Sarah McLachlan
's first album of original material in over a decade,
Better Broken
is a warm hug from a cherished friend. Confident and heartfelt, this comeback effort brims with emotion.
McLachlan
's vocals remain in fine form after all these years, while the songs are refreshingly vibrant and immediate, standing strong next to her best '90s output. Along with producers
Tony Berg
and
Will Maclellan
(both from the
boygenius
orbit), she is joined by a team that includes
Wendy Melvoin
(
Prince
),
Benny Bock
Lucy Dacus
,
beabadoobee
), and
Matt Chamberlain
Dylan
Bowie
Tori Amos
). With such strong backing, she navigates timely struggles, both personal (her family, past loves) and big picture (women's rights, state of the world), finding the bright spots in the brokenness. Described by
as a collection of songs that provide listeners with "relief and release," she's delivered on that promise. The midtempo title track is a standout, comforting with her familiar angelic vocal highs and soothing low end. "Gravity" follows, a sumptuous piano-and-string-backed gem about her struggles with her older daughter. The production is kicked up a notch as the set progresses, with programmed drums and swelling synth invigorating "The Last to Go," while some fanciful
Beatles
-esque playfulness colors "Only Way Out Is Through." There's an uptempo rocker, "One in a Long Line," as well as a twangy duet with
MUNA
's
Katie Gavin
("Reminds Me") that's backed by pedal-steel guitarist
Greg Leisz
. The highlight "Long Road Home" slowly builds to a gorgeous peak with swirling production and an undeniable uplifting spirit. That urgency bleeds into the rousing "Rise," a clarion call for unity, equal rights, and a better future. Meanwhile, the intense declaration "If This Is the End¿" churns with finger-plucked guitar, martial drums, and a shiver-inducing group plea whose voices unite to fight the same fight. Refreshing in its relevance and an album one may not have expected from
this far into her career, this is sweeping adult contemporary which doesn't overextend into try-hard territory or lean too hard on past laurels. Simple and straightforward in its presentation,
is an ideal late-era set that warrants the term "comeback" and adds an unexpectedly beautiful installment in her catalog when fans thought there might not be another. At a point when such comfort is desperately needed,
offers resilience and a shoulder to lean on during trying times. ~ Neil Z. Yeung