Better Broken
| Better Broken | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 19 September 2025 | |||
| Studios | Sound City (Los Angeles) Creekside Studios (Vancouver) | |||
| Length | 45:53 | |||
| Label | Concord | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Sarah McLachlan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Slant Magazine | [3] |
| Uncut | 7/10[4] |
| Under the Radar | [5] |
Better Broken is the tenth studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. It was released on 19 September 2025 by Concord Records.[6]
Background and recording
[edit]Better Broken is McLachlan's first album in nine years, following Wonderland (2016), and her first of original material since Shine On (2014).[7] The album was produced by Tony Berg and Will Maclellan, and recorded primarily at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles.[8] Of the new material, McLachlan said in a press release that the lyricism was inspired by her thoughts of the state of the world, adding that her goal with this album was to "[provide] people with some relief and release — but in the end I just want them to take whatever they need from it, and make the songs part of their own story."[9]
Promotion
[edit]The album was preceded by the release of the title track, "Better Broken", simultaneously with the album announcement on 26 June 2025[10] as well as "Gravity" on 8 August 2025[11] and "Reminds Me" on 16 September 2025.
McLachlan embarked on a tour in support of the album beginning in November 2025.[12]
On 26 June 2026, an extended edition of the album was released to digital retailers with two additional songs: the previous Target-edition bonus track "All This Disaster" and a cover of Judee Sill's "The Kiss".[13]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better Broken" |
| 4:00 |
| 2. | "Gravity" |
| 5:00 |
| 3. | "The Last to Go" | McLachlan | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Only Way Out Is Through" |
| 4:01 |
| 5. | "Reminds Me" (featuring Katie Gavin) | McLachlan | 3:49 |
| 6. | "One in a Long Line" |
| 3:44 |
| 7. | "Only Human" | McLachlan | 3:48 |
| 8. | "Long Road Home" | McLachlan | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Rise" |
| 3:38 |
| 10. | "Wilderness" | McLachlan | 4:38 |
| 11. | "If This Is the End..." |
| 5:35 |
| Total length: | 45:53 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "All This Disaster" |
| 3:22 |
| 13. | "The Kiss" | Judee Sill | 4:24 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]
- Sarah McLachlan – vocals (all tracks), piano (tracks 1–4, 6–10), acoustic guitar (8, 11)
- Will Maclellan – production, mixing, engineering (all tracks); programming (1, 6, 9), percussion (3, 4, 6); acoustic guitar, drum programming, electric guitar, ngoni, upright bass (3); vocal programming (7)
- Tony Berg – production (all tracks), electric guitar (6), acoustic guitar (8, 9), percussion (11)
- Pat Sullivan – mastering
- Chris Potter – additional engineering
- Nana Adjoa – engineering assistance (all tracks), bass guitar (3, 11)
- Benny Bock – synthesizer (1–3, 5–8, 11), celesta (1), piano (3, 10), keyboards (4), organ (4, 5), Mellotron (8), accordion (9), banjo (11), choir vocals (11)
- Mason Stoops – guitar (1), electric guitar (3, 6, 7, 11), baritone guitar (4, 8), acoustic guitar (5), choir vocals (11)
- Wendy Melvoin – bass guitar (1, 4, 6), guitar (1), drums (6)
- Abe Rounds – drums (1, 9), percussion (1)
- Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11), choir vocals (11)
- Sebastian Steinberg – upright bass (2, 8, 10, 11)
- Leah Katz – viola (2)
- Charlie Bisharat – violin (2)
- Daphne Chen – violin (2)
- Kane Ritchotte – drums (3, 8), choir vocals (11)
- CJ Camerieri – horn (3)
- Matt Chamberlain – drums (4, 5, 11), percussion (4, 11)
- Gabe Noel – bass guitar (5, 9)
- Katie Gavin – vocals (5), choir vocals (11)
- Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar (5)
- India Sood – vocals (6), choir vocals (11)
- Taja Sood – vocals (6), choir vocals (11)
- Dylan Day – electric guitar (9)
- Alex Greenwald – choir vocals (11)
- Anne Preven – choir vocals (11)
- Annie Stela – choir vocals (11)
- Bing Bon Berg – choir vocals (11)
- Briana Lee – choir vocals (11)
- Cary Berg – choir vocals (11)
- Darin Harmon – choir vocals (11)
- Goldie Harmon – choir vocals (11)
- Joe Keefe – choir vocals (11)
- Kelly Hughes – choir vocals (11)
- Kharen Hill – choir vocals (11)
- Marieke Ochtman – choir vocals (11)
- Marlon Sexton – choir vocals (11)
- Nicholas Nistal – choir vocals (11)
- Pinky Turzo – choir vocals (11)
- Rachel Selch – choir vocals (11)
- Serena Reynolds – choir vocals (11)
- Shane Boose – choir vocals (11)
- Thomas Berg – choir vocals (11)
- Z Berg – choir vocals (11)
- Zoey Ochtman – choir vocals (11)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 33 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17] | 28 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[18] | 55 |
| UK Albums Sales (OCC)[19] | 41 |
| US Billboard 200[20] | 96 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[21] | 12 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Better Broken reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ Neil Z. Yeung. "Better Broken by Sarah McLachlan - Review on Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ Sal Cinquemani (20 September 2025). "Better Broken Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan- Better Broken (Album Review)". uncut.co.uk. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ Lee Campbell (19 September 2025). "Sarah McLachlan: Better Broken - Album Review". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ↑ Gregory, Allie (26 June 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Details New Album 'Better Broken' │ Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (26 June 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Announces 'Better Broken', Her First Album In A Decade: Hear The Title Track". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ Taylor-Singh, Heather (26 June 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Announces Her First Album In More Than a Decade, 'Better Broken' | Billboard Canada". Billboard Canada. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan announces first album in 9 years, premieres new song". CBC Radio. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ Stoddard, Cait (26 June 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Announces New Album Better Broken For September 2025 Release, Shares Title Track & Video". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "iHeart New Music - August 8, 2025 - Newly Added". www.iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ↑ Fu, Eddie (18 September 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Announces 2025 "Better Broken Tour" Dates". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- 1 2 "Better Broken (Extended Version) by Sarah McLachlan on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken (Target Exclusive, CD)". Target. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Better Broken / Sarah McLachlan / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Sarah McLachlan – Better Broken". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 26/9/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
- ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ↑ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
