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Laws Of Illusion Image
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

  • Summary: Continually redefining herself in the realm of folk-pop singer/songwriters, McLachlan's latest delivery after seven years is filled with thoughtful lyrics and impassioned vocal harmonies, making the album worth the wait.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. It has always been those smooth, lush arrangements that have allowed Sarah to wear her heart on her sleeve without turning every song into an oppressively cheerless engagement, and that is still the case on Laws of Illusion.
  2. It’s a collection of ballads, hymns and waltzes, sung in long arcs of melody with a voice that enfolds its strength in breathy intimacy.
  3. All of McLachlan’s sonic trademarks are present and accounted for — dreamy keyboard washes, lilting rhythms, that angelic voice. They’re combined with her raw emotion in a beguiling manner that ranges from ethereal to rollicking.
  4. Country diva channels marriage break-on first LP in nearly a decade.
  5. If only McLachlan would've stripped out the more unoriginal instrumentation on other tracks and relied solely on her voice; it's a haunting, evocative thing we'd follow anywhere.
  6. McLachlan simply sounds like McLachlan here, seemingly unaged by the seven years that have elapsed since her last record and unconcerned with new trends.
  7. Laws of Illusion is certainly not as arresting or as bold as some of the early highlights of her career.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. RonaldR.
    Jun 15, 2010
    10
    This in my opinion is Sarah's best work
  2. ferdinandos.
    Jun 16, 2010
    10
    Simply amazing.
  3. RobD.
    Jun 17, 2010
    10
    Lovely, simply lovely.
  4. JDP
    Jun 15, 2010
    9
    Her best since Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Light, airy and classic Sarah.
  5. RobertL.
    Jun 16, 2010
    8
    Been a fan for years and have been looking forward to this album for 7 years. I think it was worth the wait. Really enjoying it.
  6. MichaelA
    Jun 16, 2010
    8
    This is a better album overall than Afterglow, which had two good songs -- the first and the last ones -- and a lot of meandering filler This is a better album overall than Afterglow, which had two good songs -- the first and the last ones -- and a lot of meandering filler between. While I wish she'd let go of the meticulously ironed-out studio sound on some tracks, the songs here are the best she's done since Surfacing. Expand
  7. Dec 5, 2013
    5
    Effortless and effort-less describe this album the best. Slow, prodding with nary a hook. Tagging two tracks from the greatest hits albumEffortless and effort-less describe this album the best. Slow, prodding with nary a hook. Tagging two tracks from the greatest hits album tells you much what is going on. Fulfilling contractual obligations? Where's the magnificence associated with Sarah McLachlan. While many find Afterglow repetitive and languishing, Laws of Illusion makes Afterglow a masterpiece. And the latter had more than just a handful of heartfelt tunes. Collapse