Laws Of Illusion
by Sarah McLachlan
  • Record Label: Arista
  • Release Date: Jun 15, 2010
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Boston Globe
    80
    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.
  2. The New York Times
    80
    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. Sputnikmusic
    80
    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.
  5. BBC Music
    80
    Her songs fall easily on the ear, her rhyming schemes are adroit and she writes intelligently on serious subjects.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Sarah McLachlan's sound hasn't changed much in the seven years since Afterglow, but it does feel less sweeping than usual on Laws of Illusion.
  7. Hot Press
    70
    Country diva channels marriage break-on first LP in nearly a decade.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    63
    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.
  9. AllMusic
    60
    McLachlan simply sounds like McLachlan here, seemingly unaged by the seven years that have elapsed since her last record and unconcerned with new trends.
  10. Slant Magazine
    40
    Laws of Illusion sounds both effortless and effort-less, and McLachlan has proven that she's capable of more compelling work.
  11. Rolling Stone
    40
    Sarah McLachlan's first disc since splitting from her husband, Ashwin Sood, feels scattered: The carefree single "Loving You Is Easy" feels out of place.
  12. PopMatters
    40
    Laws of Illusion is certainly not as arresting or as bold as some of the early highlights of her career.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 9 out of 30
  1. Ipodee78
    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.… Full Review »
  2. RobD.
    Jun 17, 2010
    10
    Lovely, simply lovely.
  3. ferdinandos.
    Jun 16, 2010
    10
    Simply amazing.
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