Sia - 1000 Forms of Fear
'1000 Forms of Fear'
Sia
Tiger Rating: 7.0 / 10
Pop
While there can be little doubt that 39 year old Australian pop powerhouse Sia Furler's climb to the top has been anything short of fabled, it's hard to tell where she begins and her Beyonce / Rihanna / Christina Aguilera influence ends. Nowhere is it more noticeable than on this album.
Of course it might be because, an accomplished songwriter, she has penned hits for each of these divas. She's the author of 'Diamonds', 'Pretty Hurts' and 3 of 4 tracks on Aguilera's flop of a 2010 album 'Bionic' (perhaps the only album of hers I found palatable).
Don't get me wrong - I can appreciate her talent and spirit. Just four years ago she conquered her sizable personal demons and overcame alcohol and drug addiction and decided committing suicide would probably be a bad idea. And that makes this album a truly impressive accomplishment. The strength of her vocals and the control she displays is staggering, much less the drive it took to begin and complete it. I feel she has more integrity than her contemporary limelight junkies and fame whores RiRi and Bey.
'1000 Forms of Fear' has certainly proved to have mass appeal in the pop charts. Obviously. This is the woman who wrote for Flo Rida and David Guetta. A lot of the sound of this record is already familiar, even though its all new offerings. The first four tracks - from 'Chandelier' to 'Eye Of The Needle' - sound like songs written for Rihanna. Sia growls, pouts and shouts her way to crashing crescendos over faux hip-hop beats. She's convincing in her delivery, but I'm a bit like "so what?".
'Hostage' is a left turn into British pop charts circa 2009 - a Duffy / Noisettes 'I'll Never Forget You' hybrid. It's a welcome break from the power pop R & B nausea, and is probably closer to being who she truly is as a performer, but still feels a bit contrived. 'Straight For The Knife' is a softer side of Sia - possibly the lovelorn, classically trained songstress we knew once before. Strange, jokey xylophone effects detract from what could be a genuine moment of regret.
'Elastic Heart' - a collabo with The Weeknd and Diplo - is probably the most subtle and well executed of the urban tracks. It's effortless thanks to Dip being on the production. Beautiful, feisty and vulnerable all at once.
And then Sia really knocks it out of the park. The closing four tracks are the strongest - punchy pop anthems of feminism and fight. 'Free The Animal' is a slow build into snarly vocals, a soaring chorus and an unrelenting bid to get on your feet. Even when she breaks it down Gloria Estefan style with Latin percussion and fake Colombian accent, you just keep dancing. 'Dressed In Black' was the obvious closing track - a rueful tale of hurt and closure with none of the crippling insecurity that often accompanies such an experience.
'1000 Forms of Fear' showcases Sia's savage vocals chops, deft talent to pen a chart hit and get's you angry fist pumping on the dancefloor. A sordid break-up never looked cooler than with slow motion sprinklers and pyrotechnics in the background. You can't doubt her pop appeal or power with this one, but every track, save a few, could just have easily been sung by someone else. If all you're looking for is a collection of strong pop anthems, look no further. Maybe not every break-up does need to be dissected and investigated over a sad piano. Maybe you can dance your way into a brighter future. Maybe Sia is your leather wearing, platinum bobbed Jiminy Cricket. Maybe we all need to stop worrying about who writes the songs and why and just shut up and dance.
Thanks Sia.
WVS
Of course it might be because, an accomplished songwriter, she has penned hits for each of these divas. She's the author of 'Diamonds', 'Pretty Hurts' and 3 of 4 tracks on Aguilera's flop of a 2010 album 'Bionic' (perhaps the only album of hers I found palatable).
Don't get me wrong - I can appreciate her talent and spirit. Just four years ago she conquered her sizable personal demons and overcame alcohol and drug addiction and decided committing suicide would probably be a bad idea. And that makes this album a truly impressive accomplishment. The strength of her vocals and the control she displays is staggering, much less the drive it took to begin and complete it. I feel she has more integrity than her contemporary limelight junkies and fame whores RiRi and Bey.
'1000 Forms of Fear' has certainly proved to have mass appeal in the pop charts. Obviously. This is the woman who wrote for Flo Rida and David Guetta. A lot of the sound of this record is already familiar, even though its all new offerings. The first four tracks - from 'Chandelier' to 'Eye Of The Needle' - sound like songs written for Rihanna. Sia growls, pouts and shouts her way to crashing crescendos over faux hip-hop beats. She's convincing in her delivery, but I'm a bit like "so what?".
'Hostage' is a left turn into British pop charts circa 2009 - a Duffy / Noisettes 'I'll Never Forget You' hybrid. It's a welcome break from the power pop R & B nausea, and is probably closer to being who she truly is as a performer, but still feels a bit contrived. 'Straight For The Knife' is a softer side of Sia - possibly the lovelorn, classically trained songstress we knew once before. Strange, jokey xylophone effects detract from what could be a genuine moment of regret.
'Elastic Heart' - a collabo with The Weeknd and Diplo - is probably the most subtle and well executed of the urban tracks. It's effortless thanks to Dip being on the production. Beautiful, feisty and vulnerable all at once.
And then Sia really knocks it out of the park. The closing four tracks are the strongest - punchy pop anthems of feminism and fight. 'Free The Animal' is a slow build into snarly vocals, a soaring chorus and an unrelenting bid to get on your feet. Even when she breaks it down Gloria Estefan style with Latin percussion and fake Colombian accent, you just keep dancing. 'Dressed In Black' was the obvious closing track - a rueful tale of hurt and closure with none of the crippling insecurity that often accompanies such an experience.
'1000 Forms of Fear' showcases Sia's savage vocals chops, deft talent to pen a chart hit and get's you angry fist pumping on the dancefloor. A sordid break-up never looked cooler than with slow motion sprinklers and pyrotechnics in the background. You can't doubt her pop appeal or power with this one, but every track, save a few, could just have easily been sung by someone else. If all you're looking for is a collection of strong pop anthems, look no further. Maybe not every break-up does need to be dissected and investigated over a sad piano. Maybe you can dance your way into a brighter future. Maybe Sia is your leather wearing, platinum bobbed Jiminy Cricket. Maybe we all need to stop worrying about who writes the songs and why and just shut up and dance.
Thanks Sia.
WVS
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