One of Sarah's Best

Author's Rating:

Pros: Thought-provoking lyrics, heartfelt and emotional collection of songs

Cons: Not best if you want a boost of sunshine

The Bottom Line: 
I cannot recommend this album enough. The songs were beautifully written and sung by Sarah McLachlan. Her unmistakingly beautiful voice could be the only one to do them justice.

Author's Review
Nearing a decade after its release, "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" remains one of my favorite albums by Sarah McLachlan.

I was first introduced to Sarah McLachlan by a former co-worker, who loaned me three of Sarah's CD's for a weekend. One listen to each of these CD's left me hooked. Immediately after my introduction, I purchased her (at that time) most recent release, "Surfacing," which left me yearning for more of her works. "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" was my second Sarah purchase, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

"Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" contains both gut-wrenchingly emotional songs and whimsical ones. I've turned to this particular CD on many occasions when I've been about down or uncertain about the path of a relationship or simply in a reflective mood.

***THE COLLECTION OF SONGS***

1. "Possession:" This song was reportedly written about an experience Sarah McLachlan had with a stalker. It is alleged that she actually blended words from the stalker's letters to her with her own to come up with this very powerful piece. I get the feeling that Sarah felt as though she was being suffocated by the intensity of this man's obsession with her.

2. "Wait:" Sarah's flawless voice shines through on this song about a love that both strong and fragile at the same time. Two people find that they so badly wanted their love to remain strong and staid, only to find that their love is changing. This leaves her wondering if their love can withstand. After reading the lyrics, I almost wondered if she had suffered a miscarriage, which left a chasm between the couple and left her emotionally wrecked and unable to give the love back that she felt her partner so badly needed.

3. "Plenty:" This song about a love betrayed is familiar to many of us. She believed he would never betray her love, but he did. His betrayal, yet hurtful, gave her the freedom to move on without forgetting the love once shared.

4. "Good Enough:" Sarah seems to be singing to a new-found friend who has been hurt and cannot understand why she just didn't measure up to her lover's expectations. Sarah wants to be a friend to this woman and calm her fears. Most of all she wants to show her how she is worthy of love and so much more.

5. "Mary:" This is a beautiful explanation of a woman's sadness of growing older, what she once was, and what she could have been. Sarah then turns it around and shows us how wonderful this woman is through her selflessness and love.

6. "Elsewhere:" This song shows us that we all have the depth within ourselves to find joy in solitude. We have time to reflect upon what defines our individuality. The discovery of ourselves is a liberating experience. We may not live our lives according to someone else's definition of the way we should be, yet we should be strong enough to be comfortable with our uniqueness.

7. "Circle:" Obviously there has been a disagreement between a couple, and they keep talking around one another, not listening to what the other has to say. This woman feels that she is losing site of who she really is by conforming to the needs and desires of her partner.

8. "Ice:" A couple about to make love: she is ice-cold on the outside but burning with desire on the inside. She is about to yield to him, both lovingly and loathingly. She has his number and only succumbs to him because of her own desire to be pleasured. She knows he isn't sincere, and she doesn't particularly care for him. It's sex for sex's sake only.

9. "Hold On." To me, this is the most powerful song in the collection. A woman is watching her lover die and begging God to let him live another day and also to allow him to enter Heaven, rather than be sent to Hell. One can feel the raw pain in her voice that smacks of desparation. She seems to fear his of imminent death and the pain it will cause and is pleading for just one more day with her love.

10. "Ice Cream:" This song is an abrupt shift from the very serious to the lighthearted joy she feels now that she is blissfully in love. Although it is perhaps the only "happy" song on this CD, it isn't one of the strongest ones.

11. "Fear:" So badly wanting to be able to let go and fall into the loving embrace of another, her fear holds her back. She feels naked and exposed because she is leaving herself open to rejection and hurt. She will not be able to totally give of herself until she overcomes her fear.

12. "Fumbling Towards Ectasy:" She is opening herself up to love, shedding her coat of armour. She no longer wants to be afraid of love, but to experience it fully. She is going to free herself of the chains that were once bounding her and give another the key to open her heart.

This last song blends into an almost "unplugged" version of "Possession." It leaves us to wonder if, for some of us, there is a fine line between love and obsession.

Anyone who has felt hurt or betrayal will identify with the lyrics of the songs on this CD. The lyrics are sometimes haunting, sometimes downright painful, and occasionally playful. Sarah McLachlan wrote all of the songs; however she co-wrote "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" with Pierre Marchand. The CD was produced and recorded by Marchand, her ex-lover.

Sarah McLachlan, in my opinion, can be compared to no one. Those who enjoy the music of Shawn Colvin and Paula Cole are likely to find Sarah McLachlan a rare find and a true gem.