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.


Wonderful Covers..Don't Care Much for Remixes   July 10, 1999
 18 out of 18 found this review helpful

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.


Great addition to a fan collection   July 18, 2002
 16 out of 16 found this review helpful

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.


For The Diehard Sarah Fan   April 3, 2004
 15 out of 15 found this review helpful

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.


Don't let the fundamentalists fool you.   June 18, 2000
 12 out of 15 found this review helpful

I think it is a great tragedy that people are giving this wonderful collection of music poor reviews because they are "offended" by an -interpretation- that they have of the song "Dear God". If you actually take one or two stars off your rating of this CD because of this song, I think it's evident that you are consumed in your dogma beyond hope.

Putting that aside, this is a wonderful CD. It shows Sarah's remarkable creativity. The remixes of "Into the Fire" and "Possession" really show how Sarah's voice can be made rich in any musical genre. Not only are the tracks overally charming, they are fun! "As the end draws near" is catchy and haunting and allows the listener to hear Sarah's younger voice, and it will please any fan of 80s music...and especially the personal fans of Sarah who will find rarities like this no where else.

Overall, this is a great disk. I could go on and on about each track, put I could never do them justice. I felt it was my duty to firmly defend this CD..after seeing the horribe religious dogma-driven reviews it has been wrongly given (probably by raving Christian fundamentalists).

Sarah, for one reason or another, felt there was something to be expressed in covering XTC's "Dear God". None of us know what her intent or inspiration was to do this, but at least she is speaking her mind and being vocal in her work. To give her a bad review because some of you happen to interpret this song in one way is outrageous!