Toni! Toni! Toni!

In those year-end picks for new R&B; singer, it should be no contest. Toni Braxton, a favorite of both critics and fans, should win hands down. Her debut album, “Toni Braxton,” moved up from No. 12 to No. 7 on The Times’ Southern California pop album chart and is No. 3 on the R&B; chart. Album sales have flourished partly because of “Another Sad Love Song,” No. 12 on the pop singles chart. “All That She Wants,” by the Swedish group Ace of Base, shot from nowhere to the top of that chart, beating another out-of-nowhere single, Xscape’s “Just Kickin’ It”--No. 3 now but probably the next No. 1 single.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank): Last Week 1. Music Box, Mariah Carey (4): 2 2. In Utero, Nirvana (3): 1 3. janet., Janet Jackson (6): 3 4. In Pieces, Garth Brooks (1): 4 5. Blind Melon, Blind Melon (10): 6 6. Greatest Hits Vol. 2, Reba McEntire (5): 10 7. Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton (11): 12 8. Sleepless in Seattle, soundtrack (17): 7 9. Everybody Else Is..., Cranberries (35): 8 10. Easy Come Easy Go, George Strait (8): 5

TOP 10 SINGLES

1. All That She Wants, Ace of Base (5): 3 2. Anniversary, Tony Toni Tone (9): 6 3. Just Kickin’ It, Xscape (1): 8 4. Hey Mr. D.J., Zhane (6): 2 5. Whoomp! (There It Is), Tag Team (2): 1 6. I Get Around, 2Pac (7): 4 7. Indo Smoke, Mista Grimm (59): 7 8. Dreamlover, Mariah Carey (4): 5 9. Soul To Squeeze, R.H. Chili Peppers (10): 13 10. Mega Medley, Zapp and Roger (47): 9

TOP 10 R&B; ALBUMS

1. Music Box, Mariah Carey (1): 1 2. janet., Janet Jackson (2): 2 3. Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton (3): 4 4. Black Sunday, Cypress Hill (4): 3 5. Breathless, Kenny G (10): 5 6. The Bodyguard, soundtrack (6): 6 7. 187 He Wrote, Spice 1 (5): 8 8. Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z., 2Pac (18): -- 9. Sons of Soul, Tont Toni Tone (8): 7 10. The Chronic, Dr. Dre (11): 10 Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending Oct. 10