Cyndi Lauper - Bring Ya to the Brink
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CD Details
Artist: Cyndi LauperEdition: Music CD
Format: Explicit Lyrics
CD Release Date: 2008-05-27
Music Label: Epic
Soundtracks:
- High And Mighty
- Into The Nightlife
- Rocking Chair
- Echo
- Lyfe
- Same Ol' Story
- Raging Storm
- Lay Me Down
- Give It Up
- Set Your Heart; Where Are All My Friends
- Grab A Hold
- Rain On Me
Music reviews of Bring Ya to the Brink
Music Review: Cyndi Returns to Fun Music
Rating: 5 Stars
In my opinion, Bring Ya to the Brink is Cyndi's return to form. I know some people don't like it, but unless you *really* hate dance music or Cyndi's singing, I can't see why any pop music or Cyndi fan wouldn't like it. I am not a big dance music fan at all, so when I heard that she would be doing a full dance album, I was a little disappointed. When I heard she said it would contain hip hop/R&B styles, I was REALLY disappointed. I thought oh great, she is giving in to the trend of modern R&B-pop of the past decade. It's so tired and boring. But I had to buy the album as I collect practically everything she does. Very happily, this album turned out *not* to be what one would expect from that description. With the exception of one track, there really isn't much modern R&B influence at all. This album contains a lot of fun upbeat music, even a few tracks that recall her 80s heyday. I love it! I guess I am one of the lucky ones to hear that, because I'm one of the fans who wanted her to do fun music again. The Shine album was very good but this one takes it to a whole new level. I like the At Last and Body Acoustic albums, but I really felt she was getting too dull. She seemed to be abandoning her fun side, and Cyndi Lauper without that mix of serious and fun is just too weird. It was time she shook things up musically, and it was a welcomed treat for me.
Owning this album for more than a year now, I have gone through cycles with it as I do any favorite album. I played it a lot, set it aside for a while, went back to it, played it again and found new things to like about it, set it aside and gave it a break, went back to it and enjoyed it again like it was new. To me that is the mark of a fantastic album-the fact that I can go back to it again and enjoy it all over. I have three versions of it-the clean edit, the regular, and the Japanese version. My favorite is the Japanese version because you get two great bonus songs on that one.
High and Mighty: Like others have said, it's not the best song on the album, and so it doesn't seem to be the best choice for opener, yet somehow it's the most suitable for just that purpose. It opens with a guitar line that recalls her acoustic work, then the electro and dance sounds kick in and basically says "this is going to be different". I like this track, it has some very cool sounds going on and her voice is great as usual, but the thing that keeps me from loving it is that it is quite repetitive. Still, it sets the mood for the album without really letting on of the greatness that will follow. If you don't like this track, don't be discouraged, and continue with the album...you will be surprised. 7/10
Into the Nightlife: The stand-out of the album, THE track that should've been a big hit. It's an amazing, catchy pop dance song that is better than Cher's "Believe" and look at what that did for her career. One thing I've missed from Cyndi's work is her sort of feminist attitude at times. With lines like "Shirtless wonders wreck my sight under the light" and "Shake your body mister gonna make your body blister" I can at least imagine it. The record company really missed a golden opportunity to promote this album and get it in the mainstream. Maybe Cyndi doesn't want that, maybe she does. Either way, I'm kind of glad that this is not mainstream as it is too good for that, and we fans can have it to ourselves. 10/10
Rocking Chair: One of those you either love it or hate it songs, I think. Or maybe an acquired taste. I didn't know what to make of it when I first heard it, but it quickly grew on me. It's sort of an experimental dance novelty track. I nearly drove my family crazy by playing this for them, they hated it lol. I can see why, it isn't for everyone. It's definitely different. It has a great beat though-sort of hip-hop but not the obnoxious kind. 8/10
Echo: This song mixes 80s synth/new wave pop in the verses with classic pop in the chorus. I love both those styles so this song is excellent to me. 10/10
Lyfe: This is the one track that is R&B flavored, but it's more like early-mid 90s r&b with an updated sound. It wouldn't be out of place on her Hat Full of Stars album, just a little more modern. I like it, though it isn't a favorite. I especially like the lyric, "Turn it easy over, put some spice back on the shelf". To me that is just what she's done with this album, brought back some spice into her music. 7/10
Same Old Story: A good standard dance track, typical sound of the mid/late 90s early 2000s. Not bad but not really a stand out. The lyrics are pretty good. For me it's a little long. Also, this song is the reason why the regular version has a parental advisory. I much prefer the version that does not have the f-word in it. Once or twice wouldn't be so bad but it is sprinkled throughout the chorus. So if that's a concern for you, buy the clean version. 7/10
Raging Storm: It's clear that the album has now gone into a slower pace for the middle of it. This song is not bad, again a standard run of the mill sounding dance track like the one that preceded it. Again the lyrics though are interesting. She seems to be commenting on how we as a people are being too concerned with celebrity than the real issues of the world, which is true in many ways. 7/10
