Bring Ya to the Brink Reviews

• She'll Take Ya Till Ya All Spun Up

  
  By A3O8YT41TDXL0B on 2008-05-27
  Cyndi Lauper's career has seen her success fluctuate from dizzying highs to off-the-scale lows, with a startlingly diverse artistic palette and long gaps between albums doubtless accounting for the lion's share of the inconsistency. She flourished as a pop culture ingénue with her eccentric, flamboyant image, but this contrasted with her more inherent identity as a state of the art song stylist and inventive, highly skilled songwriter and musician. Now a quarter century has passed and the average person is still at a loss for words to properly define Lauper. Regardless, she has never sounded more at home on brand new dance floor-ready studio album "Bring Ya to the Brink." The girl who just wanted to have fun truly sounds as though she is having the time of her life, and it shows.
  
  A definite nod to her core fanbase in the LGBT community, the theme of "Bring Ya to the Brink" does not showcase the New York native's soaring range as her 2003 chestnut covers collection "At Last" did, for example. Rather, it boasts frenetic, club-ready beats and propulsive, repetitious melodies, replete with disco ball imagery. That is exactly as it is supposed to be. From the funky, loquacious opener "High and Mighty" with its temperamental synths to the sweeping gust of wind that is "Set Your Heart," the album is wall to wall uptempo energy, making it an ideal summer disc.
  
  Some could say that Lauper is aping Madonna, whose last two LPs were aimed straight at nightclubs and dance floors. However, the key difference is that "Bring Ya to the Brink" neither flagrantly tips the hat to the past nor makes an earnest effort to keep things trendy or Top 40 savvy. Instead, Lauper mixes together 80's new wave stylings with easy, effusive beats that are nothing if not indicative of the late 2000s to create a sound neither retro nor modern, but simply the genesis of her atypical artistic vision. The most important thing, however, is that it never fails to entertain.
  
  Hooks run aplenty on "Echo," a bittersweet slice of Eurodance, as well as lead single "Same Ol' Story," a 12"-length gem which is currently climbing the club charts thanks to its fluffy production values reminiscent of ace 70's collaborations between Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder. Indeed, as Lauper declares on the sweaty, propulsive "Give It Up," "I've got to get back to the floor!"
  
  With this new direction she has her cake and eats it too, as she continues to make heady statements and social commentary where she sees fit in spite of the levity that surrounds. "Lyfe," with its memorable chorus ("Lyfe/It can shake ya/It can break ya/It can bring ya to the brink") serves as a prime example, as does "Raging Storm," a meditation on problems inherent in the values of today's cultural landscape:
  
  "Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief/You can fool some people, but you can't fool me/Harbor all the hate and greed/Threaten demise of democracy/There's a raging storm in a troubled sea/But you're clouding my mind with celebrity."
  
  Second single "Into the Nightlife" is the most instantly addicting with its gyrating snyths, stomp-on-glass production values and cheeky, sexual lyrics ("Shirtless wonders wreck my sight under the light"), providing the most potent chance for a crossover to pop radio, while "Rocking Chair," a frothy, mercurial collaboration with Basement Jaxx, provides a mighty hook and eye-popping lyrics. It's a joy to hear Lauper wrap her vocals around its juicy, uncontainable melody.
  
  "Lay Me Down" with its haunting, inescapable melody and evocative lyrics is the album's arguable highlight, while "Rain on Me" closes the disc with a wistful, bittersweet high note that is exemplary of Lauper's unique voice as a songwriter.
  
  "Bring Ya to the Brink" continues Lauper's career with another top notch release. Each track is a gem with no trace of filler. Lauper never fails to reveal new aspects of her unique, thoroughly entertaining talents as both a singer and songwriter, and this new release keeps the bar raised high.
  
  

• Diverse Dance & Pop Music at its Best!

  
  By A18DON5KI1ERFX on 2008-05-27
  BYTTB is fun, playful and different, just like on "Sisters of Avalon". I totally love "Into the Nightlife". What a fantastic song! Hopefully this will be Cyndi's 1st single. A perfect song for summer listening on your ipod. The chorus is catchy and the beat is bouncy and flowing. Totally a clubfloor smash hit. Tracks 1 & 2 pretty much run one into another like 1 long song. A perfect opener, although track 1 is a little less outstanding than track 2. Finally Cyndi has written new material. It's been too long since she came out with an album of all new stuff.
  
  "Rocking Chair" totally depicts my love of rocking chairs. This is my theme song. lol Cyndi has a lot of fun with the vocal layering and ad lib in her fun Brooklyn accent. "Rocking Chair" is a very fun song indeed.
  
  The opening 2 minutes of "Echo" would remind you of a Kylie Minogue song in a way, because of the keyboards & beat. But then the song picks up in the chorus and totally blows the intro out of the water. Very summery and could work as a perfect clubfloor song too, in the hands of the right remixer/s.
  
