Cyndi Lauper has unnoticeably "shone" much in the last decade...evolving into a critically acclaimed "artist"...from '93's "Hat Full of Stars" to '97's "Sisters of Avalon" and '98's "Merry Christmas...", she's an under-appreciated, highly-talented gem of contemporary music! "Shine" gives us a preview of her long-awaited LP, expected to be released within the next 6 months. The 4 tracks on this EP are currently well-received as she performs them live for Cher's Farewell Tour. The title track is an uplifting song for those self-deprecating heads buried in the sand; "It's Hard to Be Me" is reminiscent of her '85 rocker "Money Changes Everything"--a song about narcissism and celebrity with a strong punk-beat--her voice being the top instrument; "Madonna Whore" has an R&B flavor, showcasing her lower octaves, and deals with a serious issue of human nature (not Madonna, the singer); and "Water's Edge" (written w/Rob Hyman, her "Time After Time" co-writer) is just simply a beautiful ballad about self-examination and the support of love. Buy it!! You DO NOT have to be a die-hard Cyndi fan to appreciate this little masterpiece! And at this price, what have you got to lose? You might just rediscover the talent of an 80's icon "they" forgot to promote in the 90's.

Cyndi released a 5 track EP of the Shine sessions in the summer of 2002, which was originally scheduled to be a full-length studio album to be released on what's now known as 9-11.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

The 4 new songs on this cd are great. Shine ranks among one of the best songs Cyndi has ever recorded, if she had been on a major when she put this tune out, she would've had a huge comeback hit. It's a very positive song with a great catch to it. Almost a shame that this song wasn't what brought her back to the top 40. She also pays homage to the early 80's with It's Hard To Be Me. Madonna Whore (no, not about Miss Ciccone no matter how many people giggled when she said the title in concert) and Waters Edge were both good too. We also get a dance mix of Shine. Illicit are not among my favorite remixers, would've rather had the Calderone or Tracy Young mixes be on there instead.

I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because Cyndi recorded around 15 songs for this album, and yet only 4? Come on Cyndi, we want them! I have all the tracks on mp3, but I would gladly purchase it.

"Shine" is a 5-song album released by Cyndi Lauper in 2002. Unfortunately, this is one of the most underrated albums of that year. Its strong musical quality proves her greatness as an artist. She writes and performs every track directly from the heart. Whether she's singing dance, pop, or rock, she never misses a beat. With this album, she continues to amaze audiences like she did in the 1980's.

"Shine" and "Madonna Whore" explore her pop side. Both have their own unique twists that catches an audience easily. "It's Hard To Be Me" explores her rock side. She proves here that she can be raunchy and sensative at the same time. Few rockers have accomplished this. "Water's Edge" is a beautiful ballad. "Shine", the Illicit remix, is a highly catchy dance version of the original. This track is a great way to end the album. Such musical variey explores more than just different sides of Cyndi Lauper musically but also as a person.

"Shine" is an essential album for the faithful Cyndi Lauper fan. Even non-fans will enjoy this album. This is sure to please many listeners. Those who love this album should also buy her latest album "At Last", which declared her long overdue comeback. Such duo of albums should give listeners the ultimate musical experience.

I purchased this at the concert. While openning for Cher, Cindi Lauper still knows how to rock the house. I had forgotten. While only 10 bucks, it's 4 songs plus remix left me unsatisfied. All the songs are fresh, just not enough of them.

If you need to keep your collection complete...go ahead. If you're just rediscovering Cindi, this won't do. I recommend "Sisters of Avalon" if you're looking for something gentle, or "Time After Time" if you're having trouble remembering why she's in your mind as fun.

I love this CD! Cyndi Lauper did it again with a great CD you can sing , Dance and cry to all emotions run wild with this one! Cyndi has a very nice voice much better than some of her Pop rivals . IE Madonna. Cyndi has a Beautiful voice even without the glitz and the electronics that alot of music has these days.

I Recommend this CD its a Great addition to your Cyndi Lauper Collection. John Chicago