I'd almost say this is about as much like the Cranberries as it is Sixpence. Not that Leigh doesn't sound like herself, she's as smooth as ever. And Matt's unmistakeable guitar picking & strumming is there, though he plays it a bit harder on many of these songs. This Armand John Petri produced follow-up to the debut Fatherless... is at least as good, shows the same good songwriting ability of guitarist Matt Slocum and most of these songs have those real memorable choruses. The harder edge is nice & the reason for it "is because we have five band members now instead of just two of us", says Leigh. Music is therapeutic in venting feelings of wonder, sorrow, fear, doubt, grief, joy, & love. This Beautiful Mess is that. Cool art direction, too.
Other coverage for this album
7ball #1Reviewed by Chris WellPay attention, because they might ask this on a quiz show someday: "Which hip, AC-friendly intercollegiate modern pop band released both its first and second release with just one record?" Well, one possible answer is Sixpence None The Richer; since their soph release This Beautiful Mess is actually the first to feature a whole, complete band. Songwriter/guitarist Matt Slocum and lead vocalist…