  "Lyfe" takes another turn, visiting Cyndi's bluesy style. A little R&B mixed with some chillout, urban sound. So far, the CD is totally working with me, unlike any of Cyndi's other albums (upon first listen). That is good. "Lyfe" has nice vocal layering and it's a sexy song. Makes me think of something Kristine W has done on her "Land of the Living" album.
  
  "Same Ol' Story" is a clubfloor dancehit without a doubt. Every aspect of this song makes it simply one of Cyndi's best songs to date. Even with the F word heard throughout the chorus, I just love the song. Like they say, good things come to this whom wait, and this album is a true gem, worth the wait.
  
  "Raging Storm".......here we go again with another dancefloor hit. Nothing boring yet. The song style follows in the previous tracks footsteps.
  
  "Lay Me Down" starts out slow and picks up with sort of a disco beat but not as fast-paced as the previous tracks. It's a little more alternative in a way, with the pop sound interlaced. Lyrically one of the best songs on the album, I think.
  
  "Give It Up".......ok, back to the dancy stuff again. Honestly, I'm not sorry for buying the album or for hurrying out to the store to get it first thing in the morning, half-asleep. lol Once again, this song is interlaced with electronica, disco and a pure nightlife clubfloor hopping edge.
  
  "Set Your Heart" starts out sounding exactly like Pet Shop Boys "Saturday Night" chorus line. Another true dancy number. So far, if you were dancing to the entire album, your legs would fall off. Another winner through and through, especially in the chorus line. So dancy and moving, I want to get up and dance to it as I write this.
  
  "Grab A Hold" could've worked out well on Cyndi's first 2 CDs. Very cute, moving and dancy. Her voice is less mature here and that's why I'm reminded of her earlier cds. The chorus line is strong and powerful, rich with Cyndi's strong lungs and crystal clear vocals.
  
  "Rain on Me" closes the album in a less dancy style but with catchy lyrics and a floating keyboard riff. Very 80's reminiscent but modern too. Cyndi's band sure knows how to arrange magic around Cyndi's voice. What a beautiful song.
  
  About the booklet & artwork:.....well, the cd is housed in a clear jewel case with front & back inserts and comes with a booklet full of fun pics of Cyndi. They are put through a hazy filter though, so it's got that dreamy effect. But the pics are still amusing, especially the one of her in the garden in her blue gown. The booklet is made of of a 2-sided, 3-fold layout with pics and credits. There aren't any lyrics. And inside the cd tray are Cyndi's Thank Yous'.
  
  Those are my thoughts on the album, for you all to read. I think you should go and get multiple copies of the cd for family & friends. It's a true winner and certainly worth the wait. The cd should be rated 10 stars.
  
  

• Girl just having fun

  
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2008-06-11
  Madonna did it
  Kylie did it
  Donna did it
  Now heeeeeere's Cyndi
  
  Dance music is hot again, mostly because of the ladies listed above, and certainly good news for those of us who spent the `80s on the dance floor.
  
  This is the tenth studio album from the effervescent singer/songwriter who just wants to have fun, and is best enjoyed at full volume with the bass turned up, the way it was meant to be played.
  
  The first US single is "Same Ol' Story", the track that put the [EXPLICIT LYRICS] warning on the album, but this isn't the best song in my opinion. I like "Set Your Heart" which was released as a single in Japan, beginning like the Bee Gees' "More Than a Woman", and then blending into an `80s R&B dance track perfectly suited to her vocals.
  
  The next single is "Into the Nightlife", another instant favorite with a booming intro that will have your moneymaker shakin'. Also terrific are "Rocking Chair"; the addictive "Echo" that you'll want to hear again and again and "Grab a Hold" which is vintage Lauper.
  
  To mix it up a little she includes the mid-tempo "Rain on Me" and "Lyfe", the latter being a little different from anything else on the album, in that the tempo is different, and it's a bit funky (an explicit word here too). "Rain on Me" is very strong lyrically, and a possible single.
  
  "I am a robber in the dark
  Singing about a broken heart
  Answering whistles in the air
  Waiting for someone else to care
  
  But you can rain on me
  Yea you can rain on me...."
  
  There's absolutely no filler material on this totally fun album, which is recommended for anyone who can take it to the brink.
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, June 10, 2008
  
  
  

• Way 2 Go Cyndi

  
  By AQL13WF76ZQQJ on 2008-06-06
  Cyndi Lauper another super job. Out of all her work my favorites are Twelve Deadly Cyns and Wanna Have Fun. This new cd has a certain style but I am very happy about this purchase. I love---- Into The Nightlife, Echo, Same Ol Story, Lay Me Down, Grab A Hold, and the peaceful and relaxing song Rain On Me. I was very fortunate to see her True Colors concert in Houston with my oldest daughter last summer, It was very rewarding to attend it with her since I grew up with Cyndi's music and my daughter listened to her also and loves her. She will be going to the new tour later this month with her father. My favorite all time songs of Cyndi's are: Im Going To Be Strong, I Drove All Night, All Through The Night, You Dont Know , A Night To Remember and the last that describes my life now is Someone Like Me. Hopefully Cyndi will perform some of her best work for my daughter and the rest of her fans to hear. If you are a true Cyndi fan dont let this one get away. Love you Cyndi
  
  

• GIVE IT UP for CYNDI LAUPER!

