Comments:

On this her fourth album from 1993, you meet a very mature Lauper who really has something on her mind and she goes a long way in terms of lyrics and touches on heavy subjects such as violence in the relationship, adultery, racism, incest etc. There is a melancholy and longing for childhood innocence in several of the songs, e.g. in the very beautiful "Sally's Pigeons". Musically, Lauper also comes out very far; both in instrumentation and genre-wise. There is an overall fantastic musicianship throughout the album and her vocals are impressively strong and varied. There are many very melodically catchy tracks like you may know from the first albums, without them becoming banal and predictable in any way. Others are not immediately so easily accessible. Even if no tracks seem unimportant, it's always the good melodies that last the longest with me; and there are many of those on "A Hat Full of Stars".

The opening track "That's What I Think" is one of four singles released from the album. The number has a great beat and a catchy melody and also exciting instrumentation. It sounds like a hit, and the track indeed reached the top 20 in the US and the top 50 in the UK. "Product of Misery" is a rather heavy track, which lyrically touches on problems surrounding social inheritance. "Who Let the Rain in" was the album's biggest hit. It's a great soulful ballad, but very nice vocal harmonies. Great build-up, nice melody and moving lyrics. "Lies" is built on fairly naked drums (sampling). It has a slightly funky melody that, in relation to the seriousness of the lyrics, may really appera a bit paradoxical. Lauper, in collaboration with various others, has been a co-songwriter for all songs. The most beautiful number is probably "Sally's Pigeons", which she wrote together with Mary Chapin Carpenter. It is a very moving number, where longing for the innocence of childhood is the theme. Sheer beauty.

"Feels Like Christmas" is a fun track. Folkish and not really a Christmas song, but very catchy. "Dear John" is an upbeat country-blues number, with fun drums, slide guitars and a surprise appearance from a glockenspiel. "Like I Used to" is a funky Motown-like number; perhaps one of the less memorable tracks. "Someone Like Me" like is a nice pop song that brings back memories of Lauper's early albums. The verses are melodically very nice, while the chorus perhaps disappoints a little by being a bit light-hearted. "A Part Hate" is a soul pop number, but features serious lyrics about racism; again imaginative instrumentation and strong vocals.

On "A Hat Full of Stars" the wistful and longing is a theme again. A melodic ballad with piano and muted strings. A fine end to a great album. I will immediately look out for the sequel "Sisters of Avalon"