Album Reviews

Album Reviews: The Dawn of Grace by Sixpence None the Richer

What's more fitting than a Christmas album from a Christian pop band? Not much. Texas band Sixpence None the Richer celebrates the glory of God with their holiday album The Dawn of Grace.

Now, don't go grabbing your red and white, furry Santa hat or pouring yourself a hearty glass of eggnog spiked with your favorite liquer so you can start rockin' around the Christmas tree in the most amorous ways with your beloved! The Dawn of Grace foregoes the silly holiday romps in favor of all spiritual, pious songs like "O Come, O Come Emanuel," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night," albeit performed with a twangy, acoustic guitar edge and sung by the angelically voiced Leigh Nash, whose delicate, lush and haunting voice finds its closest relative in Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval.

The Dawn of Grace is one of the more somber, faith-based Christmas albums we've heard, and it's perfectly suited to be played in a forward-thinking church during the holiday season. It's Nash's voice that chills the spine with its cool, collected and celestial quality. She does supreme justice to Joni Mitchell's depressing, heartaching "River," quite possibly the most gut wrenching Christmas-related song ever! Nash has the uncanny knack for conveying so much emotion through subdued singing, which is no simple feat. Most vocalists have to rely on show-stopping displays of prowess to make their points, but Nash demonstrates equal force and power simply by letting her voice carry.

You needn't be a Fundamentlist Christian or even a fan of the band's lone hit, 1997's ubiquitous "Kiss Me" in order to enjoy The Dawn of Grace. If anything, Nash's gorgeous voice will lull you into a happy, escapist trance when your relatives are fighting over who gets the last of the fruitcake or when they are going to return that hideous sweater that they were gifted with!

— Amy Sciarretto
10.15.08