- Audio CD (11 Jun 2002)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Sony Australia
- ASIN: B000067UN2
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 836,123 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Australia is not known as the home of genre defining R&B artists. Which is probably why Australian born Sia (pronounced See-ah) has managed, in her debut album Healing Is Difficult, to avoid all the usual cliché's, generic soul diva hang-ups and slickly sanitised production, and come up with the most imaginative set of tunes since Lauryn Hill's Miseducation. Not that she sounds anything like Hill, but her melding of hip-hop beats, stripped down funk grooves and enchanting melodies is just as sublime. Her captivating and quirky voice aside, Sia's natural talent lies in her flea market, mix and match attitude; marrying the rootsy beats; and jazz grooves that underpin tracks with things that shouldn't fit--Branford Marsalis styled soprano sax flurries ("Drink to Get Drunk"), the majestic orchestral march of Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet ("Single Taken For Granted") and lilting reggae/dub grooves ("Get Me", "Insidiously" and "Fear"). Over these stray sounds she slides her supremely sexy vocals, reeling off shopping lists of emotions, fears and relationships that are as humorous as they are touching, as childish as they are wise and as innocent as they are darkly twisted. It's a bizarrely brilliant mix--from a bizarrely brilliant imagination--that puts Sia and her inspired debut in an R&B class of its own. --Dan Gennoe
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Maybe I'm getting old, but talentless peroxide blonde Californian teenagers in school uniforms aren't my idea of what music is about. The sublime vocals of Sia are like a breath of fresh air in the post-MTV world of popular music. Calling this an R'n'B album is far too narrow a definition. The variety of sounds and styles that her voice lends itself to, further underlines what a special talent this woman is. I've introduced a variety of people to this album, and they've all been blown away. A star in the making? I certainly hope so.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For most people Sia Furler's unique voice is associated with Zero 7's 2001 chillout album, 'Simple Things'. However, 'Healing is Difficult' sees her delve into her soul/funk /R&B influences to great effect. If you're expecting this to be a similar dose of Zero 7-esque tunes, you couldn't be further from the truth.
What strikes you is Sia's almost autobiographical content to her lyrics. The quirky opening track, 'Fear', intros with a young boy talking about what he believes fear is, only to be followed by Sia singing about the fears of her friends and family, including herself ("Sometimes I worry my boyfriend will die, my first love is already dead"). This is an artist who is not afraid to open herself up to the listener and experiment lyrically.
The most recognisable track on the album is 'Taken For Granted'. It begins with Prokofiev's grandiose 'Romeo and Juliet Ballet, Op. 64: Montagues and Capulets', until a steady 4/4 drum rhythm comes in and Sia's vocals transform it into something of classical beauty and modern anguish. It clearly shows the power behind this woman's voice and the dynamics she is capable of producing. She expresses similar sentiments in 'Sober and Unkissed' (track 7) as well.
But what is it that makes Sia stand out from the rest of the crowd?
For one, her harmonies. They seem to range from one end of the spectrum to the other. In certain pieces she can be quite "conventional" (as in 'Blow it all Away'), where they fit together in pleasant sounding chords. On the other hand, she's equally capable of pushing out those boundaries and putting together almost discordant jazz harmonies, as heard in the title track. No one of them is better than the other, but all contribute to an album that refuses to be placed alongside others of the same genre. It needs to be said though that if you're not used to hearing such changes in harmony, it can be quite distracting.
This is not your average sounding funk album. Indeed, in a musical world where a lot of new R&B releases seem to have the same feel, Sia screams above the rest. The fact that there is so much energy in her music makes for a very refreshing listen, with many aspects of it to keep you coming back for more.
Healing may be difficult for Sia, but her music certainly brings out the best and most interesting in R&B. This is honest music and deserves to be listened to.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What a breath of fresh air, this album is a powerful, haunting, involving piece of work, it oozes with innocence and honesty and simply defies all types of categorization. I fell in love with this album and artist from first listen and i challenge anyone to disagree with me........no?....well i thought not
buy it, listen to it, get involved with it, and tell all about it
in a word marvellous
buy it, listen to it, get involved with it, and tell all about it
in a word marvellous
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not one for me!
I love her in Zero 7 and the other album "Colour The Small One" was an excellent and powerfully seductive. This one is the complete opposite. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by Johan De-silva
Love it
I bought this album soon after it was released for the original version of Wookies 'Little Man' remix.
This is one of the best albums I have ever owned. I love it. Read more
This is one of the best albums I have ever owned. I love it. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2005 by Rosie
Sia - Healing is Difficult
Since falling head over heels in love with Sia's second album 'colour the small one' I just had to track her first album down. I purchased this album in Nov 2004. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2004 by "bluefreckles"
A pure vocal treat
This has got to be the best album I have ever purchased. I picked it up because I recognised her name from the Zero 7 album. Read more
Published on 4 July 2002
Disappointing
After hearing Sia incredibly emotive voice on Zero Seven's album, Simple Things, i immediately purchased 'Healing is Difficult'only to discover another mish-mash of half baked RnB... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2002
"Healing is difficult" but the music is fab!
Honestly, I only got into Sia Furler's music because of her striking vocals on Zero 7's summer hit "Destiny" - and also on the remix version of "Drink to get... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2001
Sublime, Moving and worth a listen
This album ranks as one of my top albums of all time. Without a doubt, Sia is a talent to be watched (or listened to). Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2001
Bl**** good album!
I saw the poster for this album in the tube one morning on my way to work and found it rather disturbing, so when I saw it on a listening post in a record shop I had to have a... Read more
Published on 24 July 2001
A mixture of soul, jazz & funk topped with a diva's voice
Healing is difficult is the first album to buy this July! Wooah! Yes, finally a girl with an edge in her voice, no cliche character and meant lyrics. Read more
Published on 2 July 2001
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