This Is Acting
Going into her seventh album, Sia Furler wanted to try “an experiment.” She would record self-written tracks already pitched to—but overlooked by—A-listers. “I feel like they’re hits, but nobody wanted them,” she said. She was right. *This Is Acting* dives headfirst into pop’s waters, but its bold and beguiling songs retain their author’s earthy edge. Sia’s cathartic voice is, as usual, the star—“Alive” and “House on Fire” pulverize all before them, the big-night-out anthem “Cheap Thrills” is a ton of fun, and “Reaper” (a Kanye West cowrite) is the sort of midtempo empowerment jam only she can nail so triumphantly.
In a few short years, Sia has gone from subverting the mainstream to being the mainstream. In light of that transformation, you'd expect more than an almost play-by-play recreation of her most recent highlights. Her new album This Is Acting can't help but feel like the big-budget sequel to 1000 Forms of Fear's sleeper-hit success.
1000 Forms Of Fear, Sia’s last chart-topping album, was the accidental hit the artist had originally released as a means of being freed from her record deal. But if that surprise smash convinced her to stay in the game, then This is Acting is the sound of her doubling down on a solo career she had previously…
The Australian singer emerges from the shadows to reveal an insight into the world of writing pop songs, creating a hugely interesting and enjoyable, if disjointed, listen.
Sia brings thunderous production but little substance on this collection of songs she wrote for other singers
Reflecting her years as a music industry veteran, Sia Furler took a self-aware, practical approach to her return to the spotlight.
Sia, née Sia Furler, has had quite the time since releasing 2014's 1000 Forms of Fear, releasing two absolute smash singles with "Chandelier...
Sia Furler has never been one to take the conventional route to the top. She had her first Top Ten hit over 15 years ago with ‘Taken For
Play spot the client as Sia takes 12 unwanted songs she wrote for A-listers and makes them her own
That the songs on This Is Acting were intended for other artists results in material that you wouldn’t expect to find on a Sia album.
Sia Furler has broken the pop rule that songwriters can’t be performers – but there’s a sense here that her chart-conquering technique could yet wear stale
The singer who likes to remain unseen keeps herself hidden behind songs meant for other people. New music review by Katie Colombus