Some People Have Real Problems [ENHANCED]

Sia

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2008)
• Original Release Date: January 8, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Hear Music
• ASIN: B0010DJ1VA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,271 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After a smattering of success surrounding her inclusion in the Six Feet Under series finale with the song "Breathe Me," and collaborations with electronic stars Massive Attack and Zero 7, Sia (Furler) returns with a pop record that's witty and touching, alternately funny and achingly melancholy. Shades of Fiona Apple cross with Joss Stone's blue-eyed soul. Sia shines on a terrifically sung take on the Kinks' (by way of the Pretenders cover) "I Go To Sleep" and her own deeply felt "Lentil." Many of these songs shimmer with a radio-friendly gloss, but the show belongs to this eccentric Australian, who bravely subverts the accessible production through winking and sometimes sinister lyrics. Beck guests on the metaphor-packed "Academia," book-ending lines like "you're a difficult equation with a knack for heart evasion" with a mournful chorus that strips away the lyrical cleverness to plumb the broken-hearted depths of a ruined relationship. Check your enhanced CD for a truly strange video for the hidden bonus track, "Buttons," in which Sia distorts her face using a wide variety of objects, including scotch tape, fishnet hose, and a condom, to name a few. If this playing with her own image is Sia's warning shot across the bow of a popular music industry obsessed with the visual, it'll make you think twice about what you're seeing, but can't distract from the intoxicating soundscape she delivers. --Ben Heege

Product Description

In addition to her successful solo career, Sia has also worked extensively with ZERO 7; She provided the vocals for the hit singles "Destiny" and "Distractions" from their debut album Simple Things, as well as tracks on their subsequent albums, When It Falls and Garden. She also collaborated successfully with MASSIVE ATTACK and WILLIAM ORBIT.

Sia has had huge club hits, including "Drink To Get Drunk" [remixed by DIFFERENT GEAR] and the UK garage remix of "Little Man" by WOOKIE

"Breathe Me," from her album Colour the Small One gained significant attention when it was used in the elaborate final scene of HBO's SIX FEET UNDER.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A departure of sorts, January 10, 2008

By	Russell Evansen "revansen" (Waunakee, WI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Those who know Sia Furler from her outstanding work with Zero 7 - or even her previous solo album "Colour the Small One" - may be a bit surprised by the approach she takes here. Lacking the electronic sheen of her previous work, this latest release is more straight-up pop-soul, but it mostly works very well. The lead-off track "Little Black Sandals" should be a radio hit (if radio had any intelligent life) and throughout, Sia's distinctive vocals come through loud and clear. It's hard to believe she's still so young, since it seems like she's been around for a while. But up to now she's been kind of a figure in the background, with one of those voices that makes you grab the track listings on a CD and search desperately for the singer's name. With this record, she steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight. I hope it brings her the attention she deserves.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, February 6, 2008

By	Josh "JAC" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

I cannot stop playing this CD. WOW! What a masterpiece! I had never heard of Sia and I saw this CD and sampled it and purchased it blindly. I am so happy that I did. She is a brilliant singer/songwriter that needs more buzz, especially with a lot of junk that is out there right now.

Some People Have Real Problems is a very pop/piano driven/melodic CD with great lyrics and she has a great, soulful voice to boot. It reminds me a bit of Tori Amos minus the melancholy and sadness. Sia has more up-tempo songs as well as slower ballads. I have owned this CD for about 3 weeks now and I play it almost every day if not every other day.


Standout tracks:

"The Girl You Lost To Cocaine" - great ditty that will get your toes tapping and have you singing along to it in no time.

"Lentil" - is a nice slower is song that is driven by great melody and a strong hook.

"Playground" is my favorite song on this CD. SUPER catchy with great lyrics. A nice up-tempo song that screams radio all over it.

Those are just a few of my favorites. There is not one song on this set that I skip. They are all standouts in my book. This is someone you should be listening to!!!!

~~~JAC 08'

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Lot Like "The Reminder" By Feist, January 31, 2008

By	Cabir Davis - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Reviews on Amazon for this album tend to neglect the obvious comparison that Sia should evoke - Leslie Feist. If at all you liked "1234" or Feist's full length album "The Reminder", you will love this album. It is definitely an acquired taste, but if you were hooked by that "Six Feet Under" track, then theres a lot here to love.

On my Ipod, it seems as though these songs need to breathe on a big system instead. Sia's breathy voice is suited for both jazz-oriented, as well as regular pop songs (both genres are present on this record). Though not a huge follower of her work, I had indeed heard "Color the Small One" a few years ago, and this album is definitely more listenable than that one.

The only thing I didn't quite get was the samey-sounding tracks towards the end of the album. It reminded me of 2007's albums by A Fine Frenzy, Sara Bareilles and even Vanessa Carlton - all of whom had some good songs on their CD, but not much variety. If not for this, I would award this album a good four stars.