Customer Reviews

Rarities B-Sides and Other Stuff

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD sounds good in the first half and not so good in the second half. I'm not a fan of remixes thus my reason for stopping the CD after Track 9.

"Dear God", an XTC cover, is fabulous. The first time I heard it, my jaw dropped..literally. Here, an angry Sarah is unleashed and we get to hear her scream towards the end. If you are a deeply religious person, you will get offended by the song's negative potrayal of God. My friend, who's a devout Christian, is an ex-fan of Sarah simply because of this song.

"Gloomy Sunday", the Billie Holiday song known to drive some people to suicide, is another stunner, though it can get quite depressing after many listens. This is my first introduction to a live Sarah song. You can tell, from the silence of the audience, that they're enraptured by Sarah's haunting voice.

Another favourite is "Song for a Winter's Night", a Gordon Lightfoot cover. It sounds like a Christmas song but it's actually about just wanting another person to snuggle up with on a cold winter night.

Joni Mitchell's "Blue" cover is another great one. I'm now a fan of Joni Mitchell. "Drawn to the Rhythm" live is OK and "Shelter"(violin mix) sounds much better than the Solace version.

If you enjoy remixes of Sarah's songs, you should get this CD. Otherwise, just get it for the wonderful covers.

I agree with most of the reviewers that the highlights of this collection are rather the covers and live tracks than the remixes, even if some of them actually work well.

The raging "Dear God", the full of longing "I will remember you", the magical "Song for a winter's night" and the haunting "Shelter" (better version than the original) are valuable additions to a fan collection. The live tracks "Gloomy Sundays" (a beautiful acoustic, almost religious version) and "Drawn to the rhythm" will please all those who enjoyed "Mirrorball". Add to this "Full of grace" from "Surfacing" and the excellent cover of Joni Mitchell's "Blue" (also available on "Tumbling Towards Ecstasy"). Those tracks alone will justify the money spent on this collection for a fan. If you're new to Sarah, it will give you an idea of who she is and you will get some of her most beautiful tracks here, but I recommend to check her studio albums to get the full picture before you make yourself an opinion.

LunaSol remix of "Fear" brings African rhythm to the song, it sounds a little bit Peter Gabriel produced. "As the end draw near" sounds like an 80's electro track (Kraftwerk, early Depeche Mode). It's not my favourite here, as Sarah's voice is mixed deep down in the music, I don't find it terrible though. "Vox" was never one of my personal favourite songs, but if you loved the original you will for sure find the extended mix delightful. "Into the fire" extended mix has an agreeable oriental flavour. This track leads you to dance. Rabbit in the moon turned "Possession" into a club track. If you liked Sarah's collaborations with Delirium you will not mind. The remixers did not butcher the song too much and Sarah's vocals have not been too altered. It's worth listening and can become captivating even if the original remains better.

Sarah McLachlan's 1996 release, "Rarities, B-Sides, & Other Stuff," is exactly what it says it is, a collection of rare & hard-to-find tracks that Sarah recorded between 1989 and 1996---some for movie soundtracks, some as single B-sides, some live stuff, and some remixes. It's probably not an essential purchase for the casual Sarah fan, but for the diehard Sarah follower, it's an excellent batch of rare Sarah material. Sarah's cover songs are all marvelously done: the controversial XTC song "Dear God," the Billie Holiday classic "Gloomy Sunday," the Joni Mitchell staple "Blue," and Gordon Lightfoot's "Song For A Winter's Night." "I Will Remember You," which Sarah recorded for the film, "The Brothers McMullen," is a beautiful song, and one of Sarah's most popular tunes. The pretty "Full Of Grace" later appeared on Sarah's "Surfacing" album, and the Sarah favorite "Drawn To The Rhythm" is included here in a great live version. As for the remixes, they work for the most part, especially the remix of "Fear," which is given a powerful, driving rhythm track. Only two tracks come up short: "As The End Draws Near" is an obscure song by the group Manufacture that Sarah did a guest lead vocal on, but the song is a little *too* electronic-sounding for my taste, and the remix of Sarah's signature tune "Possession" just doesn't work, as all the beauty of the original song is gone. But overall, "Rarities, B-Sides & Other Stuff" is a definite must-purchase for Sarah McLachlan's most-devoted fans. If you love Sarah's music, then you can't go wrong adding this CD to your collection.

