Sarah Mclachlan - Afterglow
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Sarah MclachlanEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2003-11-04
Music Label: Arista
Soundtracks:
- Fallen
- World on Fire
- Stupid
- Drifting
- Train Wreck
- Push
- Answer
- Time
- Perfect Girl
- Dirty Little Secret
Free Music Notes for Afterglow
Free Music Review: Beautiful And Emotional Music
Hit: 5 Stars
I was asked in an interview for an art college what my favourite style of music is, and I gave an answer that seemed to perplex the guy asking the question in the first place. I said that I don't have a favourite genre or style because I appreciate and adore so many different styles. I like music that makes me dance, music that makes me think, music that makes me cry and music that makes me rejoice in the wonder of just being alive. Sarah McLachlan definitely fits into that latter category, because she makes music that is so poignant, so touching. Okay, so she makes 'safe' music that is appealing to radio and a mass audience, but there's nothing wrong with that in this case. Her music runs deeper, under your skin, and finds its home amongst your soul. With tranquil, peaceful music, she combines her angelic vocals to create some of the most beautiful music your heart will ever hear.
I currently own five of Sarah's albums, and "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" is still the best. "Surfacing" is also another superb effort, which brings me to her latest release, 2003's "Afterglow." After a six year hiatus, Sarah returned with this beautiful album, which instantly sold millions in America and occupied the top spot of the album chart. Fans were not disappointed and neither were the critics. To be honest, after six years, we deserved something amazing, and that's exactly what we got with this album.
The album opens with the massive radio hit "Fallen." I believe that this would've been the title of the album were it not for Evanescence's album which was currently selling by the truck load at the same time. The song itself is a beautiful, mid-tempo song, similar in vein to Dido's "White Flag." It has Sarah's trademark style, and sounds similar to the material from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. "World On Fire" is not much different in sound from its predecessor, but the lyrical matter is very different. She sings of the hatred and disruption in the world, the subject of a post-September 11th world playing a major role. "Stupid" is one of my favourites from the album, even though I didn't really like it very much to begin with. Sarah sings of being totally stupid in a relationship with a man, which has since ended. The song starts off very slow and melancholy, before breaking out into an almost rocking chorus as she wails, "How stupid could I be?!" The instruments used on this song are amazing, along with the haunting backing vocals. It's not a very long song, but definitely one of the most memorable. "Drifting" slows down the pace and introduces a gorgeous and soft ballad - the first on the album. The glowing introduction makes way for Sarah's passion-filled vocals as she sings of that somebody who has been drifting up above for so long, despite the fact that below them, there are many people who care for them. The piano on this song works superbly with the guitar to create easily one of my favourite ever Sarah songs.
"Train Wreck" is even better than anything else on the album in my opinion, and it seriously borders on being so beautiful that sometimes I can hardly listen to it. I love how the song starts, so distant and far away but drawing closer. I don't know why, but the way Sarah controls her voice in the verses as she sings, "Would your love in all its finery tear at the darkness all around me?" makes me feel so fulfilled. Her voice is so pure and undiluted, and when you combine that with the imagery in lyrics such as "Would your eyes, like midnight fireflies, light up the trenches where my heart lies?" you have perfection. Sarah sings of being a complete wreck, emotionally, and that the person she is singing about (and to) is her total saviour. Halfway through the album, Sarah achieves total beauty. "Push" is another great slow ballad with some great lyrics. I really enjoy this song as it relaxes me no end, but there seems to be a bit too much emphasis on her voice when she sings, "I get mad so easy but you give me room to breathe." Sometimes she sounds a bit too 'off' for me, but overall it's another amazing song.
"Answer" picks up from the last song and is just...indescribable. It's another beautiful, beautiful song with some soothing percussion in the background, accompanied by the piano. The way Sarah's voice echoes over the dark landscape of the song really brings about an atmosphere to the song. My favourite part is where she sings, "Cast me gently into morning, for the night has been unkind" because her voice seems so close, like you can feel it whispering in your ear. "Time" is another one of my favourites from this album because it has a distinctive quality to it which makes it one of Sarah's most accessible songs to date. The beauty of the song lies in the lyrics that are arranged to rhyme, like "Would you give me no choice in this, I know you can't resist." The next song is "Perfect Girl" and is a little bit of a step down from the rest of the album in my opinion. However, Sarah's voice is definitely at its best here, especially when it rises on the word "Everything!" The album closes with "Dirty Little Secret." From the title of this song you'd expect something a little bit more rockier or raunchier, but no, that ain't McLachlan's style! Again, it's another mid-tempo ballad, that does seem a little bit samey to the rest of the album, but the focus is definitely on Sarah's voice. When you have a voice like hers, you can sing anything and make it beautiful.
OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
I was rather surprised by how quickly I took to this album, because it actually took me a long time to appreciate "Solace" and "Surfacing." There was something about the modern quality of these amazing songs which made them click with me. I love every song from the first song to the eighth song, but the final two seem to taper off a bit. I'm not sure if that's just me (it probably is) but I am very impressed with this album because it's just so beautiful. If I ever want to feel relaxed or comforted by music I will put this album on. If you disagree then you need to listen to it more. If you still have problems accepting it then you obviously have problems accepting the raw beauty of the female voice! Amazing, buy it now.
Afterglow Poster
"Afterglow" features all new songs including: "Fallen", "Stupid", "World on Fire", "Drifting", "Answer", "Trainwreck", "Perfect Girl", "Time", and "Push".Is Sarah McLachlan a secret punk rocker? To be sure, her rebellion is hushed. On Afterglow, her first studio album since 1997's Surfacing, McLachlan?s music is as tempered as ever; at times even the piano chords at the heart of the sound are tucked neatly beneath layer upon layer of strings and overdubbed voices. Listen to what?s being sung within this soothing aural bed, though, and hear the just-before-sleep murmurings of the quietest riot grrl: "I?m a train wreck waiting to happen.... a wildfire born of frustration," "How stupid could I be.... you?re no good for me, but you?re the only one I see," "I have to push just to see how far you?ll go." The latter song ("Push") resolves itself with the assurance, "You complete me." Ultimately, McLachlan fans will be comforted again by what turns out to be her reliably untroubled aesthetic. --Rickey Wright
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