Sarah McLachlan "Mirrorball" (1999)

Some artists sound best in the studio, where every detail can be polished to perfection. By 1998, Sarah McLachlan had become something rarer: an artist whose songs grew even stronger onstage. "Mirrorball," the companion to her triumphant live album of the same name, confirms in pictures what that recording revealed in sound. McLachlan and her fine, flexible band had developed into a superb live unit, adding fresh fire and nuance to songs that were already stunning in their original form. McLachlan has always been a strong, charismatic singer, but here she strikes a rare balance between delicacy and power, giving her signature songs a newly muscular edge to match her band's rock firepower. "Possession" moves beyond its sensual promise into something closer to genuine abandon, while "Building A Mystery" sharpens its portrait of a self-absorbed poser with a harder bite and a newly amended, R-rated lyric that fits the song perfectly. Filmed on her 1998 headlining tour, the concert shows McLachlan in a more theatrical and openly glamorous light than her famous Lilith Fair appearances. In a floor-length blue gown, sparkling blue mascara and bare feet, she comes across as a more demure, Gen-X cousin to "Cabaret's" Sally Bowles, a little funky and completely captivating. With 23 songs in all, including nine that didn't appear on the album, there's plenty here for fans who already know the record by heart. The production's subtle, striking lighting effects are beautifully preserved, adding real atmosphere to the performance, even if a few of the darker moments look a touch grainy. Artists who keep reworking their songs long after recording them tend to discover new things in them, and McLachlan's willingness to do just that is what makes this concert so rewarding. It's a portrait of a songwriter who had grown into a commanding performer.