She's So Unusual  (Audio CD) 
by Cyndi Lauper

If Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual evokes memories dominated mostly by her cartoonish image, then try to get over it so you can pay attention to the music. Simply, Cyndi Lauper has a wonderful, emotive voice. Her vocals have an impish quality, but there's also tremendous strength, articulation, and nuance. Who would disagree that "Time After Time" (later covered by both Everything but the Girl and Miles Davis, if you need further proof of her credibility) is as heartstring-tugging as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is frivolous, or that "All Through the Night" is as longing as "She-Bop" is intense? The instrumental arrangements are quite inventive and rich, and although the musicality is pointedly '80s, the album sounds more winsome than dated. The title of Lauper's debut isn't self-deprecating or even self-parodying; it's self-congratulatory. Listen to it again, and you'll find this pleasure to be far from guilty. --Beth Bessmer