 "Poorly named, but an interesting collection for completists" | 2007-12-01 |
| - Reviewed By User: APILCCLETE5GU |
I'm a bit of a completist, but I don't buy "best ofs" or "greatest hits" collections for the songs I already have. I get them (used, whenever possible) for the bonus material they add to get suckers like me to buy something again I already have 90% of it. This one is different though.
I welcomed this release as an opportunity to make space on my CD rack by removing many compilations which I had only purchased for the exclusive 6pence track. Goodbye "Dick" soundtrack, no more having to explain your presence. But there are still plenty of CDs that I could have parted with as well, had the songs been included here. The "Bounce" soundtrack, the single for "Us" live on the Today Show(!) are two off the top of my head.
This is far from a "best of" collection, but who needs that anyway? There are already enough Sixpence collections that if you only wanted the early years and the Top 40 years, you could do so with only two or three discs. It would have been better to leave off the album tracks altogether and focus on adding more obscure songs. There are already enough covers, but "Bouquet," "Road to Zion," and even "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" would have been great instead of "There She Goes" and "Don't Dream It's Over." "Rainy Day Assembly" from Tess Wiley's first EP had her singing lead with 6pence backing her up. Incredible song, and not really out of place since she had been in the band. A bit more of a stretch may have been Leigh with Jason Martin of Starflyer 59, performing together as Starflyer 2000 for one brilliant song. Other great extracuricular songs with just Leigh include those from "Canticle of the Plains," and the incredible "Need to Be Next to You." Of course, this is just a wish list, the legal issues may have been an obstacle. The many great B-sides have been mentioned (and missed). Alternate recordings and demos would have been more interesting than album tracks. Newer fans may have appreciated songs from the rare and long out of print "the Original Demos" EP.
Collections like this always suffer from fans saying what REALLY should have been on the CD. Had the focus been more specific, like a true "greatest hits / best of" (gauged not just by radio, but concert favourites as well), or a true "rarities" collection, this CD would not be as big a let down. Which is not to say that it is a letdown, just that it could have been much more.
Oh, and for the other completists, there are at least two different versions of the cover art. |
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 "greatest hits" | 2007-03-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2CTXV7QH6SQ4I |
| It might be worth just buying their albums one by one as most of the songs are good and you wouldn't want to buy this and then double back later. Matt's guitarwork has the power to make me happy no matter what, it's articulated so well. The vocals are very smooth and pretty and fun. The guitar in "us" can stay in my head for days. There's so much more than kiss me, these people know what their doing, no "one hit wonder". |
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 "A pretty voice" | 2007-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHLBXFMTIYLOU |
I love this CD. Though I am not a regular buyer of pop groups I couldn't help but get this one.
I listen to it when I get a tad grumpy and it brings me back to a happy place. Her voice is so pretty it couldn't do anything else.
Love all the covers. |
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| "The BEST of Sixpence Non the Richer" | 2007-03-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2H9G3V5OFOMYQ |
| Leigh Nash has just an amazing voice. You'll enjoy this Best Of! |
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| "Very good CD, I recommend it to any serious Pop music collector!" | 2007-01-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2ASAFOEQ9ORGY |
This CD has a "catch": the surprisingly beautiful voice of Leigh Nash.
I am usually reluctant to hits covers, but in this case I would suggest to give a special try to SNTR performance of The La's "There She Goes", Crowded House's superhit "Don't Dream It's Over", and even Abba's "Dancing Queen". Special mention to that wonderful tune titled "Kiss Me". Leigh Nash's voice reinvents these songs and provides a new dimension to the meaning of "Cover version".
Believe me... this CD is a serious improvement for your music collection! |
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| "A Fine Compilation!" | 2006-11-10 |
| - Reviewed By mvindberg2 |
Six Pence None the Richer only recorded four regular albums before they disbanded around 2004. This compilation covers their whole career and features all their biggest hits as well as rarities and previously unreleased tracks.
From their commercial breakthrough third album the two great singles "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes Again" are logical choices, but also a few of the strongest album-tracks also would have been nice inclusions.
It's almost the same with their equally strong final album, where the two hit-singles "Breathe Your Name" and the outstanding cover of Neil Finn's "Don't Dream it's Over" are featured along with the fine acoustic album track "Melody of You".
A few tracks come from hard to find soundtracks etc. and among these their cover of Brian Wilson's "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" stand out. Compared to the Beach Boys' own Pet Sounds version, which I always found sounded slightly unfinished, this new version is by far the strongest.
Also "The Ground You Shook" and "I Need Love" are great non-album tracks that any fan of the band would like to have.
I'm not familiar with their first two albums, but judges from the tracks included hear the second album "This Beautiful Mess" seems to have a harder approach than their other records.
A fine compilation, though I would have preferred the Japanese version of "Kiss Me" exchanged with one or two of their fine album tracks. |
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| "Should've been a 2 disc set with "Best of the Early Years"" | 2006-03-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3JQHF4J5O0TTM |
1. Loser Like Me ~ A catchy song with quirky, honest lyrics. This is one of the 3 all-new songs, and a prime reason to own this album.
2. Us ~ the second all-new song, not as catchy or as interesting as the other two, but it still managed to be the only charting single of the three. go figure.
3. Too Far Gone ~ hands down one of the best Sixpence songs ever! The song is a long, dreamy rocker with a terrific jam at the end thats over 2 minutes long.
