Laws of Illusion (Deluxe CD/DVD) | 
| Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Label: Arista
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
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Rating:  186 reviews
Sales Rank: 640
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 5.3 x 0.4
UPC: 886977199127
EAN: 0886977199127
ASIN: B003I6474S
Release Date: June 15, 2010
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| Tracks:
| • | Awakenings | | • | Illusion Of Bliss | | • | Loving You Is Easy | | • | Changes | | • | Forgiveness | | • | Rivers Of Love | | • | Love Come | | • | Out Of Tune | | • | Heartbreak | | • | Don't Give Up On Us | | • | U Want Me 2 | | • | Bring On The Wonder | | • | Love Come (Piano Version) |
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Product Description
DVD track listing:
1. Intro
2. Loving You Is Easy
3. Forgiveness
4. Rivers of Love
5. Love Come
6. Illusions of Bliss
Note: DVD is Region 0 (playable anywhere).
Album Description
Deluxe CD/DVD Edition includes a bonus DVD entitled Live In-Studio Perforfmance & Interview which includes performances of 'Loving You Is Easy', 'Forgiveness', 'Rivers of Love', 'Love Come' and 'Illusions of Bliss'. Long awaited 2010 album from the multi-platinum and Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter, her first studio album of new material in seven years. Laws Of Illusions was recorded in Montreal and Vancouver with Sarah's longtime collaborator/producer Pierre Marchand. Sarah has sold over 40 million recordings worldwide since her recording career began in 1988 with her debut album. Each and every one of her albums has been certified Gold or Platinum. Features the first single 'Loving You Is Easy'.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 186
 A DEEPER, MORE MATURE SARAH June 15, 2010
NeuroSplicer (Freeside, in geosynchronous orbit)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
That was some Sabbatical! It has been 7 years since Afterglow, and I for one was starting to demonstrate some pretty pronounced withdrawal symptoms. But I always respect an artist who, having nothing new to add, will refrain from printing and marketing ...proof of this fact.
Sarah McLachlan's strong point has always been her mesmerizing voice and the beautiful poetry of hes songs. That is why in this album instrumental accompaniment is kept to a minimum. This is not a pop album. It deserves to do well because, although personal it is far from esoteric. Sarah sings about universal feelings of a human getting older, surviving heartaches, overcoming adversities and finding happiness once more.
If Fumbling Towards Ecstasy was the voice of a young couple in love about to start off their blissful life, LAWS OF ILLUSION is the voice of the same couple reaching maturity - whether they are still together or not.
Sarah is back. With another timeless masterpiece.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Musical bliss, and that's no illusion June 16, 2010
Liam F. (Melbourne, VIC Australia)
33 out of 38 found this review helpful
LAWS OF ILLUSION is Sarah McLachlan returning to her finest form, last seen since SURFACING, released 14 years ago. This album took 7 years and perhaps countless ups and downs in McLachlan's life to make - and the wait is every bit worthwhile. McLachlan's discography has always been timeless, such that SURFACING could have been released yesterday and LAWS OF ILLUSION in 1996 and no one would be able to tell. Such is the excellence of musical craftsmanship and brilliance of song-making partnership between McLachlan and long-time producer Pierre Marchand.
There are 12 songs (and an additional bonus track) on this latest album, 2 of which previously featured on GREATEST HITS released 2 years ago. Initially I was critical of this, blaming laziness and lack of effort. Then I became appreciative. "U Want Me 2" is one of the best McLachlan songs ever - lush instrumental, poetic lyrics, ethereal vocals all lending to heartbreaking imagery. I'm glad I have it on here as part of the collection rather than having to keep going back to the GH collection to hear it. It fits in perfectly with LAWS OF ILLUSION like the last piece of jigsaw. And 13 songs on a McLachlan studio album is always a bonus, considering SURFACING and AFTERGLOW only had 10!
LAWS OF ILLUSION is perhaps McLachlan's hardest and edgiest sounding collection - swirling electric guitars are present on most songs. But the sound never drifts too far from what all fans will claim is McLachlan's (sort of what you'd expect if Enya did rock). The album also contains some of McLachlan's happiest sounding songs in a sing-songy, chorusy way: "Illusion Of Bliss", "Loving You Is Easy", "Out Of Tune" and "Heartbreak". Even the instrumentation is fuller, more uplifting, a little bit more bouncy as if it were skipping happily along. But make no mistake, those "happy" songs never end up sounding like cotton candy having been through the hands of this queen of melancholy. McLachlan always finds a way to serve them up as mostly minor-chord songs that transition into a major-chord chorus. "Illusion Of Bliss" is a misnomer, there is no illusion about the bliss contained in this song.
