Released: July 4, 2014
On her sixth attempt, Sia has cashed in on newfound international fame, but has left us sadly short-changed.
Of all the glamour-gluttons and gutless-wonders that have garnished this gargantuan globe with their contributions, a lot seem to feel more or less comfortable in the industry, only after they’ve collaborated alongside international popstar producers (eg. David Guetta, Calvin Harris). Also, a lot of the time, this seems like somewhat of a preparation for eager listeners heavy with anticipation on what will be on the menu in the near future. Sia has cashed in on newfound international fame with her contributions with David Guetta (“She Wolf” and “Titanium” both #1 hits in various countries), but somehow, she still doesn’t seem fully comfortable.
If it wasn’t for the smash hit “Chandelier” featuring on this record, this album would simply be a statistic, as a lot of the tracks seem to be more ‘filling’, and less ‘thrilling’. More to the point, Sia’s voice is an acquired taste at the best of times, and on such tracks as “Eye of the Needle”, resembles an inebriated Lykke Li with a mouthful of treacle. Her uneasiness with big choruses becomes even more profound on punk-smeared throwback “Hostage”, having more crackle than a spit roast on a Greek family’s front lawn.
Most people are perhaps wondering whatever happened to the edgy, soulful, and by all means delicate diva that we all fell in love with? It became frazzled and skewed as she spent so much time enthralled in writing songs for other divas and becoming a featured artist, rather than focusing on expanding on the formula that is what we all grew to love in the past. The cause behind her attempt to validate herself as a pop songstress is uncertain, but the consequences of her falling for too much exterior influence is as clear as mud.
