Better Broken

Better Broken
Studio album by
Sarah McLachlan
Released19 September 2025
StudioSound City (Los Angeles)
Creekside Studios (Vancouver)
Length45:53
LabelConcord
Producer
Sarah McLachlan chronology
Wonderland
(2016) 		Better Broken
(2025)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Slant Magazine[3]
Uncut7/10[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

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

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]

Track listing

Better Broken track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Better Broken"
4:00
2."Gravity"
  • McLachlan
  • Thomas Doucet
5:00
3."The Last to Go"McLachlan3:34
4."Only Way Out Is Through"
4:01
5."Reminds Me" (featuring Katie Gavin)McLachlan3:49
6."One in a Long Line"
3:44
7."Only Human"McLachlan3:48
8."Long Road Home"McLachlan4:02
9."Rise"
  • McLachlan
  • Doucet
  • Preven
3:38
10."Wilderness"McLachlan4:38
11."If This Is the End..."
  • McLachlan
  • Berg
5:35
Total length:45:53
Target bonus track[13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."All This Disaster"
  • McLachlan
  • Alex Greenwald
3:22

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]

  • 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

Chart performance for Better Broken
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 33
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[16] 28
Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] 55
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[18] 41
US Billboard 200[19] 96
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] 12

References

  1. ^ "Better Broken reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  2. ^ Neil Z. Yeung. "Better Broken by Sarah McLachlan - Review on Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ Sal Cinquemani (20 September 2025). "Better Broken Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Sarah McLachlan- Better Broken (Album Review)". uncut.co.uk. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  5. ^ Lee Campbell (19 September 2025). "Sarah McLachlan: Better Broken - Album Review". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  6. ^ Gregory, Allie (26 June 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Details New Album 'Better Broken' │ Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Sarah McLachlan announces first album in 9 years, premieres new song". CBC Radio. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "iHeart New Music - August 8, 2025 - Newly Added". www.iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  12. ^ Fu, Eddie (18 September 2025). "Sarah McLachlan Announces 2025 "Better Broken Tour" Dates". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken (Target Exclusive, CD)". Target. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Better Broken / Sarah McLachlan / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  15. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Sarah McLachlan – Better Broken". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 26/9/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Sarah McLachlan Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
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