  
  By A3M2AZ0YXQNMKU on 2008-05-27
  "Bring Ya to the Brink" is Cyndi Lauper's very first studio album featuring all new material, since 2001's Japanese import "Shine." This album would be best explained as a dance club album, full of fast upbeat music.
  
  The great thing about this album is that the lyrics are pretty solid, the music is very even, the album is never boring and Cyndi Lauper's hot vocals are not disguised or picked apart by a computer at all.
  
  Only downfall on here is that the song "Lyfe" doesn't fit well, with the rest of the album.
  
  
• This CD is the Best!
  By AIE3FJDLY02OK on 2008-05-27
  I just got the CD and it's great!
  This is definitely one of the best CDs of the year!#1!
  
  Thanks Cyndi!:)
  
  
• What a surprising great CD
  By A1PCQWTUS6AC82 on 2008-05-28
  WOW!!! Really blew my mind, no BS...So damn good CD...I just got my CD a few minutes ago, I've been only listening the samples online and two songs I could download for free from the internet...I previously thought the cd was good for what I heard, but now I played the real CD and I have to say ITS SO DAMN GREAT!!!
  
  I couldnt really appreciate and enjoy the album as it was meant to be...I can tell that every single song was crafted individually, with quality, not as one on the bunch...every song sounds so rich, with so many details that you CAN"T appreciate on a computer speakers or from those low quality copies download from free sites.
  
  When I heard the samples I thought for example that ECHO was kind of silly, but catchy, but now I heard the real thing, OMG, it sounds SO GOOD...And RAGING STORM, was last on my list, I thought I was going to ignore it once I got the CD, How wrong I was...Its incredible how little you can really appreciate it here...this is probably the very best song on the whole album, The music is so particulary catchy, diferent sounds perfectly mixed, and the lyrics, very interesting and I think even controversial.
  
  I played the whole CD and stopped to share my thoughts here, I'm a 41YO man, I havent dance in years and here I was dancing in my room with this CD...I have to go to a dance club this weekend, I'm very motivated, I mean it.
  
  Conclusion: This album is a must have, enjoyable while driving, cooking,cleanning your house, hanging with friends, and on the dancefloor...One of the few cds you can play without skipping any single song, cause they are all good, fun beat...
  
  If I compare with food, i would say this album is a banquet, each song very tasty with many different great flavors in it.
  
  It makes an excellent gift for anyone.
  
  
• GRAB A HOLD of this cd!
  By A3NRVDAMV9Y12H on 2008-05-21
  My personal favorite album to come out in '08 (so far) and one of the best pure pop albums to come out in the past couple of years (other personal faves include Kylie "x" and Robyn's latest cd). Listen to this album for it's fun, danceable beats, but also check out the lyrics and you'll see there really is some depth here. "Into the Night Life" is a fantastic dance song that you will surely have on repeat. "Rocking Chair" Cyn's collabo with Basement Jaxx is definitely new territory for her, and it works! "Echo" and "Lay Me Down" are also top faves of mine. "Grab A Hold", co-produced with Dragonette, is another great track with great lyrics. "Rain On Me" is a great closer to the album (unless you buy the Japanese version, then you'll get the AMAZING "Can't Breathe). For those of you who have been patiently waiting for new material from Cyn, this will not disappoint! For those of you who thought Cyn was ready for retirement, you've just been proven wrong!
  
  
• Best Album Since Her Debut
  By A6J7UPYUI96XO on 2008-05-27
  To quote myself from a review on this site on the album "Shine": "Lauper could make a commercial comeback if she is willing to return to the dancefloor..."
  
  Every once in awhile, an artist comes along who has a sound that is so unique and original that it is really difficult to pinpoint exactly WHAT makes them so. And in the mid 1980's, Cyndi Lauper was a shining example of the rare artist who could balance artistic brilliance and pop music, two things that usually don't mix. And as great as songs like "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" are, they can prove to be difficult to follow up, because something can only be unique once. And Lauper turned to adult contemporary much too soon, and it always did take her far too long to release an album. Her latest, "Bring Ya To The Brink," comes 12 years after her 1997 release "Sisters of Avalon." 2008 mainy finds Lauper turning out electronic, pumping dance tunes, but these new songs showcase not only her excelllent voice but outstanding melodies. "Echo" is one of the best songs she has ever written, and "Into the Nightlife" is her catchiest song since "I Drove All Night." There is a ballad called "Rain on Me" which is reminiscent of "Who Let in the Rain" with a little Stevie Nicks touch to it. Several other songs, particularly "Same 'ol Story," prove that Lauper is not afraid to enter new territory: it has the sassy attitude of her debut album, the soulful vocals of her 2003 album "At Last," and a driving dance beat that sounds as fresh as anything she has released in years. Lauper sounds re-energized, and her voice sounds 20 years younger. A huge commercial comeback is not out of the question.
  
