Customer Reviews

The Dawn of Grace

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have always been impressed with Sixpence None the Richer's ability to put out quality albums, and when I heard that they would be putting out a Christmas album I was excited to hear the results. I was not disappointed. This album provides a nice mix of traditional and original songs, with fresh takes on some classics. "Silent Night" features Dan Haseltine from the band Jars of Clay singing response parts, creating a unique take on a song that has been recorded countless times through the years. "Riu Riu Chiu" is a traditional 16th century Spanish Christmas carol, and Leigh Nash performs it excellently in its original language. Those in addition to great original songs such as "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two" make this is a great Christmas album from a very talented group. I definitely recommend giving it a listen.

After their 2002 album "Divine Discontent" did not do as well commercially as hoped for, Sixpence None the Richer called is a day in 2003, and lead singer Leigh Nash and guitarist-songwriter Matt Slocum went their separate ways. Leigh released a decent solo album in 2006 ("Blue on Blue") but it clearly lacked the spark that Matt's songs have provided for her before. In 2008 the news circulated that Leigh and Matt were once again recording together, and this album is the first result from that.

"The Dawn of Grace" (10 tracks; 35 min.) is another one of what I'll call modern Christmas albums (more on that later). The album is a mix of traditional Christmas songs and newly written Christmas songs and covers. The album's opener "Angels We have Heard on High" is simply stunning, a lush audio landscape with Leigh's warm vocals, wow. It is followed by "The Last Christmas", penned by Matt, and it;s another favorite of mine on here. The only song on the first half of the album that misfires for me (and hence 'only' 4 stars for this album) is "Silent Night", one of those Christmas songs that is so well known that you really can't add anything creatively to it. The second half contains one more traditional song, the pleasant "Carol of the Bells". The album then closes out with 4 modern songs, including the deliciously tongue-in-cheek "Christmas Island" (reminding me of Over the Rhine), the Joni Mitchell cover "River" which is done beautifully, "Christmas for Two", co-written by Leigh, and the album closer "Come Children See Him", an obscure Christmas song form the 50s.

In all, I can't emphasize enough how I really like this album. At 35 min., it clips by in no time and you'll find yourself playing this again. There are a couple of other so-called modern Christmas albums I heartily recommend: Over the Rhine's 2007 "Snow Angels" (all-original tunes) and 1996's "The Darkest Night of the Year" (mix of originals and traditionals), as well as Aimee Mann's 2006 "One More Drifter In the Snow". As to Sixpence, this Christmas album is supposedly just a teaser for the release of a proper album sometime in 2009. Can't wait for that. I've seen Sixpence in concert a number of times before their 2003 hiatus, and I'll go see them again anytime, anywhere.

If you liked Jars of Clay's "Christmas Songs" release, you will enjoy this release by Sixpence as well.

I almost didn't purchase this. I love SNTR, but I just wasn't too much into Christmas this year. I'm so glad I changed my mind. The CD is just perfection - there's really nothing else to say.

This is one of the better Christmas CD's out there right now, wish it had more songs though.

Outstanding effort by Sixpence None the Richer. Their take on Silent Night is the best I've ever heard.

I won't lie. I thought this would be a very different album. A few more classics. A few more new ones. And some songs that would really showcase Leigh Nash's vocal talents. And, not to mention, some overall joyful Christmas songs to enjoy the season.

What I got wasn't at all bad. But it was just a little different than expected. Here's what I got:

You can see the song list here (copied from Wikipedia)

"Angels We Have Heard on High" - 4:15
"The Last Christmas" (Matt Slocum, Steve Hindalong) - 3:12
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - 3:06
"Silent Night" (featuring Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay) - 4:28
"Riu Riu Chiu" - 3:06
"Carol of the Bells" - 2:24
"Christmas Island" (Lyle Moraine)- 2:33
"River" (Joni Mitchell)- 3:57
"Christmas for Two" (Leigh Nash, Kate York) - 3:09
"Some Children See Him" (Alfred Burt)- 4:14

Some classics. Some new ones. They're all quite good. I loved River. I despised Christmas Island (I might one day make a copy of the CD without that song -- it's just too different from the CD to fit very well). A lot of the songs, especially toward the end of the CD, start to sound pretty sad. Lonesome, unhappy and relationship-breaking sadness.

I intended to listen to the CD to enjoy the high spirits of Christmas. Instead, it's been an excellent soundtrack for those lower points of the season. When you're missing a loved one or wishing you could get away, give it a play. Nash's amazingly gifted voice is enough to set the world right, if only for just 35 minutes.

I absolutely love Christmas and the music surrounding this marvelous season of joy. Each year I start a search for a new Christmas CD to add to my collection. I generally base my search on finding a new rendition of my favorite song "Oh come oh come Emmanuel" Let me tell you, Leigh and Six Pence None the Richer's "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" is fresh, vibrant yet still retains the traditional melody of this classic Christmas song. I also liked "Riu Riu Chiu" which according to a prior reviewer is a traditional 16th century Spanish Christmas carol, very nice song indeed. Leigh musical talent is showcased in that she sung this song to perfection in it original language. Another great song was the last entry on the CD titled "Some Children See Him" which Leigh sings in the voice of an angle.

All in all this is an instant winner in my humble opinion and a must buy for anyone looking on adding to their Christmas music collection.

I bought this last year to add to my Christmas collection of background music for the holidays, and added it to my 300+ song selection rotation mix. Her warm vocals drew the most inquiries and plenty of favorable comments (as in, ooo where did you get that?).

"Angels We Have Heard On High" and "Christmas for Two" were well received. Personally I found "Christmas Island" to be the weakest track.

Still, 5 stars and my best wishes to the duo (yes they read these reviews). Can we expect another mix this year just in time for Christmas? :)

Usually Christmas albums don't do much for me. Often the most songs sound uninspired and halfhearted. Though I am a big of Sixpence, my hopes for the album were not very high.

I did know "Angels We Have Heard on High" from the band's Myspace site, and I found their version very original and beautiful - but a whole album . . .

Matt Slocum wrote the second track "The Last Christmas", and it's a great song, like most of his, and it does not sound very much like a Christmas song anyway.

Next two tracks are traditionals; though not quite as good as "Angels" "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" - an acoustic guitar up front and Leigh Nash's beautiful vocals give the song the crunchy sound that characterize many of SNTR's finest recordings.

"Silent Night" must have been recorded thousands of times, and who would would need one more version; sounds like a project bound to fail - but the band proves this to be wrong. Acoustic guitars upfront like on "Emmanuel", but what makes a difference in this case is that it turns out to be a duet between Nash and Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay. This works great - a little like Simon and Garfunkel's "Six O'Clock News".

"Riu Riu Chiu", sung in Spanish, is nice, but one of the more forgettable tracks; "Carol of the Bells" continues in the same vein. Nice but nothing more.

The Schmaltzy "Christmas Island" is simply not my cup of tea - might have worked for Mama Cass - the weakest track on the album.

"River", which apart from the brief "Jingle Bells" line doesn't sound like a Chritmas tune at all. The song is a sad moving highlight on the album, which generally has a very light and bright atmosphere. The song was written by Joni Mitchell.

Not quite in the same league is Leigh Nash's "Christmas For Two" - but quite nice anyway.

Closing track is the relative obscure Christmas carol "Some Children See Him", written by Alfred Burt in the 1950's. The song is nicely performed, but really not very interesting.

Though the album as a whole has its flaws, it is still the finest original Christmas album I can think of - and a very nice addition to your Sixpence None the Richers record collection. At least half of it is really great