Laws of Illusion

Reviewed by Mike Steeves

Finally, after another long seven year wait between albums we're treated to a surprise by Sarah McLachlan!

I've been a huge Sarah fan most of my life, and honestly thought everything since Fumbling Towards Ecstasy has been a little bit of a let down. I'll never understand why Surfacing was Sarah's Opus as I regard it as perhaps her least inspired disc (perhaps due to the fact that it was overplayed TO DEATH by everyone and their dog). Afterglow was a nice solid progression, with excellent lyrics, but I always felt it was too 'one flavour', though it was tasty.

With Laws of Illusion, Sarah gives us a few surprises! The horrible break-up from her husband obviously gave her excellent emotional fodder to carve out the gems on this disc. Great art comes from pain and it's evident here.

However, if you're to pick apart the lyrics of a few songs line by line they do sound quite cliche. For example how many times have lines almost exactly like this appeared in some banal song: 'I've been down a long road / I shout it from the rooftops / You light me up you take me higher / Now every time I see you I can't help but look away / I don't care what people say I'm ready now to face this day . . .' ?

Regardless of this these lyrics still work and for most of the rest of the songs are great at delving up imagery and emotion. Awakenings, Love Come and Heartbreak are stand-outs tracks for me. Her cover of Bring On the Wonder, while not written by her, is another favourite.

The big surprises come with the actual Music! It's a breakup record for sure, but it's upbeat and positive. The overall tempo of this album is much quicker than I was expecting! There's a cadence to this disc that was lacking on Afterglow. The positively happy, if corny, lead single "Loving You is Easy" doesn't sound like anything the Sarah McLachlan of yore would have ever done. It sounds like a Randy Newman tribute, but it works (I feel like I shouldn't like it, but I do)!

This is a feel-good CD that showcases both Sarah's innocence and maturity.

I will probably always think Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is her best album, and Solace will always be my personal favourite, but Laws of Illusion is right up there as another great Sarah CD. Finally. :)