  
• Cyndi Buries The Competition This Time Out
  By AO0453MA2VS4P on 2008-05-27
  This is such a triumphant return for Cyndi. 'Set Your Heart' & 'Grab A Hold' which were previewed last summer in various formats were a interesting tease of what was to come. Now having fully recorded them, they are placed in superb company with the other tracks that round out this inredible disc.
  
  The pulsating intro of 'High & Mighty' leads brilliantly into the excellent 2nd single 'Into the Nightlife'.
  
  The syncopation of 'Lyfe' (co-written with Cyndi's longtime drummer) uses Cyndi's voice/lyrics as percussion in their own right.
  
  The hidden voices in 'Rocking Chair' give the song an entirely different multi-personality feel and she certainly has fun with it.
  
  'Lay Me Down' with its Kleerup production is as fierce as she's ever sounded. It's a brilliant yet simple song with its power lying in the lyric.
  
  It's definitely no surprise that Cyndi still commands this disc with her voice. None of the production here ever threatens to overshadow her voice. It's refreshing to hear this genre of music delivered effortlessly and with no vocal manipulations. Her voice is first and foremost. Everything else follows suit. With any Cyndi record, I've felt her voice is very organic and real. This is certainly no exception (and I'll admit, I was anxious to hear the final result to see what was in charge - the production or Cyndi's voice).
  
  I can't wait to see how this lends itself to a live setting. I never gave her full credit until witnessing how she can deliver a live concert. A true talent that should be seen/heard live to fully appreciate what has been so underappreciated for too long.
  
  Welcome back on top Cyndi!
  
  
• I expected more from someone with her kind of talent
  By A2SOHAW6DBHN5Q on 2008-06-02
  When most singers resort to putting out an all dance album, it's usually because they're trying to resuscitate a waning career. That's not the case with Cyndi. Bring Ya To The Brink was not an album Cyndi NEEDED to do. It's something she WANTED to do. Her star has been back on the rise for several years, thanks to some stellar live performances, a concert tour with Cher and the success of her last two albums, At Last and The Body Acoustic. Cyndi credits her gay and lesbian dance club fans for keeping her career alive when most of her albums after True Colors were going relatively unnoticed by the public, despite the fact that some of the songs from those albums would rank among the best work of her career.
  
  Overall, this album plays like a tribute to those club fans and they should be largely satisfied with this effort. With the exception of Cyndi's remake of Disco Inferno and a few other dance remixes, her career consisted of strong ballads (Time After Time, All Through The Night), up-beat rock (Change of Heart, Shine) and beloved quarky tunes (Good Enough, Hole In My Heart). But not much you can dance to on a club floor. This album gives Cyndi a wealth of new material to perform during her True Colors tour in support of gay and lesbian issues and that should allow those fans an opportunity to dance right through the concert.
  
  But if you're a fan looking for the type of material that made Cyndi famous in the first place, you'll find precious little of it on this album. In general, BYTTB doesn't do much to showcase Cyndi's amazing talent as a singer and, when compared to the genius of some of the songs she has been performing in her recent live shows, the lyrics on these songs are not her best work either. As far as dance albums go, this one is okay. But as far as Cyndi Lauper albums go, this one is somewhat of a disappointment. Her last two albums contained mostly remakes and this was to be the first in a while that contained all-new material. Her fans waited with baited breath as this album was delayed multiple times and were forced to resort to watching YouTube to see if any fans posted new material from her concerts that might show up on the album. Unfortunately, those types of copyright infringing posts are credited for killing the full version release of Shine, and instead fans got an EP with only select tracks. In this case, Set Your Heart and Grab a Hold survived their YouTube premiers and made it onto the finished album. Oddly enough, Still With Me, the as-yet unreleased song that most fans thought would be a surefire hit that would rocket Cyndi back to the top of the charts, is glaringly absent from BYTTB. Instead, the album offers a collection of dance music that features some good, some bad, but nothing particular great considering the range of Cyndi's talent.
  
  High and Mighty - Annoyingly repetitious. Sets the pace for the majority of the songs on the album.
  
  Into the Night - Nice beat. Catchy tune. This one will be the one that satisfies her fan's craving for dance music.
  
  Rocking Chair - The first major flaw on the album. I don't even know how to describe this song. It sounds like what you would get if the Children of the Corn got together and recorded a song.
  
