WERS 88.9 fm - album review: sia - we are born

By Maria Oliver
7.11.10

Australian songstress Sia is back with her fifth studio album, We Are Born, which was released at the end of June. Sia has always been a stirring and powerful singer, but in this release she seems to have found both a lightness of spirit, and an introspective voice that flows through her music.

We Are Born is really like two different albums: there's a childlike side, which is very uninhibited. It's all about keeping it simple and fun. And then there's the adult side, which is a bit more complicated, and complex—and the singer seems worrisome. But the first few tracks of the album are really fun, spontaneous, and straight-up dance.

Each song on We Are Born is vibrant and playful—colored by zany guitar riffs, celebratory handclaps, and a catchy collection of lyrical hooks. The album opens on a high with "The Fight," which starts off with muffled childlike yells, and repeatedly explodes into a hands-in-the-air chorus, making one energetic pop anthem. Then comes the lead single, "Clap Your Hands," and the energy lives on. While it's not the best track on the LP, Sia goes to great lengths to get the song's point across to her audience.

Even in Sia's most solemn moments, the beat remains (mostly) bubbly, as with the gorgeous "Hurting Me Now." "You think it's a joke, but baby, you don't even notice," Sia softly murmurs during the song's otherwise slap-happy chorus. It's a devastating number, but you'd never know it if you weren't paying attention. The eerie-sounding "I'm In Here," and the exceptional "Be Good to Me," are both pleas to a lover. There's also a cover of Madonna's "Oh Father."

Sia's inimitable sound and spirit have captured imaginations, and We Are Born serves as an invitation to her next adventure.

Related Links: Album Review of Sia's Some People Have Real Problems