Sixpence None the Richer

One of the nicest surprises of the late ‘90s was Sixpence None The Richer’s breakthrough on the airwaves. After years of struggle in the Christian music world, the group connected with a wide audience thanks to its international hit “Kiss Me.” But this lilting slice of folk-rock is only one of the highlights on Sixpence’s self-titled 1998 album. There’s a pervasive ‘60s British pop influence in tracks like “I Can’t Catch You” and “Anything” — the guitars jangle and the melodies meander, with a hint of jazz undercurrents in the rhythms. If the music is wistful, the lyric often have a darker cast. “The Waiting Room,” for instance, ponders the seemingly unbridgeable distance between man and God. And for pure pop pleasure, the band added a gorgeous cover of “There She Goes” to a later version of the album. Sixpence None The Richer demonstrated that Christian convictions and secular success can go hand-in-hand. Just as importantly, the album is a consistent delight, charming on its surface with deeper subtleties down in its grooves.