Product Description Multi-platinum and Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan who shot to international superstardom after the release of Angel in 1999 releases Laws Of Illusion weeks in advance of the kick off to Lilith Fair UK 2010, the historic all-women touring festival, founded by McLachlan, which became one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world. Review This is Sarah McLachlan's first album for four years, seven if one discounts her Grammy-nominated Christmas covers collection of 2006, Wintersong, to focus on original material. The Canadian singer-songwriter's crystal-clear mezzo-soprano voice has changed little, but a failed marriage in the interim has become the inspiration for an autobiographical collection of songs which express the breadth of emotions that follow such circumstances.But the overall tone is not what one might think. There is no self-pity and little melancholy about these arrangements. We know from her previous work that McLachlan is a thoughtful lyricist who knows a thing or two about song construction. She has a flair for varying the pace of a melody or introducing an ironical upbeat accompaniment to a downbeat lyric, and can deliver variety over a span of a dozen and more songs.On the first single to be taken from this album, Loving You Is Easy, she sings of heartbreak to a bouncy Gilbert O'Sullivan-style piano accompaniment. Don't Give Up On Us and Out of Time are in a similar vein. Illusions of Bliss–"Take me up beyond the incline / make me pass the former fault line"–taps into raw emotion, but sometimes there's the feeling that her producer/collaborator Pierre Marchand should allow her a greater freedom of expression that the words of these songs cry out for. Too often he nullifies their impact–the simplicity of the song line and the understated sentiment of the lyric–by the intrusive employment of space-age electronic keyboards or the wash of girly backing vocals.McLachlan has much to offer as a singer-songwriter, and is blessed with a flexible vocal technique, but could this be the time for her to pursue a new direction? Her songs fall easily on the ear, her rhyming schemes are adroit and she writes intelligently on serious subjects. She could follow Carole Bayer Sager to Broadway. --Adrian Edwards Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off in a new window
F**D
thankfully alot better than people would have you believe
Well i picked this up last week for a bargain of 3£.. I actually almost feel like it is criminal to get such quality for so little..I was wary after reading so many negative reviews ... I will admit i dont have any of the rest of her studio albums.. Bar the tracks Angel and I Will Remember You from Surfacing... And her stellar live album Mirrorball which really set a great example of how a flawless album can be done...But if this isnt up to her older albums like many say then im really curious and tempted.. Because i actually think this is a great album..Her voice is as soothing as ever.. Her melodies are rich and interesting.. The lyrics are fine.. I dont understand how she is accused of being lazy and cliched on this front.. Lord knows when compared to the lyrics of some songs that are massive hits today, she certainly isnt scraping the barrel...The problem really is this isnt as etheral as some of her past work.. This is a break up album.. And i think she was entitled to pursue such a theme after her personal life / marriage break up. So inevitably , the songs are about love and losing it.. The almost gothic, other worldy feel is not really present here..Of course im no sarah expert but i think this sits fine along side Mirrorball..It really has some fine adult contemporary songs and they actually mean something and i dont doubt her sincerity .. This doesnt sound like a punched in lazy album.. The two songs from her greatest hits is lazy though i will say that...So stand outs: i love the lilting Out of tune.. It just washes over you... I love it..Forgiveness is a great song too.. How can anyone question the effort in this album with a song like that.. The lyrics are so heartfelt..Rivers of love is a really nice and hopeful song too.. You just drift away with that melody..I love both versions of love come.. The strings on the original.. And the spare simplicity of the acoustic piano one.. The lyrics again just shine through...Heartbreak is another stand out too..Loving You is Easy.. I guess this is the one that jars the most with her die hard fans.. Its just a fun song.. Nothing serious here.. Which is no crime really.. But i like that she changes it up here.. I guess picking this as lead single really left her die hard fans with a first impression that she was delivering a less serious and meanigful album.. But the opposite is true.. The rest of this album is a great relaxing listen..I for one am glad i judged it on its own merits .. The multiple negative reviews really make it seem like this is lazy and banal rubbish .. But i think this is a beautiful record
C**A
I wasn't disappointed!
I considered buying this when it was first released, but changed my mind when I saw some of the early reviews which had been submitted - "Disappointing yet enjoyable", "7 years wait for a good but not great album", "Disappointed!", etc.I had forgotten about this release in the meantime, but was reminded of it when I received a recent Amazon recommendations email and gave it another look.The clincher was the "Get the Deluxe Version!" review - "But I have to speak out about the DVD of the Deluxe Version, where Sarah simply sits at her piano and sings beautifully 5 tracks from the main album. I would gladly have paid full price for the DVD alone - truly excellent!". I decided to buy the CD+DVD then and there!I certainly wasn't disappointed. It's as good as Afterglow and Mirrorball. Now I can't wait to see her perform some of these songs live in concert!
C**N
Nearly there
From reading some reviews, I was expecting the worst. A collection of songs that are undistinguished and don't add anything to the overall collection. After a few listens I am quite happy with this purchase.This is a collection of songs that tell the same tale, of heartache and strife and a strong nod to the emotions that Sarah herself was going through with regards to her private life. There are some strong tracks from it; Forgiveness and Bring on the Wonder notably sticking in my mind.What this is missing is that seminal track that sets the albumn apart; the Full of Grace or Fear song that sets your pulses racing. Instead the songs reflect your mood or enhance it without necessarily changing it. I guess some of the disapointment comes from how high the standards previously have been set at. This is still very good.
J**N
Much better than mediocre reviews would suggest
Like James Taylor Sarah McLachlan could sing the telephone directory and make it sound magnificent. I have just got this CD, yes I was a little late to this party, and was slightly concerned about the mediocre reviews. I needn't have worried, these are beautiful songs, beautifully sung and produced, they just require a little patience. Let them grow on you. Yes it's all very similar to what has gone before but if you love what has gone before what on earth is wrong with that?
D**W
Almost Perfect...
Bought this one for myself as it was one I was totally unaware off...Polished production; faultless vocals; everything should say a great release...but not a memorable tune you can sing along to in the car...no matter how many times I have listened to it (20 and counting)… so every artist has a release that you need to learn to love...this one is mine..
D**E
No illusions
Beautiful songs.
M**L
thank you for a great album
More brilliant music from her
B**N
Three Stars
Bit too much of the same , nothing new here
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