The extremity is all over the album - it's very consciously "deep" and serious - and it seems like a natural outlet for all the turbulence in Brandy's personal life, so I guess it's what she was going for (has she ever written her own material? I don't recall her doing so...). I think the understatement probably helps us notice it more, though - Brandy's voice is so soft and understated, but it really pulls you in.