4. The Ground You Shook ~ A good contemporary Christian song, the Christian songs included are all pretty slow paced and plodding at times, but it was good to include them, because casual fans may never hear them otherwise.
5. Kiss Me ~ Do I need to say anything about this one people?
6. Breathe Your Name ~ A little heard single from their awesome album Divine Discontent. This one is upbeat and happy, as are all of their radio hits.
7. Melody of You ~ Another Christian song
8. Dancing Queen ~ A cover of the ABBA original. You'll either love it or hate it. This was sort of an unnecessary inclusion, as it was never a hit on radio.
9. Don't Dream It's Over ~ the Crowded House original, made more contemporary. Most people boo me for saying I like this one better than the original, but it is way more catchy. It's almost like it was written for them...
10. There She Goes ~ the late addition to their self titled third album. I'm not quite sure what made this song a hit for them, but it's an o.k. cover of an o.k. La's hit.
11. I Need Love ~ A should've been hit. This song is another reason to own this album.
12. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times ~ a cover of a Brian Wilson song. You'll either love it or hate it. I love it.
13. Breathe ~ An ok Christian song, Leigh sings so whispery here its hard to understand all the lyrics.
14. Brighten My Heart ~ The strongest Christian song on the album.
15. Angeltread ~ O.k. Here's where they screwed up. This song was released on the "best of the early years" album, which was released around the same time this was (i'm pretty sure) why didn't they just release a 2 disc 'best of' set? THAT album includes the best songs from their first 2 albums, and the EP Tickets for a Prayer Wheel, including Angeltread, Within a Room Somewhere, and Trust, which are on this album.
18. Kiss Me (Japanese version) ~ a waste of disc space for American fans. why not include I Can't Catch You, or the remix of Love from the Bounce soundtrack?
Songs sorely missing from this album:
I Can't Catch You
Love (remix)
Northern Lights
Sad But True
Don't Pass Me By
Also, it appears there was a foreign release of this album that omitted two of the 'Best of the early years' songs and included I Can't Catch You, Need to be Next to You (from the 'Bounce' soundtrack), and Waiting for the Sun. Need to be next to You is an odd choice, considering that was a Leigh Nash solo single. Another great Leigh Nash song to check out would be Charmed Life from the Uptown Girls soundtrack.
Overall, I give this album a near perfect score, because it includes alot of obscure material not included on their albums. But at the same time omits some golden material. |
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| "Give Em Some Credit..." | 2005-09-29 |
| - Reviewed By bubbles714 |
Altough it's not ALL of their Best songs, the only way that would be possible is this album was 2-3 discs... Basically everything in "This Beautiful Mess" and "The Fatherless and the Widow" is their best work... Even though there are five cover songs, They still did a good job. the Cover of "There She Goes" still remains stuck in my head even though it was played on the radio a countless amount of times, and "Don't Dream it's over" still is catchy in small doses.
I Still wish this band was around... it sickens me to see that we might not be able to experience this bands music for awhile or possibly EVER again... at least Leigh Nash is going Solo, that shows a lot of promise to the Sixpence fans. Hopefully she doesn't make a stunning debut album, take a 3-6 year long break, be forgotten, and make another breathtaking album like this band unfortunately did.
If only time were a friend of Sixpence... :( |
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 "Non-album tracks, covers, and radio singles? Yes. Best of Sixpence? No." | 2005-07-01 |
| - Reviewed By nakedprey |
Those that have dismissed Sixpence as a band that does really awkward covers will have plenty fuel for their fire after listening to this. There are not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5 covers on this compilation of songs that someone, who obviously never listened to a Sixpence record in their life, slopped together with all the precision of a toddler eating a bowl of spaghetti. And it's a mess.
First off, this is not the best of Sixpence None the Richer. Not by a long shot. I see a grand total of two songs on this CD that would make my own personal "best of Sixpence." That would be the break out single, "Kiss Me" (which is still a brilliant pop song damnit) and the inspirational "Melody of You." It's not all a total loss. New song "Loser Like Me" is winsome and Beatle-esque. There is some justice to the band's cover of Sam Phillips' "I Need Love." The band's edgier side sees the light of day to some extent with "Angeltread" and "Within a Room Somewhere" from their classic 1995 release, This Beautiful Mess. But why why why did the Japanese version of "Kiss Me" warrant inclusion. And only one song from their brilliant debut, The Fatherless and the Widow?
Shame on Word Records. They had a chance and they blew it. To call this a B-sides or rarities compilation would have been fine, but calling it a "best of" is not only misleading, but downright blasphemous. And I, a long time fan, demand retribution. |
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| "Very nice compilation of great music!" | 2005-04-07 |
| - Reviewed By rocklover61 |
| After owning all the studio CDs of STNR I was still motivated to buy this CD because of the new songs and several other previously released singles. All of the new songs are excellent, proving that SNTR went out at the top of their game. Matt Slocum is a genius and Leah Nash's voice is beautifully captivating! From previous comments posted here it seems that we fans can't get enough, and I would've loved to see the following songs included in a larger release: I Can't Catch You; Bleeding; Healer; Falling Leaves; Thought Menagerie; Meaningless; Paralyzed; Down and Out of Time; Love; Sister, Mother; A Million Parachutes. This collection is a must have for true fans, and would be great for a first timer as well. |
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![Sixpence None The Richer - Tickets For A Prayer Wheel [EP]](product_images/172000/172594_thumb.jpg)
