whitesail

…I’m not frightened any more.
It’s my heart that pounds beneath my flesh
It’s my mouth that pushes out this breath.

And if I shed a tear I won’t cage it
I won’t fear love.

Jenni and I are going to see Ms. Sarah McLachlan tonight. It’s been almost six years since I’ve seen her and it is a much needed event for me and Jenni, too, I’m sure. If you’ve never seen her live, do it. You won’t regret it. I’ll pay for your tickets if you’re not satisfied.

I’ve you’ve never heard her music, go out and get Fumbling Towards Ecstasy today. I can unequivocably guarantee that you will adore this album. If you think that Sarah’s music is just folky, ballad type stuff, please don’t go by what the radio plays. If you think her music is all I Will Remember You, then listen to Wait. If you think that she’s just an Angel girl, listen to Hold On, and while you’re at it, listen to the three major versions of Hold On. She is much more than you can even imagine if you’ve only heard her on the radio. And if you really want live on the edge, watch the live version of Fear off of either of her live DVDs. The first time I heard Fear live it literally stunned me. I was in awe.

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy remains the most perfect album I’ve ever heard. From beginning to end it is perfection. Possession is amazing. Wait is one of her best songs. Songs like Plenty and Fear have so much going on in them musically….little sounds and idiosyncracies that are just amazing. Hold On remains one of the best songs I’ve ever heard, musically and lyrically. The vocal performance on that songs is incredible. Sarah goes from sad to pleading to manic in this song about a woman losing her man to AIDS. It is truly a masterpiece. And the album finishes with Fear and Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Fear is about….fear.

but I fear
I have nothing to give
I have so much to lose
here in this lonely place
tangled up in our embrace
there’s nothing I’d like
better than to fall
but I fear I have nothing to give

Musically it is almost disturbing at times, but then fear is disturbing, too. Immediately after Fear comes Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.

All the fear has left me now
I’m not frightened anymore
It’s my heart that pounds beneath my flesh
it’s my mouth that pushes out this breath

It’s an album about life. Pain and loss. Joy and deliverance.

And it sounds good, too.