Solace is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, released in June 1991, on Nettwerk in Canada and in January 1992, on Arista Records in the United States. It was the album that first made her a star in Canada, spawning the hit singles "The Path of Thorns (Terms)" and "Into the Fire" and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada. This was also the first of many Sarah McLachlan albums produced by Pierre Marchand.
Although the album received favourable reviews internationally, her commercial breakthrough outside of Canada would not come until her next full album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Although McLachlan has not discarded the album's songs from her concerts so completely as those of Touch, nothing from Solace has been performed live since 1999 except for "The Path of Thorns (Terms)",Setlist.fm; Sarah McLachlan Album Statistics which was performed 19 times between 2010 and 2012.Setlist.fm; ‘The Path of Thorns (Terms)’
Critical reception
In a review for the Los Angeles Times, Steve Hochman said that Solace "gorgeously recalls" Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and Sandy Denny "without sounding derivative", praising McLachlan's "strong, emotional songwriting and singing" and Marchand's "atmospheric yet involving production". Gary Dretzka was more ambivalent in the Chicago Tribune, commenting that the album's songs "are not without some poetic beauty", but "no one piece really stands out" due to their similar "somber emotional range". Writing for NME, David Quantick found the record merely promising, with "hints of possible excellence".
Retrospectively, AllMusic critic Kelly McCartney deemed Solace "a wonderful record that offers a glimpse of the astounding talent of a young Sarah McLachlan", writing that McLachlan avoided the "sophomore jinx" with "a superior collection of songs and performances". Richard Skanse stated in the 2004 Rolling Stone Album Guide that Solace "represented a considerable leap in maturity and focus" for McLachlan, noting the album's "less muddled" production and its songs' "sharper hooks and distinctive melodies".
Track listing
Note: In Canada, "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" appeared on Nettwerk's Donovan tribute album, Island of Circles.
Personnel Sarah McLachlan – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano Pierre Marchand – Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Piano, Organ, Keyboards, Accordion Reeds, Percussion Bill Dillon – Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Guitorgan, Billatron Leo Nocentelli – Electric Guitar Daryl Exnicious – Bass, Background Vocals Hugh McMillan – Bass Jocelyne Lanois – Bass Alan Gevaert – Bass Deni Bonet – Violin, Viola Peter "Harpy" Conway – Harmonica Ronald Jones – Drums, Percussion Paul Brennan – Drums Ashwin Sood – Drums Michel Dupirre – Percussion Ken "Hiwatt" Marshall, Greg Reely – Engineers Andre Paquet – Freelancer Kharen Hill Album photography for publicity and artwork
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for SolaceChart (1991–92)Peak positionCanadian Albums (The Record)20
Year-end charts +1991 year-end chart performance for SolaceChart (1991)PositionCanada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)97
Certifications and sales
References