Lay Me Down: I had loved Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat", so when I heard this was done by the same producer, I was happy and excited to hear it. I have to say that in the beginning, I was disappointed by this track as it is somewhat slow and doesn't really ever seem to go anywhere...like it wasn't totally finished. It builds up and I was expecting a big ending, but there isn't one. *However*, when I went back to the album the next time and listened again, the song totally won me over. Things start out slow, pick up a bit, slow down a bit, then it picks right back up again on the same pace through to the ending. The steady sound of it actually works, even if there is no "big ending" to it, it doesn't matter. It's powerful in it's own way. One of my favorites. 10/10
Give It Up: We are back to a generic dance sound, though this one is different from SOS and RS. Instead of that 90s beat, we get something else. It's sort of mid 90s early 2000s dance yet also a little 70s in it, thankfully. Midway through the song, it has a really nice piano bit in it that I wish were longer, as it is the highlight of the track. 7/10
Set Your Heart: An unexpected 70s disco anthem sound pops up in this track. Very retro, and I like that. The music is very good, it contains an "interpolation" of an actual 70s tune which is why it's so authentic sounding. The lyrics are also good. The thing that keeps me from giving this a higher rating is Cyndi's voice. I know, that may come as a surprise. I think she sounds fantastic in the verses, but in the chorus, she sounds too loud. When listening with headphones, it can almost sound piercing. It's a shame because I really want to listen to it sometimes and I just can't. Don't play this one for anyone who thinks her voice resembles a car alarm (yes someone said that once). 6/10
Grab a Hold: Just when you think the album may end on a lower note than it had been in the first half, this little song comes in and the album changes sound again. One of the great things about this album is that although it is a dance-pop record, it has variety. This song is classic Cyndi. Honestly this one has more in common with her 80s work than anything else she's done since. From the lyrics ("and when you look at my picture, the one on your dresser, if you think that you see a frown turn me upside down") and delivery of the lines, to the catchy less-dancey music, this song is a winner. It's a straight-forward pop song and not electro dance. If you skipped through the rest of the album hoping for more pop, give this one a try. 10/10
Rain on Me: The only ballad on the album, and what a gem it is. The beginning sounds like another dance track is starting, but then the synths start in. It has a warm sound that is similar to the one in Time After Time. While TAT is obviously the superior of the two, this one is right on up there as far as being classic and timeless. It's 80s-retro which is a great thing. Totally pop and lovely. It's a perfect closer for the album except that it leaves you wanting more of these 80s-ish tracks. 10/10
And more you get if you opted for the Japanese or i-tunes release.
Got Candy: The title leads one to believe this may be another electro dance track, and may conjure up images of Madonna's Hard Candy album. Rest assured, it is neither of those. It's a lightweight breezy pop tune that is good for summer listening. It fits right in with GAH and ROM. Less dance and more pop. The lyrics tell a story of a woman looking for a man through the personals. It's a nice lightweight pop song. 10/10
Can't Breathe: Here we have a ballad. A very good one. Again classic Cyndi, right up there with All Through the Night, Who Let in the Rain, Water's Edge, Above the Clouds, etc. It's got a sadness yet hopeful sound in it, as Cyndi's ballads often have. Should've made the US album cut, too good to be a bonus. 10/10
I think the album would've been better if it had contained the last two tracks, perhaps inserted before GAH and ROM. Or maybe even in place of a couple of the more generic dance tracks that were used. Excellent album overall though and I hope her next one picks up where this one left off. More of the pop songs instead of dance, unless it's stellar dance like "Into the Nightlife" again. If you are into most of Cyndi's work throughout the years, particularly her 80s work and the Shine album, you will probably find something here to like.
Description of Bring Ya to the Brink
Explicit Version. Cyndi Lauper's 2008 album, Bring Ya To The Brink, is Cyndi's first album of new material in 12 years. More than 25 years after her debut, Cyndi is still exploring new artistic territory. With Bring Ya To The Brink, she found herself inspired by beat drive music that has filled dance clubs throughout Europe and No. America. Sony. 2008.The idea of '80s superstar Cyndi Lauper releasing a straight dance record might sound dubious, but this is no opportunistic vanity project. Lauper has kept busy since her "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" heyday (see 2005's better than it had to be The Body Acoustic), and so Bring Ya To The Brink has no rust on it. That's not to say it doesn't have a certain rave-retro sound, with Day-Glo synths and White-Man's-Overbite drum machine beats. But there is also sleek, modern production, and Lauper's gift for delivering fun, celebratory hooks serves her well in this forum (good luck resisting the chorus of "Into the Nightlife," for one example). Her brassy demeanor comes through too, another attribute that seems tailor-made for the dance floor. The f-bomb in "Same Old Story" sounds bold and empowering in the best disco tradition, while "Lay Me Down" has a street-of-broken-dreams grit under its swanky rhythms. Lauper doesn't do anything ground-breaking here in the slightest, but like fellow '80s refugee Madonna, her personality and ability to convincingly play DJ allows her to stay relevant well past the sell-by date of most pop stars. --Matthew Cooke
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