Live Album From The Queen Of The Lilith Fair
No hyperbole here -- she really does sing like an angel.
By Julene Snyder
The truly excellent live album is a rare beast. While it's fairly
common for artists to trot one out when the creative well or
bankbook goes dry, the live album that doesn't leave a slightly
sour taste in the mouth is unusual in the extreme. Even the
ones that have some staying power -- Roxy Music's Heart Still
Beating, Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps -- tend to be
remembered more for their time-capsule quality than for any
actual musical breakthrough.
Sarah McLachlan freely admits that she came out with Mirrorball
because she didn't have a new record in her just now -- but
don't hold that against her. "I'm probably going to take a year
off, if not more, over the next year and the year 2000," she
says on her website. "I think I have a really incredible and tight
band. The main reason is wanting to document that and
capture some of that great energy." In concert, her band does
come across as a finely honed instrument, but it's McLachlan's
voice and songwriting that are the real stars.
Mirrorball was culled from 35 shows in the early part of 1998, on a tour
promoting McLachlan's hit album Surfacing. This record's 14 songs
capture the thrilled reaction of her fans without letting the roar of the
crowd distract from the music. Still, from the first note of the opening
track ("Building a Mystery" those in attendance are roaring their
collective approval.
You can't really blame them: Not only is it
a great song, but McLachlan's in her prime, with her voice a perfectly tuned
tool that growls and soars, hitting every note with an assurance that's
breathtaking.
McLachlan sounds a bit defensive when explaining her decision to come
out with this record, but there's no need for any hesitance on her part.
While she's clearly worried that some fans might come away feeling
short-changed, she's gone to great lengths to be sure they get
their money's worth, explaining, "I felt if you are going to do something
live you should try to change it around a little bit." And the tracks on
Mirrorball each hat criteria, primarily due to the strength McLachlan
derives from performing before an audience and feeding off her
fans' reactions.
The song "Adia" is a lovely vehicle for the singer's voice,
showcasing her passion with warm tones and soaring trills. The
sound is technically superb, with clear, crisp production and
enough roughness left in the mix to avoid sounding slick.
"Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" (RealAudio excerpt) is delicately
rendered, and "Possession" (RealAudio excerpt) manages to
be a rollicking ballad. While McLachlan might not quite reach
the lofty realm of Rust Never Sleeps in the live album lexicon,
Mirrorball is a more than respectable addition to the genre.
[Sun., June 13, 12:00 AM EDT]
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