Cyndi Lauper
Sisters of Avalon - Epic 1996
Tracks: 1. Sisters Of Avalon / 2. Ballad Of Cleo & Joe / 3. Fall Into Your Dreams / 4. You Don't Know / 5. Love To Hate / 6. Hot Gets A Little Cold / 7. Unhook The Stars / 8. Searching / 8. Say A Prayer / 9. Mother / 10. Fearless / 11. Brimstone And Fire / 12. Early Christmas Morning
Comments:
Another Powerful Outing from Cyndi Lauper.
Cyndi Lauper's 1996/97 album "Sisters of Avalon" is the successor to Lauper's fine album "Hat Full of Stars" from 1993. Like its predecessor, the album is very varied in terms of genre and the instrumentation is wide-ranging. The songwriting is inspired and subject-wise Lauper touches on serious and controversial things. The majority of the songs were written in collaboration with composer Jan Pulsford, who also appears as a musician on the album.
The album was initially not a great commercial success, but has since gained great recognition.
The album may at first not be as accessible as her previous releases, but after a few listens most songs will show their qualities.
Not least the title track is a bit of a Lauper classic; a bluesy soulful dramatic song with lots of energy and soul. "Ballad of Cleo and Joe" is more upbeat bluesy, with interesting instrumentation and lyrics dealing with cross dressing. A great beat.
"Fall Into Your Dreams" is more ballad-like with strings; melodic and yet a bit lopsided.
"You Don't Know" is more classic Lauper; melodic and catchy with i.a. acoustic guitar. Very different is the heavy "Love to Hate", which may make one think of early Alanis Morissette.
"Hot Gets a Little Cold" was written together with Catherine Russell, who also sings backing vocals. It's a nice subdued song with lots of tasteful guitar and nice vocal harmonies; a personal favorite.
"Unhook the Stars" is also a very nice. A melodic and evocative song; again with lots of instrumental variation. The spacey "Searching" is completely different; subdued and atmospheric.
On "Say a Prayer" we are into jazzy blues, with partly spoken vocals. "Mother" is a somewhat dark number. A bit mysterious with a very special beat and instrumentation; perhaps one of the least assecible tracks. "Fearless" is folkish featuring both dulcimer and zither; again a great melodic song.
On the final track "Brimstone and Fire" you can hardly avoid thinking of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"; catchy and a fine reggae beat.
You come a long way round on the "Sisters of Avalon" and it is certainly not a boring trip. Personal favorites are many, especially "Sisters of Avalon", "Fall Into Your Dreams", "You Don't Know", "Hot Gets a Little Cold" and "Fearless".
Back to Band pages
| 
