Search - Cyndi Lauper :: Memphis Blues

Her True Colors Still Shine Through

Cory T. Shaeffer | Pittsburgh | 06/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's pretty amazing when you consider all of the major album releases and tours by todays hottest female pop stars (Lady Gaga, Madonna, Xtina, etc.) - how every one of them dabble in futuristic pop, and assisted songwriting from JR Rotem, Tricky Stewart, Red One and all the like.....



So what does Cyndi Lauper do? She goes and records a full-on blues album with help from B.B. King, Charlie Musslewhite, and Johnny Lang, among others. Sometimes the legacy of an artist is the art itself, and not the image, or the celebrity, or the drama, or the gossip. Cyndi Lauper has one of the best voices on the planet, and she is way past her due. One of the world's most tragically underrated artists may finally get it here.



From the opening moments of "Just Your Fool" it immediately becomes apparent that this is a heartfelt, gritty, and emotional album. And it is blues all the way. "Crossroads" is another standout, with the guitar work from Lang typically stellar. But this album does not rest strictly on the guest performances. "Down So Low" and "Romance in the Dark" are basically Cyndi's solo work, making the whole thing even more impressive.



But the thing that impresses me the most is the fact that this is still a Cyndi Lauper album. Her signature sound and vocal phrasing is still easily recognizable, as many of the songs are comparable to the standards on her 2003 mini-masterpiece, the covers album "At Last." As I said - it's the art that one leaves behind that determines their legacy. Some pop tarts go for shock value, and tabloid pics, and hire the latest hip-hop guru to create songs for them. Cyndi Lauper records with the legendary B.B. King. There has always been a unique twist to Cyndi's work (one would be hard-pressed to find two songs in her entire catalog that sound exactly alike), but this one tops them all. This is a major artistic statement from someone who many critics thought was 20 years past her prime. That really shows what the critics know. Do yourself a favor - buy this album."

Case In Point

NightShade | USA | 06/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cyndi Lauper was one of those artists in the 80's that I didn't really care for. Her style of dress was outlandish and her musical material was bubble gum at best. But I have learned that it is those strange artists that can surprise you. As in this new release from Cyndi Lauper. Memphis Blues has heart and soul, and is every bit of the blues as the blues should be. The vocals are amazingly mature and full of passion for the music.. And the music is certainly the kind that one would hear in a an old blues club filled with the blue smog of too many smokers bad habits. Memphis Blues is top notch and shows what an artist can do when they decide to mature and explore new horizons. Earlier today I wrote reviews for two rock legends cd's, (Ozzy Osbourne and Vince Neil.) Both of those albums were uneventful throwbacks to a time in musics past. Then along comes someone like Cyndi Lauper and blows them both out of the water with passion and style... Kudos Cyndi."

No Singing the Blues After This Purchase

Rudy Palma | NJ | 07/01/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It helps to be on TV. "Memphis Blues" comes shortly after Cyndi Lauper's participation on "Celebrity Apprentice" and benefits substantially, becoming her highest charting LP since 1986.



Why a blues album? Does she pull it off?



Lauper has always defied expectations. A comprehensive look at her career shows this is hardly her first left-field decision. Recording an authentic blues record had been one of her desires years, and it puts her versatility as a singer and musician to a new test.



Unlike most of her peers or disciples, when Lauper changes genre ordirection between albums the results are not contrived, detached or stilted - qualities that would stifle authentic blues chestnuts like the sultry "Romance In the Dark" or the rambunctious "Rollin' and Tumblin." Her artistic drive is clearly internal, not derived from swapping producers or "acting" the part of a genre. This makes the album work.



It also helps to have friends. Bluesmen Charlie Musselwhite and Alan Toussaint back Lauper on several tracks, while B.B. King sings and plays on "Early in the Mornin'," a definite highlight exemplary of the album.



Jonny Lang guests on "Crossroads" and B.B. King's "How Blue Can You Get?" The mix of his and Lauper's vocals often feels uncomfortably forced during the quieter moments of the songs, as though recorded separately, although the result is still listenable. "Just Your Fool" feels oddly scattered for an opening track and lead single choice.



"Down Don't Bother Me" is a rousing declaration of inner strength where both Lauper's love of and proficiency for the blues shine remarkably, supported perfectly by Musselwhite's pitch-perfect blues-harp playing. "Down So Low" is just as impressive with its timeless, unshakeable melody and theme. "Don't Cry No More" is a sprightly, upbeat burst of sunlight that gives the album a danceable moment.



There may be no pop hits here, but Lauper has certainly recorded an accessible selection of tunes with impeccable talent surrounding her. "Memphis Blues" manages to pay homage to the blues without descending into a vanity project or Wikipedia entry with sound. It is breezy, finely tuned and perfectly professional, working equally well as a Lauper album and a classy blues record. No small feat."