Cyndi Lauper

Bring Ya To The Brink

$18.97

Epic

Twenty-five years since Cyndi Lauper declared She’s So Unusual and just wants to have fun, she’s back to Bring Ya to the Brink and get you on the dance floor. File this album under “m” mission accomplished.

“High And Mighty,” with thumping synth beats, and a touch of Flamenco guitar throughout, is the perfect opening track to fuel this dance endeavor.

“Into The Nightlife” is a stand-out track, commanding listeners to “shake your money maker.” The tune is a bit reminiscent of “Get Together” from Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor – which isn’t surprising. Lauper employed producer/composer Peer Astrom, who also worked with her Madgesty.

On Bring Ya to the Brink, Lauper can even make something as mundane as a “Rocking Chair” into a song that makes you want to shuffle your feet to the beat. On the track, she exhibits a Gwen Stefani-like quality to her vocals.

“Echo” is instantly catchy and “Lyfe” has a hip hop/’70s funk vibe.

“Same Ol’ Story,” a tale of resilience, is the strongest track on the CD. It seems to be a fitting dance anthem for Lauper’s “True Colors Tour,” (hitting San Diego on June 27 at Viejas).

Lauper, who infuses tracks with meaningful messages, is still a dance diva, but the subject matter transcends most pop efforts.

Ferras

Aliens & Rainbows

$12.98

Capitol Records

On the track “Liberation Day” gay musician Ferras (pronounced Fer-AHSS) resembles in some ways a one-man version of The Scissor Sisters. And that is not a bad thing at all.

It may be the piano accompaniment (on “Liberation Day” and other tracks) or the prevalent conviction on the CD’s title track that will draw the comparison for listeners.

Ferras effortlessly draws from Elton John, David Bowie and The Beatles, though his vocal prowess is refreshingly original.

The album features the up-tempo “Something About You,” the pop-rock-infused tunes “Everybody Bleeds The Same,” “Don’t Give Up,” and “Blame, Blame, Blame,” and the inspirational spoken-word song “My Beautiful Life.”

The CD also includes a few ballads, “Soul Rock,” “Take My Lips,” “Rush,” and “Hollywood’s Not America,” which was used on “American Idol” this past season.

As the singer/songwriter of his debut CD, Ferras, explores emotional landscapes as an intrepid explorer who is able to excavate truths with a pen, a melody and a perfect pitch.

Jay Brannan

goddamned

$12.00

Great Depression Records

At first listen, there appears to be a stark quietness to musician Jay Brannan, who is mostly accompanied by a lone guitar on his debut CD, godammned – to the contrary, the musician has plenty to say.

It would be easy to classify Brannan as a gay Jack Johnson, another folksy storyteller, but there is much more to Brannan than meets the ear.

There is a degree of tempered anger that he deftly channels into musical musings regarding his life, bringing an intimacy that is missing from many contemporary songs.

Whether he is lamenting about the many stages of love on tracks such as “can’t have it all,” “half-boyfriend,” and “at first sight,” you know the songs come from the heart and aren’t manufactured.

Brannan even calls into question his musical talent on the song “american idol.”

Brannan first gained notoriety performing his song “Soda Shop,” in the John Cameron Mitchell film, Shortbus, in which he also had an acting role.

To purchase his CD digitally on July 1, log onto iTunes or Brannan’s website www.jaybrannan.com, and the hard copy of godammned will be available in stores and through his website on July 15.

Martha Wainwright

I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too

$17.98

Zoe Records

Musical talent in the Wainwright family is not only subscribed to Martha Wainwright’s brother, Rufus, as is clearly evident on her latest CD, I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too.

The sisterly chanteuse has assembled a virtual who’s who of music royalty as guests on the disc, including The Who’s Pete Townsend and Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen. Plus, Wainwright has even assembled her direct musical kin, consisting of brother Rufus, her well-known folk singing mother and aunt, Kate McGarrigle and Anna McGarrigle, and pop vocalist first cousin Lily Lanken.

Despite these assists from family members and guest musicians, Wainwright stands on her own two feet as an artist. The singer exhibits both lush and bravado vocals on “Bleeding All Over Me,” “You Cheated Me,” “Comin’ Tonight” and “I Wish I Were,” which are full of haunting resonance.

