Sarah Mclachlan - Surfacing CDs • Vinyl Records • LPs • Music Albums

But better the luxuriant, implied profundity of "Surfacing" than the sucker punch of Meredith Brooks' "Bitch," a fair treat as riff and melody go but overreliant -- to the point of irritation -- on the easy shock and loaded meaning of the title hook. With "Blurring the Edges," Brooks has really made two records: the notice-me snap of "Bitch" and the limp Alanis Morissette-does-"Odelay" twists of every other song. Neither tack does her potential ­ the brass and bite of her singing, the articulate sass in her writing -- much favor. But she and I agree

Released in 1997, Surfacing is highlighted by the workman-like perfection of "Building a Mystery," which was all over the radio at the time, and the haunting "Angel," which displays McLachlan's talents as a singer. She bolsters her ghost-calling vocals with a sturdy rhythm section, and the result is a record that sold in the mega-gajillion-zillions.