McLachlan fumbles, but not toward ecstacy

Although Sarah McLachlan's new one, Afterglow, is hardly better than ice cream, it's more like an Italian ice. That said, you have to be the Italian ice kind to really appreciate it.\nAfter spending a near three-year hiatus in mommyland, Afterglow picks up where predecessor Mirrorball left off but with an unfortunate lack of possible sell-out singles. With the exception of the album's first track, "Fallen," the album isn't exactly what one would call catchy. \nOne should note however, that most of the songs tend to blend into one another, like spilled water on a canvas of single hues. Most of the beats remain consistent in each track, and the soft chanting voiceovers like those featured in "Adia" are repeated under the chorus, especially in "Push," sufficiently adding more depth to McLachlan's typically hollow, solo sound. \nThe lyrics tend to be clichéd stories of love and loneliness, but as usual, McLachlan does maintain moments of brilliance, somehow lacing the simple words into intricate piano rhythms, far surpassing the mainstream madness that tends to tackle the same lame topics.\nRegardless, your mother is sure to like this one, but don't take a chance if she's a bit depressed these days. Afterglow could push anyone over the edge.