  Echo - It's got a nice chorus, but the rest of the song is like listening to a heart monitor.
  
  Lyfe - While not the worst song of her career, (that dubious honor goes to Dear John from Hat Full of Stars) this one would definitely be a runner up.
  
  Same ol' Story - It started out so well, but after hearing her drop the f-bomb 8 times, I had to skip over it. I have no use for that kind of immature vulgarity in my mp3 player. That one is getting deleted. It's not good enough for me to justify buying the clean version separately.
  
  Raging Storm - 2 minutes into the song and it still doesn't go anywhere. This one sounds like it's ripe for a remix. It's simple enough to mix with just about any other dance song a DJ might have in his playlist or even anything else on this album.
  
  Lay Me Down - Another one that becomes annoyingly repetitious. It's very monotonous and mind-numbing.
  
  Give It Up - The beat is interesting enough to wake you up after the last two songs and to make up for its own repetitiousness. It's reminds me at times of the Ballad of Cleo and Joe from Sisters of Avalon. It's inoffensive, but not particularly a stand-out song.
  
  Set Your Heart - Dance/disco combo that gives the album a shot of adrenaline. It should be great to see her perform this one live.
  
  Grab A Hold - Again, a little bit too repetitious. If not for that, this song would be the one that comes closest to matching the style of Cyndi's previous albums.
  
  Rain on Me - The only song on the American version of the album that breaks from the dance music genre and likely the only one that will see any regular play in my mp3 player. It doesn't have the same immediate appeal as Above the Clouds from The Body Acoustic, but I think this one has the ability to grow on me.
  
  Got Candy (Japanese edition bonus track) - Another dance track. Not great. But not awful either. At times, Cyndi even sounds like she's singing in Japanese. It sounds like the intro to a Japanese Anime cartoon.
  
  Can't Breathe (Japanese edition bonus track) - A somber ballad reminiscent of the emotional impact of Sally's Pigeons and Hat Full of Stars.
  
  If you like club music and are a fan of Sisters of Avalon, then you'll probably enjoy the beats and lyrics on this album. But I found Sisters to be the weakest album of her career and while some selections do make you want to get up and dance, I expected more from one of the greatest musical talents of our time and this album just didn't deliver. I typically love 90% of the songs on her albums. There isn't anything I "love" on this one and there is a huge percentage that I can't even say I like. Into the Night is worth having, but if you want to experience some really great Cyndi music that you may not have already, buy the songs The World Is Stone, I Don't Want To be Your Friend, I Drove All Night, Shine, Above the Clouds, the remake of All Through The Night from the Body Acoustic, and try to find a live versions of Carey and her live version of Water's Edge featuring Ann Wilson from Heart. And even watched via crappy YouTube videos, Still With Me is a song any Cyndi fan MUST hear.
  
  
• Another Masterpiece From Cyndi Lauper
  By A65K79FMDHJRF on 2008-06-05
  Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2E31QIZGNEZZ3 My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and music collector. Here is my review of the Cyndi Lauper album "Bring Ya To The Brink". I really want to give this album 4 and a half stars but Amazon doesn't allow halves. What a great CD hope you enjoy my review!!!
  
  
• 1984 AGAIN!!!
  By ARFLZ3YTPNBDA on 2008-06-02
  This is a must have! I hit the clubs in the early 80's and fell in love with Cyndi. I fell in love with most of the music I listened to in that era, and as I got older in the past several years, I did'nt believe the artists or music measured up, (since about 1992, actually). THIS album by Cyndi was recommended by a friend, and as I started listening to Same Old Story, I broke down into tears. She sounds as good as ever, and I love the song. And when I listened to Into the Nightlife, I cried even harder from joy, the first song in years I had to listen to again and again, it's that good. I am 44 years old, Cyndi made me get up and dance again and want to hit the clubs again, making me feel like my youth has come back again. Thanks Cyndi!
  
  
• Back from the Brink
  By A28EAE10987IZZ on 2008-06-08
  Back in 1984, as a sixteen-year-old in high school, I actually uttered the words, "Madonna is nothing but a flash in the pan, but Cyndi Lauper is here to stay." I've eaten those words since, but with the release of Bring Ya To The Brink, I have new excitement and love for Cyndi. Don't get me wrong -- I've bought all her CDs over the years, and never been personally disappointed, but I didn't think that any of them ever delivered on her initial potential. Until now. This CD is everything I've ever hoped for in a Cyndi Lauper CD, and more. Vocally, she's as amazing (if not moreso) than ever, musically she's inventive and dancing to the beat of her very own drum, and her lyrics are as solid and fresh as ever. I would love to name a few favorite tracks, but just read the track listing -- they're all wonderful. The beats, the hooks, they're great and this CD deserves all the acclaim it can garner.
  