I cannot help but wish to clarify to the individual who thought Sarah wrote Dear God; a British rock band, XTC wrote the song, not Sarah. It says so explicitly in the above review as well as in the songwriting credits in the CD itself. Please read carefully before you go blasting off with your blasphemy. If you did your research instead of jumping to conclusions, you would know that Sarah is neither a Christian nor Catholic but a HUMANIST first and foremost. There is a Sarah McLachlan FAQ on the Net if you want to read more about her beliefs on God and religion.

I don't know what XTC had in mind when they wrote Dear God but my interpretation of this song is that it reflects the great frustration a person feels when something bad has happened or when a tragedy strikes causing him or her to question why God allowed it to happen. I believe that all of us, have at least once, questioned about God and whether our faith in God is well-placed. Imagine, your loved one is dying and you desperately pray to God for her life but she dies anyway, wouldn't you feel just a little angry and frustrated at God ? Well, to me, this is what Dear God is all about, a temporary (hopefully not permanent)loss of faith and not necessarily a cruelly-intentioned condemnation of God.

In my opinion, this CD is really worth it for "Dear God" alone. This song is perhaps the most provocative of all the songs Sarah has done(never mind that she didn't write it). The angry passion with which she sings towards the end is truly a shock especially to those of us who are used to hearing her sing soft beautiful songs. It goes to show that Sarah McLachlan is not the otherworldly ethereal-angelic type that she presents herself in songs such as Angel but in fact a real person who's not afraid to express her true feelings, even the true anger that is so amply potrayed in Dear God.

PS : XTC loved Sarah's cover of Dear God.

KC Ma, why don't you take your own advice and keep your religious beliefs out of your review? Your ranting had nothing to do with the CD, and, believe it or not, no one is really interested in your religious beliefs, or lack thereof. Please don't lump all Christians (or any other religion) into groups of idiots, unable to see and understand other viewpoints or beliefs. We are not all as shortsighted as you would have others think.
I don't care whether Ms. McLachlan is an athiest, agnostic, lesbian, WHATEVER. Her voice is incredible, and I find her music enchanting. This CD is especially great because I'd been looking EVERYWHERE for the song "Full of Grace" after hearing it on an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." (Yes, I'm a huge fan...imagine, a grown, intelligent woman, a grandmother, a Christian, actually able to enjoy a show that doesn't "promote" her own beliefs!! Shocking!) You don't have to agree with what the songs say to recognize the talent she has, and to be able to appreciate it. Open your ears and your mind, and Ms. McLachlan will give you a wonderful gift, the gift of beautiful music. Enjoy!

I loved this CD, as I do basically all of her songs, even though some are *more* my favorites than others.
I had to laugh at some of the reviews. With an open mind. :)

With all the controversy over this one song, Dear God...
it is a little funny. The whole song IS sarcastic. Whether you are Atheist or Christian or anything else, you should be able to appreciate it, because everyone in their life has gone through a lot of trials that make you stronger and you don't always like it while you're going through them. And this song wasn't written by her, but even if it was, it doesn't necessarily reflect her personal beliefs. That is what music, art and drama are there for at times...to express different views, be somebody else, try something new. Just because an actor portrays a villain, does that make him one in real life?
Regardless, the song is a plea for help, if you closely read the words.
She is sitting here TALKING TO GOD. Why would she be talking to Him if she didn't believe in Him? :) She is angry, yes. Who hasn't been at one point or another? She is acknowledging her feelings and asking for help. The song is very sarcastic and that may be why a lot of people are viewing it as an 'atheist' only song. But it could be appreciated by many. She even refers to the people who twist the bible to their own truths or make all their speculations (whatever they feel like doing) and claim it to be of God.

