Sheer Ecstacy...without the Fumbling

Author's Rating:

Pros: Fifteen words doesn't do anywhere near enough justice.

Cons: Not a singular one.

The Bottom Line: 
An undeniably fabulous anthology of raw emotions, honest composition, and unabashed fetterings into the darker side of things.

Author's Review
Before this album was released, Sarah was a relative unknown. Her two previous efforts, "Touch" and "Solace," made next to no impact on the buying public. "Fumbling Towards Ecstacy," while not cracking the Top 40 on the album charts, had quite a long chart life, pushing over 3 million copies in its tenure. Singles for "Possession" and "Good Enough," though they had very little impact on the singles charts, gave Sarah and this album enough exposure to make waves. Slowly but surely, the sales increased, and so did the very high regards for this album. Even the multi-platinum smash album "Surfacing" does not come close to chronicling the raw energy Sarah muses about on "Fumbling..." A track listing is as follows:

"Possession" - Sarah very creatively and effectively shows confidence and hope in what almost seems like a stalker-esque sequence of verse and chorus. She will stop at nothing to achieve what she's set out to do, and the impressive quality of the combination of music, mood and lyric is irrepressible. This was a very wise choice for the first track, as it's stark and serious tone sets the stage for the remainder of the record.

"Wait" - An artful and inspired soul search in which the goal is for some feeling that is sweet and simple. The lyrics flow sensibly and make sense, and its somber disposition retains relevance and interest.

"Plenty" - A clever mix of commitment and freedom permeate this track. She is spurned by a lover that, no matter the circumstances, she would stick by until the bitter end. However, She manages to channel the suffering of love lost into a liberation that allows her to move on. The opening music of this track suggests a turbulent set of events to transpire, thought the music itself remains rather soft and melodious in nature. The listener can very easily care about what's going on because the distress is not shown off with an air of angst.

"Good Enough" - A refreshing and calm ambiance is created as Sarah plays a humanitarian of sorts here. Once again, the music and lyrics outline depressing circumstances, and the desire to overcome them. She reaches out to those in need, willing to help them, but in a very simple let's-get-down-to-business manner.

"Mary" - This is one of the more "upbeat" tracks on the record. Sarah keeps in the humanitarian vein, however using more of an uplifting beat, and referring to a third-person rather than herself. She sings of a fragile-hearted woman who is willing to lead and liberate, hoping that she can make a lasting positive impact rather then being taken advantage of.

"Elsewhere" - Nothing fits the exploration of self-actualization better than this song. While the song, again, has mellow music with equally mellow vocals, it's message is the most powerful here than on any other song. Personal paradise can be achieved by delving into an inner landscape that nobody else can ever touch. Asking "would you try to understand?" may suggest that there are ones who would not accept the style by which this internal scavenger hunt is played out. Coming out of this probe is realizing that one must life their own life, free of the pressure of others, regardless of their opinions.

"Circle" - There is a bit more tempo added to this song that deals with a classic twist of love - an unhappy relationship that one cannot break free from due to some individuality-sucking circumstances. The music and vocals becomes more edgy, however not overly chaotic, and Sarah very efficiently jumps from referring to her own unhappiness to observing others' woes.

"Ice" - A more morose look at less-than-acceptable relationships, but this time it seems like both sides are struggling. There seems to be very little hope or room for improvement, but the suffering continues willingly. The final line of this song says it best, "Only a fool's here to stay."

"Hold On" - As the title may suggest, this song is about being strong and reaching very deep down to find the fortitude to carry on. Sarah sings verses of very strong commitment and loyalty while it seems that the subject of her fidelity is either about to die or contemplate suicide. The vocal style is a little more aggressive and the music becomes more anxious, but it is a very fitting mixture given the song's lyrics.

"Ice Cream" - Love has been referred to as and compared to many things, but a likeness to ice cream and chocolate is quite original. The tone of the song becomes happier whilst the music is mellow and her vocals surprisingly border on bland given her great voice and range.

"Fear" - Sarah tests the higher register of her voice in this song. The fear she deals with is loss - the consequences that may be realized if she pushes her feelings for a loved one too far. Within that, she is also apprehensive that she has nothing to offer the focal point of her desire. The mildly aggressive music matches her higher vocals perfectly, and background vocal blips lend credibility to the overall song.

"Fumbling Towards Esctacy" - Very much unlike "Fear," Sarah lets go of those trepidations that inhibited her from showing her true feelings in previous songs. Love, anger, and struggle are amongst the mindsets she can now give in to rather than restrain herself. The music is almost like trip-hop, but not quite, and once more it meshes very effectively with the feel and aura of the song.

"Possession" [hidden track] - This take of the song, with a piano as the sole instrument used, allows for a more raw and emotional rendering of the tune. Without backup vocals and further instruments, more careful attention can be paid to the utter sentiment her vocals use.

This is an excellent, classic must-have for any Sarah fan. The kind of music on this record would be especially appealing to those who want a refreshing break from mainstream music with thoughtful lyrics that may even get the listener to take a closer look into themselves.