Billy Joel The Bridge

Billy Joel seizes the mid-’80s moment on the cameo-studded, synth-embracing The Bridge. The raucous “Modern Woman” is a sax-and-synth rave-up with Joel leaning into his gritty vocal; “A Matter of Trust” is lean yet open-hearted, its muscular guitar lines adding fire to Joel’s ruminations on love. Guests like Cyndi Lauper (who provides backing vocals on the strummy “Code of Silence”) and Ray Charles (on the resplendent ballad “Baby Grand”) give Joel new textures to play off as he shifts his gaze toward pop’s future.