Top tracks — play these first
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Cheap Thrills — This track combines a catchy melody with themes of joy and carefree living, making it an anthem for those seeking happiness without extravagance.
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Unstoppable — With its empowering lyrics and driving beat, this song serves as a declaration of strength and resilience, resonating widely during personal struggles.
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Bird Set Free Start here — Opening the album, this track encapsulates a journey of liberation and self-discovery, showcasing Sia's powerful vocal delivery against sweeping production.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic pop with emotional ballads, showcasing strong production and vocal performance.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks that maintain a consistent tempo, while the second half introduces slower ballads that shift the emotional tone.
- Several tracks utilize layered vocal harmonies, with Sia's lead vocals often accompanied by background vocals that enhance the theatrical quality.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady energetic flow throughout
- anthems for empowerment and resilience
- uplifting tracks for motivation
- danceable beats for celebration
Maybe skip if you
- prefer slow, introspective tunes
- seek minimalist soundscapes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Fan Favorite — The album showcases Sia's signature sound and resonates with dedicated fans.
- Themes
- theatrical empowerment· carefree living anthems· journey of liberation
- Career context
- This Is Acting marked Sia's seventh studio album, released just over a year after the commercial success of 1000 Forms of Fear. By this point, she had established herself as a formidable pop songwriter and performer, with 'Chandelier' propelling her into mainstream prominence. The album showcases her continued evolution as an artist, shifting from personal narratives to more conceptual songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bat for Lashes· Lana Del Rey· Florence + the Machine
Tracklist
- 1 Bird Set Free Start here 4:12
- 2 Alive 4:23
- 3 One Million Bullets 4:12
- 4 Move Your Body 4:07
- 5 Unstoppable 3:37
- 6 Cheap Thrills 3:31
- 7 Reaper 3:39
- 8 House on Fire 4:01
- 9 Footprints 3:13
- 10 Sweet Design 2:25
- 11 Broken Glass 4:24
- 12 Space Between 4:48
- 13 Fist Fighting a Sandstorm 3:47
- 14 Summer Rain 3:34
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Melodrama
Lorde
Shares anthemic pop sensibility with raw, personal lyrics and a dynamic production style.
Prism
Katy Perry
Combines powerful vocals with upbeat electropop beats and themes of self-empowerment and vulnerability.
Body Talk
Robyn
Merges emotional depth with danceable electropop, featuring strong hooks and introspective lyrics.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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