Lost in Transition by Sixpence None the Richer, originally planned for August of 2010, was finally recently released just last week. During their early years they recorded under a Christian label, but went more mainstream in 1997. This newest work is a mixture of these styles, both Christian and secular.
The first track on the album, “My Dear Machine,” begins with rustic guitar cuts, rough rhythm, and what sounds like a brass overlay. The upbeat “Radio” is clearly secular pop, while the more serious but still moving “Give it Back” combines heavy piano chords and a backdrop of guitar with outright Christian lyrics. “Safety Line” slows it down with strong piano licks, turning to smoother keyboards in “When You Call Me.” “Go Your Way” is my favorite, a danceable cross between light country and pop. Later in the album, “Failure” and then “Don’t Blame Yourself” form pieces touching heavier emotion. “Sooner than Later” sounds, to me, most like their older music. “I do” puts a cheerful ending to the work.
Lyrically the songs form different ideas of transitions, although Sixpence as a group might be thought of as going through their own. After their incredible success of the ‘90’s, they had a breakup of sorts as both Leigh Nash and Matt Slocum both started families and performed some solo work. This reunion work certainly carries Nash’s same distinctive vocals as well as Slocum’s recognizable guitar chords. So if you liked their earlier stuff, chances are you’ll like this one also. Overall the album features more mature and passionate song craft than before their breakup, but it still feels to me like something is missing. I’m afraid the creative edge that propelled them to stardom may have been lost in transition.
