On January 8, Sia, of Zero 7 fame, released her new solo album, Some People Have Real Problems.

The smoky, jazzy feel of other recent Brit female artists – Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone – is found here as well. It’s hard to say who came first, some of the tracks on her 2002 solo album – Healing is Difficult – had that style as well. Here, the opening track, “Little Black Sandals” is a standard jazz-pop gem that would not be out of place on either of those artist’s albums. As a whole, this album has fuller, rounder sound than her breakout 2005 – Colour the Small One. Those people who came to Sia because of the ethereal, spacey Breathe Me will be disappointed. That type of piano based, slowly building song is nonexistent on the new album. Of course, I’m particularly biased since I prefer the glitchier, even spacier, Four Tet and Ulrich Schnauss remixes of the song.

The absolute standout is the catchy, hidden track – Buttons. As the video shows, she’s having a little more fun, she relaxes, and it shows.

Myspace: Sia

Find MP3’s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Insound | eMusic

(travis)