CD Review - Closer - Sarah McLachlan

[MrAngryFace]

This is her first 'Best Of' CD. Which is hilarious because two of her 'Live CDs' outshine this one by large margins. She's packed her two new, and rather blah songs at the end of this CD. Ill admit that considerable effort probably goes into writing even two new songs, but clearly no effort was saved for the rest of the cd, which is collection of old recordings and re-recordings and new recordings. In fact you can almost sense the thoughtless positioning of the songs on the tracklist.

She starts the CD out with Vox, which has only been available on one of her B-Side releases up until now, I believe. Not only that, but this is a new recording of Vox ditching the much more lively electronic/acoustic for what sounds like straight up acoustic. This makes it easier to focus on her voice, but the song is IMO less interesting.

Now follows what feels like a quick cut and paste of her work starting with Solace (Path of Thorns - Into the Fire) and on to Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Possession, Hold On, Good Enough) bumping rudely against Surfacing (Building a Mystery, Sweet Surrender, Adia, Angel) a quick stop into her old recording single release of I Will Remember You (its on 30 rock haha great ep) and finally hitting Afterglow (Fallen, Stupid, World on Fire)

Then comes the new stuff which is pretty mediocre on repeat listens. Its really basic emo, which is honestly below Sarah.

Now I mentioned her two Live CDs. Mirrorball and Afterglow Live. If I had to recommend one Sarah M CD to anyone, it would be Mirrorball. While it doesnt include songs from Afterglow, its really just such a solid performance and she delivers on EVERY SINGLE SONG. Afterglow Live isnt bad, and includes many of her most popular songs.

So honestly? Why own this CD? If you have to have the new recording of Vox, you can buy it as a single digitally, and im not sure anyone should buy her two new songs. Sends the wrong message Superfans will line up and say this is great cause its got so many of her great songs. SO DOES MIRRORBALL, AND ITS NOT SO LAZY. Then there's the YOU GO GIRL crowd that will cheer on her blah new songs cause of her almost convenient recent divorce.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Thank you for finally coming out of the closet.

[Madrun Badrun]

Did Maf just write four paragraphs about a Sarah McLachlan cd?

[Van Cruncheon]

Thank you for finally coming out of the closet.

is sarah not porky enough for you?

[MrAngryFace]

Sarah can actually sing, and I totally dig female vocals. Im sure you guys have to front with your fucking cd collection to feel like a man, but I sure as hell don't.

[Positive Touch]

why would you buy a best of when you already have all of her cds?

[MrAngryFace]

She's known to remix her music or re-record. She phoned this one in big time, for probably the first time ever.

[MrAngryFace]

Vox is one of her more interesting b-sides imo, but a pure acoustic version is not. My issue with closer is that not all of this was re-recorded. That just smacks of lazy, which is totally unlike her.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

What's the name of the new song of hers that's being constantly played on the radio?  I swear I hear it every 30 min or so at work and it always fucks with my head.  Even though I know it's Sarah McLachlan everytime I hear the opening piano I think it's Gary Jules' rendition of Mad World.

[MrAngryFace]

Fumbling > Surfacing imo. Probably more due to Surfacing being fucking overplayed.

[MrAngryFace]

Her new song on the radio is 'U WANT ME 2' wtf at the song name.

Apparently there is a deluxe version of Closer :/

[MyNameIsMethodis]

The only Closer you'll be getting is at the end.