Cyndi Lauper. You know her. I'm not going to write about how she's only one of the greatest pop icons of all time. Rather than comparing this record to her past classics like She's So Unusual and True Colors, let's look to the future, because if this is where Cyndi is heading in her career, she's in a very good place.

Let's drop all notions of who Ms. Lauper is. Unlike her last few records, this one is pure fun with uplifting dance tracks of every kind. I've heard and read a lot of reviews bashing this album to a pulp, and I, for the love of God, can not figure out why. Even if you compare to other dance albums over the last few years (namely, Roisin Murphy's Overpowered), it kicks them all to the curb. This is one of those albums that has something for everyone, as Cyndi has chosen to experiment with every style of dance music-- you've got the sophisticated electro sound, the funk sound, as well as that house party sound that's ever so popular in two-bit gay discos.

The album starts out on a strange note, though. High and Mighty is one of those retroactive tracks that you get into after you've heard the rest of the album. It's a real shame, because first track is first impression, and High and Mighty is not exactly the best way to do it. The song is a pulsating electronica track that's comprised of basic the mantra, "I'd be livin' high and mighty...livin' high and mighty." It's catchy, but only within the context of the entire record.

All that tension that builds up in the album's opener, however, is realeased with the second track Into the Nightlife, which is not only the best track on the album, it is definitely Top 5 Cyndi. While the verses leave a little to be desired, the anthem-esque chorus thumps and electrofies in a way that could kill. Expect this to be on repeat-- for at least two months. From there we get Rocking Chair and Echo, the former being a continuation on the electro sound and latter being dream pop. Both tracks are stand out for being both mature and fun. The 50 year old Lauper can certaintly hold her own.

Lyfe is another one of those tracks that shocked me. It's funk and soul rhythm is incredible and Cyndi's cool temprament makes for a solid track. The beats match the lyrics beautifully, as Cyndi drops the album's title: "Lyfe, it can shake ya; it can make ya-- it can bring ya to the brink." From here, though, the album gets shakey. I'm not a fan of that cheesy gay-club sound on tracks like Raging Storm, Give It Up, Set Your Heart and Same Ol' Story, four tracks that I constantly skip over. Despite the fact that they are all very catchy, all I can think of is the shallow characters of HBO's Queer as Folk and just how much they would love these tacky songs.

However, before the album ends, we get another collection of great dance tracks, the best of them being the darker Lay Me Down, which would make Goldfrapp's jaw drop. The beat, produced by Robyn collaborator Kleerup, is the best on the entire record and I could listen to it all day. We also get the uplifting Grab A Hold, which accurately represents Cyndi Lauper's strong standpoint on equality and hope, and we get Rain on Me, a slower song that finished out Bring Ya to the Brink on a great note-- at least, better than the one it started on.

Cyndi Lauper, if I could do half stars, would get 4.5, but I'm gonna give her the 5 star rating as she's a hell of a lot closer to 5 than she is a 4.

Tracklist
High and Mighty
Into the Nightlife
Rocking Chair
Echo
Lyfe
Same Ol' Story
Raging Storm
Lay Me Down
Give It Up
Set Your Heart
Grab A Hold
Rain on Me

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Exercising