---Dear God,
Don't know if you noticed, but...
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book,
As crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true
Well I know it ain't, and so do you---

She is saying how religion has become diluted and she feels lost and angry. That is what the song is partly about.
If you look at the vidoe for 'World on Fire' you can see a little of that, at her compassion for people and her anger at world events. I think she's an amazing artist. She's not asking you to convert to her beliefs either. And anyway, that is part of the wonder of experiencing other people's views and talents, finding out what they believe and what makes them tick. It doesn't mean you have to do the same thing.

This CD is a kind of a musical smorgasbord - pretty much any style of music you can imagine can be found, on Rarities. There's techno ("Fear," "Possession"), hard-driving rock ("Dear God"), sweet ballads ("Song for a Winter's Night," "Full of Grace"), and pretty much every other style of music that you can imagine. Though this CD boasts some truly incredible songs - McLachlan's cover of "Gloomy Sunday" is heart-breaking, and she out Joni-Mitchells Joni Mitchell on her cover of "Blue," in my opinion this CD would be most enjoyed by people who are already big Sarah fans. Though the CD is fascinating to listen to, it's so diverse that it's unlikely anyone will enjoy every song on the CD unless they absolutely love McLachlan's voice - and, as most of the songs are covers or remixes, it doesn't really give the listener a sense of what McLachlan is "about" as a singer. If you already love McLachlan, then buy this CD - you'll have great fun listening the dance version of "Into the Fire," and hearing her beautiful interpretations of other people's music. But unless you're already a big fan, I would say to pass Rarities by, and get one of McLachlan's "straight" CDs, like Solace, FTE, or Surfacing.

this cd seems to be not one of sarah's best, most of the songs seem to be some sort of dance remix that tend to get a little repetative and borin, but the new songs such as Dear God, I Will Remember you, Song for a Winter's Night, and a couple more, are just amazing! took my breath away. if a true sarah fan, you gotta go out and get the cd, since it's not sarah's best, others may think it's a waste.

This album is simply great. Sarah has more than proved herself as an artist, and every song she writes is a masterpiece, lyrically or otherwise. So it is great to hear her cover songs by other artists, and to hear others remix her work. Sarah's rendition of Dear God is outstanding. I'm not talking about the lyrics either, I'm talking about hearing her get angry & rock out at the end of the song- it is amazing what she can do with her voice & the emotions she can conjure. She sings like you've never heard her sing before. And speaking of the lyrics to Dear God, get over them! This song can be interpreted a million different ways and it doesn't necessarily reflect the views of Sarah, and if it does so what?!? Pick up the Buffy the Vampire Slayer album Radio Sunnydale to hear her sing a beautiful version of the Prayer of St. Francis. This is what real artists do, they express themselves in different ways, & they should be able to do so without being attacked by insecure people. If you truly appreciate the beauty of Sarah Mclachlan then you won't be disappointed with this collection.

Let's get as few things straigth from the start. 1: I'm a christian. 2: Dear God is one of the best songs Sarah ever has done/covered.

Anyway, with that done, I must say ythat there is a few things I DO dislike with this album and it's the mioxes, they are just not on level with the rest of the stuff.

But here we have a Sarah that goes from the soft "I Will Remember You" to the haunting "Gloomy Sunday" and the angry upset "Dear God" where we finally get to hear Sarahs other side... AND WHAT A OTHER SIDE IT IS! I want MORE songs with the same emotional level, I want more screaming. And no matter what your religion is, the text is a good one, it flows well and it show many of the things people have against christians. But enough about that...

On the disc is also an early version of what might be her best song "Full Of Grace", assorted covers and things. In all, it's worth getting if you like Sarah, and if you are more fanatic it's a must have beacause of "Dear God" and "Gloomy Sunday"