I need to specially mention "Forgiveness", my newest, favourite McLachlan song. The instrumental arrangement is exquisite, the melody is trademark McLachlan. The solitary piano beginnings deceive the listener into thinking this as "Angel" #2, but when the beats drop, background cooing vocals enter and guitar envelope the song, you discover the masterpiece. I think this song inspired the classy and dreamy album cover. I also need to single out "Awakening". It is different, moody, electric-guitar-rock-loud and has a song structure that is not immediately discernible. But it is a stand-out and showcases McLachlan as a rock goddess doing Coldplay. Finally, "Rivers Of Love" and "Changes" deserve attention too, as a throwback to the SURFACING era. This is your 2010 "Do What You Have To Do" and "Full Of Grace" respectively. Check out the saw.
I have deliberately left out the most important ingredient on LAWS OF ILLUSION for last. Shimmering, magical, breath-taking, expressive, soothing and flawless: McLachlan's voice. It is what makes a McLachlan CD a McLachlan CD. It has remained the same from the day I first started listening to her. Her phrasing is unique; her slight cracks are emotion-drenched; and the oft-featured yodel-break is skilfully used throughout.
LAWS OF ILLUSION is pretty much perfect. I'll be spinning this one for however long it takes for the next McLachlan CD to drop. If she takes this long to release music as astounding as this, so be it.
Liam F.
16 June 2010
Sarah's most interesting work in over a decade! June 19, 2010
Mike Steeves (Toronto, Ontario CANADA)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
Finally, after another long seven year wait between albums we're treated to a surprise by Sarah McLachlan!
I've been a huge Sarah fan most of my life, and honestly thought everything since Fumbling Towards Ecstasy has been a little bit of a let down. I'll never understand why Surfacing was Sarah's Opus as I regard it as perhaps her least inspired disc (perhaps due to the fact that it was overplayed TO DEATH by everyone and their dog). Afterglow was a nice solid progression, with excellent lyrics, but I always felt it was too 'one flavour', though it was tasty.
With Laws of Illusion, Sarah gives us a few surprises! The horrible break-up from her husband obviously gave her excellent emotional fodder to carve out the gems on this disc. Great art comes from pain and it's evident here.
However, if you're to pick apart the lyrics of a few songs line by line they do sound quite cliche. For example how many times have lines almost exactly like this appeared in some banal song: 'I've been down a long road / I shout it from the rooftops / You light me up you take me higher / Now every time I see you I can't help but look away / I don't care what people say I'm ready now to face this day . . .' ?
Regardless of this these lyrics still work and for most of the rest of the songs are great at delving up imagery and emotion. Awakenings, Love Come and Heartbreak are stand-outs tracks for me. Her cover of Bring On the Wonder, while not written by her, is another favourite.
The big surprises come with the actual Music! It's a breakup record for sure, but it's upbeat and positive. The overall tempo of this album is much quicker than I was expecting! There's a cadence to this disc that was lacking on Afterglow. The positively happy, if corny, lead single "Loving You is Easy" doesn't sound like anything the Sarah McLachlan of yore would have ever done. It sounds like a Randy Newman tribute, but it works (I feel like I shouldn't like it, but I do)!
This is a feel-good CD that showcases both Sarah's innocence and maturity.
I will probably always think Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is her best album, and Solace will always be my personal favourite, but Laws of Illusion is right up there as another great Sarah CD. Finally. :)
Thank you...!!! Thank you Sarah!!! June 15, 2010
JRay (Wisconsin)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I have been a fan since WAY back. Loved her first albums, but she lost me after the whole Lilith Fair tours started happening. My favorite album of hers was Surfacing, but I could never seem to get that feeling back for her music with Afterglow... BUT this album returns Sarah back with haunting melodies, lyrics, and her voice is so clear and pleasing. I feel like she is back to doing the things she does with music that she does best. I am not sure if other fans feel the same way, but this album is one of her best in years. She will be able to rock this album in front of thousands or fit it to a acousitic setting for a lucky few. My favorites are Awakenings, Forgiveness, Come Love, Bring on The Wonder, and Loving You is Easy. She does have acouple songs on this album that have been previously released (I might be wrong about that...but it seems that I have seen/heard them before) U Want Me 2. If you have been away from Sarah and are wondering if this album is worth the money or the spin...you won't be disappointed..you will be refreshed! AWESOME!
A DEEPER, MORE MATURE SARAH June 15, 2010
NeuroSplicer (Freeside, in geosynchronous orbit)
17 out of 24 found this review helpful
That was some Sabbatical! It has been 7 years since Afterglow, and I for one was starting to demonstrate some pretty pronounced withdrawal symptoms. But I always respect an artist who, having nothing new to add, will refrain from printing and marketing ...proof of this fact.
Sarah McLachlan's strong point has always been her mesmerizing voice and the beautiful poetry of hes songs. That is why in this album instrumental accompaniment is kept to a minimum. This is not a pop album. It deserves to do well because, although personal it is far from esoteric. Sarah sings about universal feelings of a human getting older, surviving heartaches, overcoming adversities and finding happiness once more.
If Fumbling Towards Ecstasy was the voice of a young couple in love about to start off their blissful life, LAWS OF ILLUSION is the voice of the same couple reaching maturity - whether they are still together or not.
Sarah is back. With another timeless masterpiece.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 186
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