  
• Where did the fun go? It isn't on this CD
  By A1LVG2S8IPEOBN on 2008-06-09
  I am a BIG Cyndi fan. In fact a HUGE Cyndi fan, but this has to be one of her worst albums ever. While I am gay and I appreciate Cyndi's support for the gay community, this album is TOO GAY. It's like an album of over the top disco/funk/jive groove/hop hop drag queen gay anthems. Where has all the fun gone that was so vibrant in her debut album SHE'S SO UNUSUAL. If you didn't care for her "SHINE" cd which was horrible, you won't enjoy this one either. The only two songs worth mentioning on this new venture as great are ECHO and LAY ME DOWN. The rest is very forgetable.
  In my view, skip this cd and put on "SHE'S SO UNUSUAL". You'll have more fun.
  
  
• best album since debut
  By A30O16AOW5F35P on 2008-05-27
  this entire project has a freshness and a sense of excitement that has been somewhat lacking from her work since the mid-80's. By experimenting a lot and playing a more central role in writing and producing her work, Lauper seems to have gained confidence.I cannot think of another pure dance/rythum album which incorporate singing and lyrics with such emotional complexity and building state of the art production around each song to produce at least half a dozen superb commercial songs.
  This album is vastly superior in quality to efforts by Cher, Janet, Donna and Madonna.
  
  It is interesting that 10 people for whom i have played selected cuts have been astonished by the mesmerizing quality of the music and i gifted 10 copies already. If this record receives sufficient support without mass distribution promotion on the tv or internet, it will eventually receive serious investment by Sony.
  
  We are in a test period for the first 4-6 weeks. after the release.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A dynamite album
  By A2M6AVOMBQEHN on 2008-05-28
  She hit it out of the ball park with this one. Honestly, this is the best material she has done since "I Drove All Night." It sounds like she really had fun with this, and it comes through. Almost like she is not trying too hard, or being too serious. Stand outs are "Into The Night Life," "Echo" "Rockin Chair" and "Rain On Me." But there is not one song that I have the desire to skip over or feel the album could do without.
  
  People should not get this out of sentimentality. Yeah, I am a longtime Cyndi Lauper fan. But I can say this without being partial - this is a ****ing fantastic CD. The kind of thing I would play at a party. Even my roommate walked in and asked "who is this?" when it was playing, immediately intrigued. He did not have a clue. And another friend who heard "Into The Night Life" and said he went online later to hear it a few more times, he found it that catchy.
  
  A wild success.
  
  
  
  
• Not One Song Did I like
  By A2IMLVEQNPZCUS on 2008-05-29
  Sorry Cyndi, this is a BOMB not DA bomb. I guess if you like that loud mindless dance music in bars, you might like this cd..but it sure did TAKE ME TO THE BRINK OF SCREAMING! NEXT,,,
  
  
• Please!
  By A1737PPGA2UZP5 on 2008-07-01
  I highly anticipated hearing original, new work from Cyndi Lauper as she is truly a fascinating artist -- one-of-a-kind. This is not the typical Cyndi most of us know, however. BYTTB is entirely a club album, and you're not going to hear much of this music on the radio. If you want Cyndi of the past, this ain't it. If you didn't know for certain, for most of this record, you wouldn't realize it's Cyndi Lauper. The music is very techno-beat, repetitive, and is not as good as Madonna's "Confessions." If you want a different Cyndi, try her outstanding "Hat Full of Stars." (Superb!) How many times can you stand hearing the same line over and over, song after song? And what's with the artwork? Trailer park, white-trash Cyndi? Low class. Donna Summer has made a similar return to the music scene after a lengthy absence, just like Cyndi, but Donna's record is far more listenable and 'musical' (though a different Donna in some ways). Cyndi's record is not even close. Sorry, folks. I'm giving this record away.
  
  
• The CD of 2008!
  By A3Q1RGAEKRCEYN on 2008-05-27
  Die hard fans of Cyndi realise that she has consistently released great and varied styles of music over the last 25 years (28 years if you go back to her first band "Blue Angel"). Another change of direction and Cyndi creates, IMHO, the perfect dance album. My expectations for Bring Ya To The Brink were high but I didn't realise it would be soooooo good. Each listen makes me want to play it again. The stand out tracks for me are "Echo", "Set Your Heart", "Into The Nightlife" and "Grab A Hold". Bonus track on the Japanese release "Got Candy" is also a fave. If Sony gets behind this album, and they certainly owe her, this should be a huge seller for her.
  
  
• "At Last", Bring Ya To The Brink Has Arrived...
  By A3QXI5BLAO4YOQ on 2008-05-28
  Finally! This is the dance-oriented album she has been flirting with & hinting at for nearly a decade...and she hasn't sounded as at home since her 1983 debut, 'She's So Unusual'. The best part about the throbbing beats and pulsing synths that make up the bulk of BYTTB is that it sounds effortless and organic.
  
