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album review
Some People Have Real Problems is Sia's first release on the Starbucks-affiliated Hear Music label, following acts like Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell. Given the burst of attention Sia got when her song "Breathe Me" was used to excellent effect in the final scenes of the series finale of the HBO show Six Feet Under, which brought the Australian singer/songwriter to a much wider audience than was familiar with her earlier work with Zero 7 and Massive Attack, it makes perfect sense. With her old-school soul vocal style, with just a hint of roughness under her delicate high-register tones, set against the contemporary sophistication of her music, Sia is exactly the sort of artist a middle-aged Starbucks devotee who wants to remain at least tangentially hip would flock to: if Amy Winehouse did yoga instead of Jack Daniels, she'd sound a lot like Sia. But fans of Sia's earlier releases may well be in for a shock: Some People Have Real Problems sounds like a concerted grab for the Mum Rock demographic, those looking for something to listen to while they're waiting for Corinne Bailey Rae and Regina Spektor to release new albums. Considerably more pop-oriented and uptempo than the chilly electronica that made her name, songs like "Buttons" and "Academia" (one of two songs featuring Beck on harmony vocals; the other, "Death by Chocolate," also features fellow Scientologists Jason Lee and Giovanni Ribisi) also seem designed to attract the audience that fell for Feist's "1234." It would be easy to condemn Sia for such a naked brass ring grab (remember the hubbub over Liz Phair's self-titled album?) except for one somewhat surprising point: the change actually suits her. The newly varied arrangements, moods, and textures of this album, from the mournful piano-led cover of the Kinks' "I Go to Sleep" through the horn-based R&B swing of "Electric Bird" to the sarcastic bounce of "The Girl You Lost to Cocaine," make Some People Have Real Problems Sia's most engrossing and satisfying album yet. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Colour The Small One
- Released 2004
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- Lady Croissant (Live)
- Released 2007
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- Breathe Me
- Released 2006
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- Healing Is Difficult
- Released 2002
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listener reviews
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Wow.
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- By doctordroopy
- 9/4/2009 22:17:40
- Such emotion, and an amazing voice. Wow, this is definitely one of the best albums I've listened to.
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the hills
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- By Ce55p00l
- 12/3/2008 00:09:51
- was a song played on the hills this week.
- 1 out of 2 people
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I Love This Girl!!
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- By Muttofmusic
- 12/2/2008 00:24:39
- This album is absolutely insane! Sia's voice is beautiful accompanied by great production. We should hear much more of her in the US...!!!! :)
- 2 out of 2 people
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Hear & See SIA
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- By Crashman01
- 11/19/2008 14:23:17
- Wow What a Voice!!! Saw Her on David Letterman 11/14/08
Singing "Soon We'll Be Found" Her Hands Dipped in Purplish Red and Blue Hue. Doing Sign Language while Singing her Heart Out.. Visually Captivating.. Never knew a thing about her until I woke up hearing her Voice Singing on the Letterman Show.. Rarely ever watch this show, totally woke me from a dead sleep.. What a Gem of a Talent... Ended up the the night on the You tube trek watching Her videos...
Wow: Again I say What a Gem !!!! - 3 out of 3 people
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top listeners
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- 142 plays
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- 56 plays
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- 77 plays
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- 266 plays
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