Solace

This LP is at once comforting, mysterious, expansive, timeless, and familiar. The sophomore jinx was certainly eluded here, as McLachlan sets forth a superior collection of songs with the help of longtime producer Pierre Marchand. Intelligent, intriguing lyrics and lilting melodies abound, whether amidst the pulsing rhythms of Into the Fire or the quietly profound stories of Home and Shelter. The Path of Thorns (Terms) and I Will Not Forget You are especially memorable, the latter not to be confused with McLachlan's I Will Remember You, which appears on the 1995 soundtrack for The Brothers McMullen and the 2-LP set Fumbling Towards Ecstacy/Freedom Sessions.

Solace, Nova Scotian Sarah McLachlan's second album, is considerably more mature and musically sophisticated than her 1988 debut, the promising if limited Touch. In fact, this disc is a must-have for McLachlan fans whose first encounter with her work was with her extremely popular later releases, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and Surfacing. The opening track, "Drawn to the Rhythm," is a habit-forming gem of a song that soars on her smooth and heady soprano and Ronald Jones's addictive drums (though the drone of the billatron in the chorus seems incongruous). The rumbling, electric "Into the Fire" grooves with a funky bass line; the lovelorn "Path of Thorns" and "I Will Not Forget You" are straight-ahead and bluesy. Always wise beyond her years, McLachlan displays a new awakening with introspective songs such as the Sinead O'Connor-esque "Lost" and "Shelter." The hymnlike "Mercy" is the least interesting song--spare in comparison to the others--but it is a wondrous showcase of her multifaceted voice. Without a doubt, Solace is a testament to McLachlan's ever-swelling talent. --Rebecca Robinson