Pushing aside broken relationships in both their professional and personal lives, members of Sixpence None The Richer were probably more relieved than anyone else to finally see the arrival of Divine Discontent in 2002. Yet true art seems to take its purest form when forged through turmoil, and this release is as pure as solid gold. The 12 tracks featured here are nothing short of a brilliant pop tapestry woven through Leigh Nash's airy and vibrant vocals and songwriter Matt Slocum's finely textured guitar work. While fans of "Kiss Me" will relate to the upbeat "Tonight" and "Breathe Your Name," no one should mistake the upbeat pop for shallowness. In fact, tracks like "Down And Out Of Time," "Paralyzed," and "I've Been Waiting" display a rich lyrical depth centered on the human experience. Throughout Divine, Slocum showcases a prowess for offsetting Nash's lilting melodies against haunting, minor key choruses, creating a bittersweet melancholy that lingers well after each song. Perhaps the band does this no better than in the ending track, "A Million Parachutes," which captures that dull ache of longing for friends from afar.
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Content with Divine Discontent| Posted August 23, 2007
Divine Discontent was Sixpence's first album after more than 3 years. It was pretty much worth the wait. Leigh Nash's uniquely sweet-sounding voice and Matt Slocum's lyrics and musical arrangements give Sixpence None The Richer a good sound. This album starts off with the album's first radio hit "Breathe Your Name". "Tonight" is a surprisingly cheerful song about the difficulty of choosing direction. "Down And Out Of Time" sounds okay, but I was slightly bored with it. The next song, "Don't Dream It's Over", is a cover of the 1980's song by the band Crowded House. Melodic and original, "Still Burning" is next. "Melody Of You" is a highlight of the album with its worshipful lyrics and beautiful string arrangements. "Paralyzed" completely mixes things up with a very different rock sound. "Eyes Wide Open" is unusual; the band tries out a style that reminds me of The Beatles somewhat (but it doesn't quite work). The three remaining songs are smooth ballads that do deliver. This album is great despite its couple of flaws. It is not your typical pop/rock album... and that's more than okay. Sixpence injects their own unique sound into Divine Discontent. I'd recommend it!
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