And the remaining eight original songs on Wainwright’s sophomore effort on the Zoe Records label are just as potent; and are buoyed with her own spin on two covers, The Eurythmics’ “Love Is A Stranger,” (which she gives an upbeat country-western-esque twist to) and Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play.”

Ashanti

The Declaration

$13.98

Universal/Motown

R & B songstress Ashanti is making The Declaration that she is back with her latest CD since 2004’s Concrete Rose, and is ready to cement her place in the pantheon of popular music.

The Declaration is Ashanti’s decree of female empowerment, but also serves as a showcase for her very strong vocal range and ability to tap into the multitudes of styles of music that falls under the umbrella of R&B.

Additionally, she has assembled a crackerjack production team, including Pharrell Williams, Babyface and Jermaine Dupri, who are helping to solidify the fact that Ashanti is back in top form, after a four-year absence from the music scene.

“The Way That I Love You” is the biggest and best track on the CD, putting her on par with contemporaries such as Alicia Keys and Beyoncé.

“You’re Gonna Miss” hits the target as a dance tune with its message about inner strength, as does “So Over You.” Ashanti utilizes guest appearances from Nelly and Akon on the track on “Body On Me,” to good use, and The Declaration, as a whole, delivers as a solid listen.

Chante Moore

Love The Woman

$18.98

Peak Records

Multi-faceted seems to be the best way to describe R&B chanteuse, Chante Moore, who manages to be both current and retro on her CD, Love The Woman.

Part of the reason for Moore’s musical division is that she has delved into familiar territory with covers of Minnie Ripperton’s “Give Me Time,” Nancy Wilson’s “Guess Who I Saw Today” and Aretha Franklin’s “Start of Something Big.”

But, this division is also clear on her original tracks, especially “Can’t Do It,” with its strong horn section. The song seems to have been unearthed from the days of Motown, dusted off and given a few modern day nuances.

“Special” is a slow jam that features ruminations about self-esteem and the title track is a sensual song, which again, seems to straddle the line between old school and modern.

What summer music list would be complete without DJ dance music remixes?

DJ Tiesto is renowned as one of the world’s most pre-eminent disc spinners, and has been voted “World’s No. 1 DJ” three times in a row by DJ Magazine.

The DJs that provide the grooves on Verve Remixed take days-of-yore tunes and upgrades them for those who want to get their groove on today.

DJ Tiesto

In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 7 Asia

$18.98

Black Hole

On this two-disc compilation, DJ Tiesto takes lovers of trance on a trek to the Far East, without having to book a flight or worry about accommodations. This seventh foray into exploring world music, always in specific geographic locales, steers the same course of the previous six in DJ Tiesto’s series; by uncovering the exotic sounds of abroad, and bringing them to music lovers the world over.

The first disc is dedicated to the splendor that Asia provides, with its musical take on conveying the natural beauty that is inherent within the continent, coupled with the DJ’s zest for a good beat.

While the second disc ramps up the dance-ability factor of DJ Tiesto’s rather unique ability to utilize the sounds of the region, infusing them with his own technique to create a vacation via headphones.

Verve Remixed, Vol. 4

Various Artists

$13.98

Verve

The Verve Remixed series of CD’s relies heavily on the standard of making a practice out of taking musical artists you would not normally associate with remixes, and produces a platform to introduce these artists to a new generation.

And this fourth outing is no exception to that rule, with Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, James Brown and Sarah Vaughn, among others, getting the makeover treatment by a slew of talented DJ’s.

Songs such as Holiday’s “Cry Me A River,” Simone’s “Gimme Some,” Vaughn’s “Tea For Two” and Brown’s “There Was A Time,” get kicked up a notch, while remaining a faithful testament to their original works.

Fergie

“Labels Or Love”

Sex and the City: Music From The Original Motion Picture

For fans of The Dutchess who are looking to whet their musical appetite, until she either drops another solo CD, or re-teams with The Black Eyed Peas for a musical project; there is her contribution to the Sex and the City soundtrack, “Labels Or Love.”

This frenetic ode to the television show/now major motion picture delves into that eternal question of wanting a man versus wanting a pair of Manolo’s. And, it seems that the latter emerges victorious, as much of the song has Fergie extolling the virtues of shopping and dropping label names.

It’s a fun addition to Fergie’s roster of hits, and much of that actually comes from sampled snippets from “Sex’s” television theme song.