Divine Discontent

by Sixpence None the Richer

Overview

Released through Reprise Records, Divine Discontent is Sixpence None the Richer's fourth proper album, not counting 1999's premature career retrospective Collage: A Portrait of Their Best. Ready to be issued two years prior to its eventual release, the album had been plagued by label issues before the band's inking with Reprise. The album opens with "Breathe Your Name," a prime example of the sweet acoustic pop that has helped Austin, TX's Sixpence None the Richer make a name for itself. The addition of light drum machine tones to a few of the album's tracks provides just a little more of an edge, and gives vocalist Leigh Nash an endearingly Dido-esque chanteuse quality. Still, even with a few distorted guitars in the mix, it is unlikely that anyone would ever accuse Sixpence None the Richer of being a rock band, and that is just fine, because the bandmembers are great at what they do, and to try to dress things up with too much studio gimmickry and wanky guitar solos would overshadow their charming pop sensibility. With several vocal layers stacking up to add power to the chorus and some of those stray fuzzy guitars working their magic, "Tonight" could pass for the finer moments of an outfit like the Corrs, while "Paralyzed," with the darkest lyrics and music ever included on a Sixpence record, calls to mind groups like the Cranberries, 10,000 Maniacs, or even Garbage, though this heavy number is very much the exception and not the rule on Divine Discontent. Having initially gained recognition for the group's inescapably catchy, innocent, and sugary 1998 single, Kiss Me, Sixpence None the Richer wasn't able to properly follow up that single's success until its spot-on cover of the La's' "There She Goes" found its way to radio via the otherwise unremarkable Snow Day soundtrack. The bandmembers seem to be trying their luck with reworking popular hits of the late '80s once again, as Divine Discontent counts among its tracks a Sixpence take on Crowded House's classic "Don't Dream It's Over." Though it sounds little less dated than the original (as songs of that era tend to me a bit marred by '80s over-production), Sixpence's redux of "Don't Dream It's Over" doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, but it is a solid song and Nash's angelic vocals are perfectly suited for it, maybe even more so than Neil Finn's in the original. Maybe. "Waiting on the Sun" mines an acoustic intro that is a little too close to Oasis' "Wonderwall," but is an otherwise cozy number, again in the vein of the Corrs. "Eyes Wide Open" genre-hops solemn acoustic and spunky, tavern-flavored piano pop, and is the quirkiest track on the record and one of the most endearing as well. With many of the album's 13 tracks hovering around the four-minute mark and a few topping out at six minutes, Divine Discontent drags a little at times, but is ultimately saved by the fact that it is hard to tire of hearing Nash's enchanting drawl. The album also goes easy on the Christian imagery, with the exception of "Dizzy," which rates among the most plodding and hookless of the album. Rating much higher in terms of production than Sixpence's earlier records and featuring guest spots from the likes of David Campbell (aka Beck's dad), Divine Discontent is a solid album that shows the band experimenting with its sound a little, though it probably doesn't have another Kiss Me in tow (unless "Don't Dream It's Over" is snatched up by radio). Divine Discontent is the first release to feature information in the liner notes regarding U2 frontman Bono's DATA (Debt-AIDS-Trade-Africa) initiative. ~ Karen E. Graves

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/2024
Label:	Word Entertainment
UPC:	0080688601003

Tracks

1. Breathe Your Name
2. Tonight
3. Down and Out of Time
4. Don't Dream It's Over
5. Waiting on the Sun
6. Still Burning
7. Melody of You
8. Paralyzed
9. I've Been Waiting
10. Eyes Wide Open
11. Dizzy
12. Tension Is a Passing Note
13. A Million Parachutes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sixpence None the Richer   Primary Artist
Paul Fox   Synthesizer,Synthesizer
Bob Becker   Viola
Larry Corbett   Cello
Bruce Dukov   Violin,Conductor
Brian Leonard   Violin
Pamela Sixfin   Violin
David Davidson   Violin
Leigh Nash   Vocals
John Catchings   Cello
Joel Derouin   Violin,Conductor
Kris Wilkinson   Viola
Jeff Tomei   Strings
Sean Kelly   Guitar,Hi String Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Matt Slocum   Cello,E-Bow,Guitar,Keyboards,Vibraphone,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Richard Todd   French Horn
Denyse Buffum   Viola
John Wittenberg   Violin
Monisa Phillips Angel   Viola
Dave Angell   Violin
Rudy Stein   Cello
Dan Smith   Cello,Cello
Anthony LaMarchina   Cello
Suzie Katayama   Cello
Peter Kent   Violin
Jacob Lawson   Violin
Jamie Muhoberac   Keyboards
Jerry Dale McFadden   Piano,Mellotron,Organ (Hammond)
Monisa Angel   Viola
Eve Butler   Violin
Rachel Purkin   Violin
Rob Mitchell   Drums,Percussion
Bob Peterson   Violin
Matthew Funes   Viola
Mario de Leon   Violin
Pam Sixfin   Violin
Dale Baker   Drums,Percussion
Carl Rabinowitz   Cello
Justin Cary   Bass
Bruce Dakov   Violin
Matt Fynes   Viola
Evan Wilson   Viola
Dave Angel   Violin
Tim Pierce   Guitar
Carol Rabinowitz   Cello

Technical Credits

Paul Fox   Musician,Producer,Orchestration,Producer,Orchestration
Bill Appleberry   Editing,Pro-Tools
Jason Wade   Composer
Leigh Nash   Composer,Lyricist
Doug McKean   Engineer,Pro-Tools
Kris Wilkinson   Leader,Arranger,String Arrangements
Louie Teran   Digital Editing
Rob Cavallo   Producer
Jeff Tomei   Editing,Engineer,Pro-Tools,Recording,String Engineer
Ron Aniello   Composer
Robert Vosgien   Mastering
Sean Kelly   Composer
Matt Slocum   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Neil Finn   Composer
Femio Hernandez   Assistant,Mixing Engineer
Marc Chevalier   Engineer,Recording,String Engineer
Tom Lord-Alge   Mixing
Suzie Katayama   Musician,Contractor
Sam Ashworth   Composer
Carmen Rizzo   Programming
Van Dyke Parks   Leader,Arranger,String Arrangements
Luke Wooten   Editing,Pro-Tools
Stewart Whitmore   Digital Editing
David Campbell   Arranger,Arranger,String Arrangements
Greg Fogie   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Recording Assistant
Brian Vibbert   Assistant,Recording Assistant
Jenny Knotts   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Darren Waterston   Paintings
Matthew Welch   Photography
Paul McMenamin   Design,Art Direction
Cheryl Jenets   Project Coordinator,Production Coordination
Debbie Chase   Musician,Assistant,Contractor,Assistant Contractor
Allen Sides   Engineer,Recording
Stephen Marcussen   Mastering
Eric Bickle   Engineer,Assistant Engineer,Recording Assistant