While it remains her lowest-charting album as of 2018, it eventually earned a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Singles such as "Snowflakes of Love" and "Christmas in Jamaica" became a minor success on the adult contemporary charts.
Critical reception
thumb|upright|left|Jamaican musician [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy appears on the album's second single, "Christmas in Jamaica".]]
AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found Snowflakes to be "something that's very similar to a proper Toni Braxton record, only with an appropriately hushed tone and the sultriness replacing the overt sexiness. Some of the originals are pretty good [...] and the rest that don't make much of an impact are nevertheless pleasant and add to the mood. And that pretty much summarizes the record – it's not remarkable, but it's nice, providing a nice, romantic soundtrack for an evening of cuddling in front of the tree and a roaring fire." Elsewhere, Snowflakes debuted and peaked at number 92 on the German Albums Chart, making it the only country outside the United States to chart. The remix version of "Christmas in Jamaica" featuring Jamaican musician Shaggy was released as the second and final single in 2001. The song reached number three on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, while failing to chart elsewhere.
Track listing
Notes
- signifies a co-producer
- signifies an additional producer
- signifies a remixer
Sample credits
- "Snowflakes of Love" contains elements and samples from "Now We're One" by Earl Klugh.
Charts
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Certifications
Release history
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| October 21, 2001
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| Arista
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