Sixpence None the Richer (Deluxe Anniversary Edition)

After toiling in relative obscurity in the Christian pop ghetto for several years, Sixpence None the Richer suddenly exploded on to the pop charts in 1999 on the strength of "Kiss Me," an utterly irresistible slice of swoony guitar pop that, once heard, is impossible to shake loose from the brain and could well turn out to be this generation's "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." The rest of the album may not be quite as memorable, but that's not to say that "Kiss Me" is the only thing worth hearing. "Anything," with its fruity chord progression and string sweetening, is almost Beatlesque; "The Lines of My Earth" draws subtly on country influences. Then there's the Pablo Neruda setting. There are moments when the wispiness of Leigh Nash's voice isn't adequately offset by sturdier accompaniment, but overall this is a very winning album. Those who are offended by religious messages in their pop music don't need to worry -- there are a few here, but they're pretty subtle. ~ Rick Anderson