  Be aware, this is no "aging popstar grab for attention via a throwaway club record" as we've seen before. This is the real stuff. I would dare say this is the best thing she's released since her debut. Not to discredit any of the stellar material she's released in between the two, but I write the previous statement because she sounds as exuberant as when she wailed the first strains of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" 25 years ago. And - no small feat for a 'dance' record - she sounds mature, thoughtful, political, socially conscious, and sexy all the while on BYTTB. In short, while I've bought everything she's ever put out, this is the record I've been waiting for her to make since 'Hat Full of Stars'.
  
  Lauper collaborates with such electronica/dance luminaries such as Rich Morel, Dragonette, The Scumfrog, Kleerup, Peer Astrom, and others to create a surprisingly diverse and utterly relevant mix of 90s/2000s club, trance, electro euphoria, with hints of R&B and the clear & clever songwriting & pop sensibility Lauper is beloved for.
  
  I'm loathe to mention Madonna in a Cyndi Lauper review, but it's already been addressed, so here's my take on it. Personally, I feel that (outside of perhaps both women's 1983 debuts) there's no more point comparing them or their work than comparing Pat Benatar and Patti Smith.
  
  Madonna's 'Hard Candy' and Lauper's 'Bring Ya to The Brink' are apples and oranges of the highest order. Not only do both records come from fundamentally different places, they are targeted just as sporadically to different audiences. Sure, both records will no doubt find a welcome home in the GLBT and club scenes, and while Madge may find a home on pop radio (thanks more to her collabs with JT, Timbaland, and Pharrel than corporate radio's love of her own work), Lauper is often under-represented by her own label (her offical site barely reflects this new album - HELLO SONY!) and thus, this may or may not be the smashing commercial success it truly deserves to be.
  
  But, regardless, Lauper has proved she's just as relevant as she was 25 years ago, if not more so. While 'Hard Candy' (a great record in my opinion) nods to the past and allows the producers to have nearly full reign on the talent, BYTTB shows one thing - Lauper is clearly in command and knows her territory VERY well.
  
  
  
• Cyndi Lauper is back and sounds incredible!
  By A1KED9UTGDZHSW on 2008-05-29
  Cyndi's new album rivals the irresistibility of her debut album "She's So Unusual." The sound is current, yet not cookie-cutter. All the 5 star reviews on here are right on! This is the first album all year that has excited me. Trounces Madonna's "Hard Candy" to the max.
  
  
• Cyndi La-ooper, She's still unusual.
  By AE9GUE3HHOX3U on 2008-05-29
  I don't know how Cyndi Lauper and Madonna are doing it. They both put out fantastic dance cds this year, who knew? I would have never thought the idols I listened to in the 80's as a teenager would still be able to crank out cds like this. Cyndi completely amazed me with this dance cd. "Bring Ya 2 The Brink" is like Cyndi Lauper's version of Kylie Minogue's "Fever". It worked for Kylie, so why not Cyndi. She keeps the entire cd flowing and consistant. Donna Summer should have done the same thing for her new release, but Cyndi trumps her with this hot, fresh dance affair that tours the dance circuit, covering various styles of club music throughtout the years. While the beats pump, Cyndi adds her poetic lyrics, taking dance music to a new level. Her voice is not flawless, there are times when Cyndi seemed like she was ice skating up hill, but she manages to pull through, making this type of dance music her own. Can U say unusual? Here is my breakdown for each track:
  
  1. High and Mighty: 4/5 sounds like something you would hear at one of the many after hours clubs in West Hollywood in the 90's. A "party" song.
  
  2. N2 The Nitelyfe: 5/5 an intense club bangin' dance jam where on the dancefloor, only you and the music matter.
  
  3. Rocking Chair: 5/5 a strange beat and funky lyrics make this song unique. Cyndi sounds a bit like Corrine Bailey Ray on this. She's So Unusual.
  
  4. Echo: 5/5 M' fave beat. It's deep thumpin' house music with Cyndi's haunting voice casting a magic dance spell.
  
  5. Lyfe: 3/5 sounds like a bad r and b song from the 90's. A Bobby Brown reject. Bop Lyfe.
  
  6. Same Ol' Story: 5/5 it starts out like a typical club track, but then Cyndi gets to sangin' and cussin'. I was actually shocked then delighted when I heard the chorus. I was like, U go Miss Cyndi, tell it girl. Now I know why this cd has the explicit language warning, that's ok!
  
  7. Raging Storm: 4/5 good club song with deep lyrics.
  
  8. Lay Me Down: 5/5 One of m' faves. Cyndi sounds Stevie Nickish, the lyrics are awesome too.
  
  9. Give It Up: 4/5 Cyndi cranks out another party jam, keeping the dance vibe alive.
  
  10. Set Ur Heart: 5/5 My other fave. I love the lyrics and Cyndi takes her voice to a new level.
  
  11. Grab A Hold: 4/5 This is the only song that sounds like tradional Cyndi Lauper. It sounds like something off True Colours with a new club beat.
  
