- Audio CD (14 Jan 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Absolute Marketing
- ASIN: B000ZQAN2O
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 14,814 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
If you’re the defeatist sort that doesn’t tend to believe in second (or indeed third) chances, you could do worse than to look to Aussie-pop femme-fatale Sia and for hard evidence Some People Have Real Problems, her third solo effort. Originally celebrated as one of the voices of Zero 7, and also with a solo hit of her own (the pre-Stefani-esque "Taken for Granted"), at the turn of the century, Sia’s subsequent career and two solo records failed to make an equal mark in spite of fetching flourishes, which seemed a plain waste of an assured talent. But she re-emerges here three years after her last record in sleek, aerodynamic fettle and a fine form in which to slot into a world where Amy Winehouse (see the smoky jazz of "Lentil" and beautiful soaring ballad "Soon We’ll Be Found"), Corinne Bailey Rae (the moreish modern soul of "Little Black Sandles" and "Day Too Soon"), Feist (the haunting and cinematic "I Go to Sleep") and Alison Goldfrapp (the slinky heat of "Playground") command instant mainstream attention. The feistiness of Pink and immediacy of Natasha Beddingfield also pervade her work, propping up songs that sound hard crafted and kitting her out with all the tools she should need for lasting impact. If the Natasha Bedingfield comparison doesn’t swing you, perhaps the involvement of alt-rock crown-prince Beck will, hovering gruffly in the shadows as he does on the perky, orchestral "Academia". Either way, Sia doesn’t have any real problems. --James Berry
Review
Sia Furler, Australian queen of post-trip hop jazzy soul must be kicking herself. Having forged a mighty reputation with both her work with coffee table after-clubbers, Zero 7 and her five solo albums, she wakes up one day to find the market flooded with other women keen to pocket the slurry-voiced end of the market. This album should easily see off such pretenders.
The fact remains that Sia was there first, and her maturity and experience makes her voice a much more convincing tool. Some People Have Real Problems is both packed with beautifully lazy, melancholic tunes and delivered with a production job that highlights the best aspects of her voice. This is helped by the presence of some of Beck's band, as well as the boy himself on backing vocals.
The truest test is that she can take a familiar cover version and OWN it: It's an unusual step to first release a live version of a song (on last year's Lady Croissant) and then follow it with a studio rendition, but her take on Ray Davies' "I Go To Sleep" owes nothing to Chrissie Hynde. Listen to the control that finally allows the disarmingly restrained pipes to take flight on the second chorus.
The awfully-titled but still amazing "Death By Chocolate" makes the (oft) fatal mistake of crossing over into Gospel territory and still never falters. Only on rockier tracks like "Buttons" does she become mildly unstuck. Admittedly the weary Billie Holiday croak can get a little too familiar, especially as it's this very trope that the likes of Adele and Duffy are trying to tempt you with over the next few months. But by the blaring horns of "Electric Bird" the wealth of tunes and genuine FEEL have bulldozered any misgivings into dust. It may not be original but it's quality.
Hopefully enough people can fight past the childlike visuals (recently coined as 'tweetronising' by the Guardian's Charlie Brooker) that seem to be so essential for marketing anything to a thirty-something audience these days. For at the heart of Some People Have Real Problems is a grown-up and brave album of jazz pop. It deserves your attention. --Chris Jones
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing - Don't be fooled by the rediculous review below!!,
By
This review is from: SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS (Audio CD)
The ridiculous review below couldn't be further from the truth!I'm lost for words really! 'High Energy Performance'? If you'd been to one of Sia's gigs then you'd understand that she's amazingly focused throughout singing her songs and then stupid and bubbly in between. She doesn't need to do any stupid dances or anything whilst singing because the quality of her songs shine through. The album is fantastic. The arrangements and overall production and sound of the album is amazing! I really can't say more than that. Just, whatever you do, do not listen to the review below - Judge for yourself. Sia is not another Amy Winehouse (thank god) she's in a different league. A much better classier league!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Innovative Soulful Pop,
This review is from: SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS (Audio CD)
If you want a feel good, chilled, happy album - this is the album for you.Sia's voice is evidently incredible, and this album shows this off perfectly. You know that with each song you have her heart too. There are no 'filler' tracks in this album; every single track is magical and spell-binding. This is the kind of album you could play at a dinner party, but it has a slight left-field flair to it - its quirky & charming but elegant at the same time. For chilling out I recommend 'Day Too Soon', 'Lullaby' (the piano is stunning & compliments her voice perfectly), and 'Beautiful Calm Driving'. For more upbeat moments, I recommend 'Death By Chocolate' & 'Playground' (it brings you back to your childhood!) And for those Bridget Jones 'I'm a strong woman' moments, her latest single 'Girl You Lost To Cocaine' is perfect! 'Little Black Sandals' must have a mention too, this opening track draws you into the album, and it's subtle and gorgeous. - I could never get bored of this album; it sounds perfect in a cold January, and perfect chilling in the garden in the summer. It truly is stunning - I can't wait to hear more from her.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Her Best Album yet!!!,
This review is from: SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS (Audio CD)
I have all 3 of Sia's studio albums plus the live Lady Croissant and this is the one I can't stop listening to!This album is her most consistent offering and really showcases her beautiful voice, thoughtful, often moving and seemingly personal lyrics, all enveloped in emotive melodies and arrangements. The production and sound is full and balanced with a great 'band' feel ; overall this is an upbeat album with more powerful vocals than her last album and has memorable tunes- not one song is filler and you'll want to play it again and again. In my opinion she is amongst the best female vocalists of all time: timbre, phrasing and emotion. Forget the fakes- she is the real thing!
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