Most people will be more familiar with her famous sister Toni, but younger sibling Tamar Braxton is readying herself for solo stardom with the release of new song, Love and War.
Tamar is no stranger to the music world: having enjoyed moderate success as part of The Braxtons, and then less so as a solo star with first album Tamar. But that was over a decade ago and Father time's ceaseless march seems to have finally put some fire under the 35-year-old and got her back into the recording studio. Well that and her colossal ego that is convinced she should be as big a star as Lady Gaga!
Love and War is a risky first song for someone hoping to achieve big, mainstream success. It's unashamedly RnB; a genre that unfortunately isn't selling well in today's musical climate. In some ways I respect Tamar for this brave choice, and perhaps it's time for the genre to have a resurgence- not that Brandy, Monica or Mary J Blige had much luck this year.
The song itself is pretty good. Yes it sounds like Keyshia Cole's Trust and Believe but it proves- to those who didn't know- that Tamar's confidence in her own talent wasn't unfounded.With a lower range that shares tonal qualities to Toni and a clear and contrasting belting range, Tamar manages not only to shine on the vocal front, but she also sells the emotion of the song, too.
Love And War has not only wetted my appetite for more music from the youngest Braxton, but it also seems to have got others excited. It's currently riding high on both the UK (which is really shocking) and American (which is less so) Itune's chart, with little to no publicity. Gaga did tweet her monsters the Itunes link-she's managed by Tamar's husband- but I'm informed it was still charting high before that happened. Let's see how single number two fares!
Rating: B+
Thoughts?
