Sixpence shows little growth on new album

Sixpence None the Richer, “Lost in Transition” (Tyger Jim Records)

Matt Slocum, co-founder and guitarist of Sixpence None the Richer, says the group has fully transitioned since they disbanded in 2004. But that transition doesn’t necessarily reveal itself as any sort of post-metamorphosis art with the songs on their new album, “Lost in Transition.”

After the split, Sixpence released an EP and a Christmas album, but they officially return with their first full-length album, delivering a familiar sound while not daring to break into any new territory.

Album opener, “My Dear Machine,” is a decent track, with some fine and fuzzy guitar work highlighted by lead singer Leigh Nash’s smooth and strong voice. Unfortunately, the song gets overpowered by horns near the end.

After this somewhat strong start, the Nashville, Tenn.-based band runs into an inevitable truth for most ’90s-era bands looking for a renaissance. Hits are hard. And their yesteryear radio staples like “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes” are tough to replicate for the listener’s sweet spot. New tracks like “Failure” and “Give It Back” are musically passable, but are ultimately wordy misfires that tell us nothing of the transformative time that is allegedly the underpinning of this album.

Check this out: Sixpence does well to slow things down on “Safety Line,” the most heartfelt song on the album.