Divine Discontent

Summary

Divine Discontent is the fourth studio album by American band Sixpence None the Richer, released on October 29, 2002.

Divine Discontent
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 29, 2002
Recorded1999–2002
GenrePop rock
Length55:11
LabelReprise/Squint Entertainment
Producer
Sixpence None the Richer chronology
Sixpence None the Richer
(1997)
Divine Discontent
(2002)
The Best of Sixpence None the Richer
(2004)
Singles from Divine Discontent
  1. "Breathe Your Name"
    Released: 2002
  2. "Don't Dream It's Over"
    Released: January 21, 2003
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Austin Chronicle[2]
Popmatters(very positive)[3]
Rolling Stone[4]

Background edit

Lead singer Leigh Nash has described her understanding of the album title as being that "sometimes your pain and the bad things you go through in life can be good if they bring you to a better place, a stronger place in your life," that is, "discontent can be divine."[5] The album's completion and release was delayed due to a protracted struggle with their prior record label which Nash has described as being a low point for her, but that the process had made her emotionally stronger.[5] In press notes, lead songwriter Matt Slocum said that there is "spiritual content" in many of his songs which come from "trying to be honest about the issues of life," while adding that "it also comes more in the form of asking questions than giving answers."[6]

The cover of Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" was one of the later songs to be selected for the album, as it was a request by the label. However, the band was an admirer of Neil Finn and so did not mind.[6]

Nash and Slocum parted ways in early 2004 before reuniting to record the My Dear Machine EP in 2008.[7]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Breathe Your Name"Matt Slocum3:56
2."Tonight"Slocum3:52
3."Down and Out of Time"3:28
4."Don't Dream It's Over"Neil Finn4:03
5."Waiting on the Sun"
2:54
6."Still Burning"
  • Kelly
  • Slocum
4:02
7."Melody of You"Slocum4:50
8."Paralyzed"Slocum3:54
9."I've Been Waiting"Slocum4:19
10."Eyes Wide Open"Nash3:28
11."Dizzy"Slocum6:36
12."Tension Is a Passing Note"Slocum3:30
13."A Million Parachutes"
  • Ashworth
  • Slocum
6:19
Total length:55:11

Personnel edit

Sixpence None the Richer

  • Leigh Nash – vocals
  • Matt Slocum – acoustic guitar, cello, electric guitar, keyboard, vibraphone, e-bow
  • Justin Cary – bass guitar
  • Sean Kelly – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, hi-string guitar
  • Dale Baker – percussion, drums
  • Jerry Dale McFadden – piano, Hammond organ, mellotron
  • Rob Mitchell – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

  • Bob Becker – viola
  • Denyse Buffum – viola
  • Monisa Phillips Angel – viola
  • Evan Wilson – viola
  • Bruce Dukov – concert master, violin
  • Suzie Katayama – cello
  • Anthony LaMarchina – cello
  • Carl Rabinowitz – cello
  • John Catchings – cello
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Dan Smith – cello
  • Rudy Stein – cello
  • Mario de Leon – violin
  • Peter Kent – violin
  • David Davidson – violin
  • Pamela Sixfin – violin
  • Bob Peterson – violin
  • Jacob Lawson – violin
  • Rachel Purkin – violin
  • Brian Leonard – violin
  • Joel Derouin – violin
  • Eve Butler – violin
  • John Wittenberg – violin
  • Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
  • Van Dyke Parks – leader
  • Tim Pierce – guitar
  • Rick Toddfrench horn
  • Kris Wilkinson – leader, viola

Production

  • Paul Fox – producer (1–3, 5–13)
  • Matt Slocum – producer (1–3, 5–13)
  • Rob Cavallo – producer (4)
  • Marc Chevalier – recording (1–3, 5–13), string recording (7, 12)
  • Jeff Tomei – Pro Tools editing (1–3, 5–13), recording (2, 3, 5, 13), string recording (6, 11)
  • Allen Sides – recording (4)
  • Jenny Knotts – additional recording (1–3, 5–13), recording assistant (1–3, 5–13)
  • Eric Bickle – recording assistant (2, 3, 5, 13)
  • Greg Fogie – recording assistant (2, 3, 5, 13)
  • Brian Vibberts – recording assistant (4)
  • Bill Appleberry – Pro Tools editing (1–3, 5–13)
  • Luke Wooten – Pro Tools editing (1–3, 5–13)
  • Doug McKean – Pro Tools engineer (4)
  • Louie Teran – digital editing (1–3, 5–13)
  • Stewart Whitmore – digital editing (1–3, 5–13)
  • Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Femio Hernández – mix assistant
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering (1–3, 5–13)
  • Robert Vosgien – mastering (4)
  • Cheryl Jenets – production coordinator (4)
  • Paul McMenamin – art direction
  • Darren Waterston – paintings
  • Matthew Welch – photography

Awards edit

  • 2003 Dove Award for Modern rock/alternative recorded song: Sixpence None the Richer, "Breathe Your Name"[8]

Charts edit

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
2002 US Billboard 200[9] 154
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[10] 9

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
2002 "Breathe Your Name" US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 18
2003 "Don't Dream It's Over" US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 12
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 78

References edit

  1. ^ Karen E. Graves. "Divine Discontent". AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "Review: Sixpence None The Richer - Music - The Austin Chronicle". austinchronicle.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer". PopMatters. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer: Divine Discontent : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. November 5, 2002. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Bret (2002). "Interview with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer by Bret Miller".
  6. ^ a b Leopold, Todd (2002). "Sixpence, much the richer". CNN.
  7. ^ "Sixpence: Don't Dream It's Over". Christian Broadcasting Network. 2004.
  8. ^ "2003 Dove Awards Winners". Billboard. April 11, 2003.
  9. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Adult Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Sixpence None the Richer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.