Rating:  -
Understated, brooding, and sedate, this album feels like a good sleep that you want to shake off but can't. Sia Furhler's voice is restrained, yet she manages to express her range of emotions quite well. The production ranges from somber to roaring, but the melodies never fail to draw in the listenter. And forunately so, because this is a mellow listen that rewards the weary music lover.
Rating:  -
While most electronica/downtempo/trip-hop fans have already been introduced to Sia's voice through her vocal contributions to Zero 7 on both of their incredible, incredible albums "Simple Things" (so beautiful, so genious) and "When It Falls" (the won't-disappoint sophomore production), not too many people seem to be familiar with Sia's solo work. What a shame that is.
While I do agree with other reviewers that Sia's solo work is a somewhat different sound than Zero 7 fans may expect, it is for me equally fantastic. The music on this album is slightly more dance-y and pop-friendly than Zero 7, but I find that her voice to be better showcased here. I love how unique her voice is, yet it varies fairly significantly from song to song. "Blow It All Away", which is included in the Winter Chill series, feels instantly classic.
I highly recommend this album, as well as her second album "Colour the Small One". Colour is a little more mature in sound, as one might expect from a successive album, and contains the now legendary single "Breathe Me" from the finale of Six Feet under. I have noticed this song popping up other places too, of late, including one of the TV trailers for the new Jennifer Aniston movie "Derailed" as well as being showcased on MTV's new music on the 10-spot. She may not be trip-hop's not-so-well-kept secret for much longer.
I hope to hear a lot from Sia in the future, whether it be solo or collaborative. I know that I have certainly enjoyed what I have heard so far.
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I was so pleasantly surprised by this entire album. Sia has an exceptionally unique voice. The lyrics are smartly original and the beats vary from hip hop, soul to more subdued mellow rhythms. If you are looking for a Zero 7 style, then go buy another Zero 7 album. But if you love her voice and have an appreciation for music that sets new standards, then please buy this album. My fav's are Fear, Sober and Unkissed, Little Man, Drink to get Drunk, in that order. I hit replay on most of them. There isnt a bad song on the album. Her voice is soulful and raw and I hope to see more great things from her with Zero 7 and in her solo career. Great talent and a great album!!!
Rating: -
Having confounded peoples expectations on several tracks on "Zero 7's - Simple Things" by elevating the couple of tracks she was featured on ("Destiny" being one such track), she gained enough interest to release a solo album, Which although became discontinued a year after release, shows her vocal talents in Impressive form, for the top 10 hit (although the track went straight to #1 on the garage charts) the Russian classical composer (Prokofiev) sampled "Taken For Granted", which wonderfully exhibits the cross-over potential of Classical music, when handled intelligently. Some people have unfair criticised `Sia' on this album, for taking what is seemingly more of a Dance-orientated album, as opposed to her delicate grooves on the Zero 7 album, but this was never intended to be a continuation of her work on that album, and this is something far more varied that stretches her vocals talents, in many more ways. And thus this is album is truly a success. (the album title "Healing Is Difficult" is a reference to a partner that she recently lost).
Rating:  -
I knew this wouldn't be the Sia from Zero 7's album. Little did I know exactly how bad she could be without the superior talents Zero 7 have behind the mixing boards. The song production is terrible. I couldn't find one song I really liked on this CD. Sia truly has a unique voice but it's evident that good production can make a star out of a flashlight. Still, I'm severely disappointed, particularly because I had to pay for this CD as an import.
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