  12. Rain On Me: 5/5 a mid-tempo groove. The synthisizers sound alot like the beginning of "Little Red Corvette" by Prince. the lyrics are touching and heartfelt. a good way to end off an incredible album.
  
  
• Bereft of Ballads
  By A1EY96B5T4GK0Z on 2008-05-31
  Cyndi is truly a great artist, and very original, but I could barely get through listening to this CD. If you lived through the disco era and did not get enough of it, then this music is for you. Otherwise, stick to Cyndi's earlier works or buy one of her greatest hits compilations. Let's hope her next effort of original tunes will be a return to rock and roll and contain some classic ballads as well.
  
  
• Bring Me to the Dancefloor
  By A1AYEI2SNFPYES on 2008-06-08
  It's a confirmation. 50 is the new 30. Among those who have released an album at age 50 and beyond, Cyndi Lauper of yesteryear Girls Just Wanna Have Fun joins a handful of artists like Madonna and Donna Summer. And the good thing is Bring Ya to the Brink will definitely go down as Lauper's best album in decades.
  
  A trip to Euro-land and hook-ups with Basement Jaxx, Max Martin, Peer Astrom, Kleeup and Richard Morel gives the album a stylish electronic vibe that runs through the album. Vocally, Cyndi has never sounded more fabulous next to the slick production and danceable beats. High and Mighty opens the album with a seductive intro before breaking out. Rocking Chair with its signature Basement Jaxx makeover gives Lauper some street cred. Echo is the best of heady Euro dance. When it's time to go all out, there's big dance anthems like Same Ol' Story and the cabaret-fitting Set Your Heart.
  
  Brink isn't also just a straight out dance record. There are more introspective moments on Grab a Hold and the gorgeously heartrending Rain on Me which is a good ol' Lauper ballad. Two bonus tracks, the cheeky personals song Got Candy and the ballad Can't Breathe which fill the digital version could have fitted on the main disc easily.
  
  This is already the must-have for 2008! A definitive moment for the lady who brought us the by-now classics Time after Time, Change of Heart and True Colors. If only this was not so underrated as usual. (A)
  
  
• Y A W N !!!
  By A223AIR95KAOAI on 2008-07-07
  After enjoying the Japanese version of SHINE since cher was closing for Cyndi, i was terribly disappointed by the monotonous drone of the new cd - especially given the current crop of artists and releases: Duffy's Rockferry, Adele's 19, Toni Childs's Keep The Faith, Amy MacDonald's This Is The Life, Lily Allen's Alright Still, and Annie Lennox's Songs of Mass Destruction - to name but a few.
  
  
• Cyndi's confession on a dancefloor
  By A18ZJMO7WHF2T on 2008-07-13
  Yes, she has done it again. 80's icon Cyndi Lauper still wants to have fun and has created a fantastic album of catchy dancefloor tracks. When i first heard about Cyndi recording a dance record i was expecting a wonderful album, as always, but i wasn't expecting the masterpiece it has turned out to be. You really rocked my world, girl. 12 songs of imaginative lyrics, pulsing beats and catchy refrains. It deserves to be a big hit. Unfortunately, where i live (belgium that is) it will go unnoticed as did her magnificent previous effort The body acoustic. Standout tracks: Into the nightlife, rocking chair (What a funny song and about a rocking chair of all things. Nobody did that before), lyfe, lay me down and rain on me.
  Madonna did it a couple of years ago with her Confessions on a dancefloor album now it is Cyndi Lauper's turn with Bring ya to the brink to inject a breath of fresh air into the danceclub genre. Without a doubt one of the best albums of 2008.
  
  
• Surprise!
  By A1FR9HMN4TI7NS on 2008-07-29
  I've recently bought Joni, Carly, Donna, Madonna, and Aimee, and much to my surprise this Cyndi Lauper CD is by far the best of the bunch, it actually has at least 5 songs I love. These days that's amazing, and it must be at least 15 years since I bought a Cyndi Lauper CD.
  
  
  
• The best Cyndi is here
  By A1HBI9BBQIG1NH on 2008-08-02
  Cyndi is back with possibly the best cd of her career. This albumis packed with energy versatile song writing and had me excited to the finish.
  I heard several cuts on the True Colors tour and I simply fell in love with this cd.
  "High and mighty" is a tour defource.But the whole cd is amazing.
  You have good writing that is danceable too.
  
  
• Great Album
  By ARC2B8Y6GW8F8 on 2008-05-27
  I play the whole album, don't have to skip or forward any song, very enjoyable.
  
  

• Crayons
• Hard Candy
• Rockferry
• Funplex
• Viva La Vida