Better Broken [Fruit Punch Vinyl] [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]

by Sarah McLachlan

Overview

Sarah McLachlan's first album of original material in over a decade, Better Broken is a warm hug from a cherished friend. Confident and heartfelt, this comeback effort brims with emotion. McLachlan's vocals remain in fine form after all these years, while the songs are refreshingly vibrant and immediate, standing strong next to her best '90s output. Along with producers Tony Berg and Will Maclellan (both from the boygenius orbit), she is joined by a team that includes Wendy Melvoin (Prince), Benny Bock (Lucy Dacus, beabadoobee), and Matt Chamberlain (Dylan, Bowie, Tori Amos). With such strong backing, she navigates timely struggles, both personal (her family, past loves) and big picture (women's rights, state of the world), finding the bright spots in the brokenness. Described by McLachlan as a collection of songs that provide listeners with "relief and release," she's delivered on that promise. The midtempo title track is a standout, comforting with her familiar angelic vocal highs and soothing low end. "Gravity" follows, a sumptuous piano-and-string-backed gem about her struggles with her older daughter. The production is kicked up a notch as the set progresses, with programmed drums and swelling synth invigorating "The Last to Go," while some fanciful Beatles-esque playfulness colors "Only Way Out Is Through." There's an uptempo rocker, "One in a Long Line," as well as a twangy duet with MUNA's Katie Gavin ("Reminds Me") that's backed by pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz. The highlight "Long Road Home" slowly builds to a gorgeous peak with swirling production and an undeniable uplifting spirit. That urgency bleeds into the rousing "Rise," a clarion call for unity, equal rights, and a better future. Meanwhile, the intense declaration "If This Is the End¿" churns with finger-plucked guitar, martial drums, and a shiver-inducing group plea whose voices unite to fight the same fight. Refreshing in its relevance and an album one may not have expected from McLachlan this far into her career, this is sweeping adult contemporary which doesn't overextend into try-hard territory or lean too hard on past laurels. Simple and straightforward in its presentation, Better Broken is an ideal late-era set that warrants the term "comeback" and adds an unexpectedly beautiful installment in her catalog when fans thought there might not be another. At a point when such comfort is desperately needed, McLachlan offers resilience and a shoulder to lean on during trying times. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	09/19/2025
Label:	Concord Records
UPC:	0888072709874

Tracks

1. Better Broken
2. Gravity
3. The Last to Go
4. Only Way Out Is Through
5. Reminds Me
6. One In a Long Line
7. Only Human
8. Long Road Home
9. Rise
10. Wilderness
11. If This Is the End¿

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sarah McLachlan   Primary Artist