Some People Have Real Problems
by Sia
  • Record Label: Hear
  • Release Date: Jan 8, 2008
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    She mixes it up with the sweet 'Academia' (featuring harmonies from Beck) and a soaring cover of the Kinks' 'I Go to Sleep.' But think of those as bonus tracks, adding flavor to an already stunning CD.
  2. Slant Magazine
    90
    Some People is stuffed to the rafters with love songs but they're never precious or cloying, even when the arrangements soar to rousing string/brass/choir-laden climaxes, or when the lyrics are comprised of little more than a string of clichés .
  3. Dot Music
    90
    In short, it's the album everyone's been waiting for her to make.
  5. AllMusic
    90
    The newly varied arrangements, moods, and textures of this album, from the mournful piano-led cover of the Kinks' 'I Go to Sleep' through the horn-based R&B swing of 'Electric Bird' to the sarcastic bounce of 'The Girl You Lost to Cocaine,' make Some People Have Real Problems Sia's most engrossing and satisfying album yet.
  6. Billboard
    80
    Sia still brings enough weird on Some People to satisfy old-school fans.
  7. Boston Globe
    80
    Some People Have Real Problems reveals the other Sia: plucky, bubbly, and growling purposefully through assertive pop songs.
  8. NOW Magazine
    80
    Her control has never been better and Jimmy Hogarth’s production provides the perfect foundation for her deeply delicate expressions.
  9. The Boston Phoenix
    75
    Her fourth album brims with sunny hooks on its best tracks, and the alluring opener, 'Little Black Sandals,' affords her a rich, layered backdrop.
  10. Hartford Courant
    60
    There are glimmers of appeal elsewhere--the understated soul 'vamp on 'Day Too Soon,' or "Buttons,' the hidden rocker tacked onto the end--but the tunes feel too often like surface exercises that lack heart.
  11. Spin
    60
    The album's finest moment comes on an aching version of Ray Davies' 'I Go to Sleep' that improves on the original (and the Pretenders' cover) by rendering it as a slow-motion, piano-splashed lament.
  12. Under The Radar
    60
    It just seems like everyone involved with Some People Have Real Problems wasn’t trying as hard. [Winter 2008, p.84]
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  13. Q Magazine
    60
    Fuler sounds wonderful on the woozy 'Little Black Sandals' and Ray Davies's 'I Go To Sleep,' though she could do with more restraint and better tunes to sing. [Feb 2008, p.100]
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  14. musicOMH.com
    50
    A bit more edge would have been good to distinguish this from the wide range of comfy female songwriters out there right now.
  15. PopMatters
    50
    It’s good-girl soul for the Starbucks set.
  16. The New York Times
    50
    The results are mixed.
  17. Hot Press
    50
    Mixed up confusion.
  18. Pitchfork
    48
    If Sia spent more time at the piano, and/or hired Robyn to write her a couple of tracks, the results could be marvelous.
  19. Rolling Stone
    40
    The main attractions are Sia's smoky voice and quirky personality. Yet not enough of that personality makes it into the music.
  20. The Guardian
    40
    At times a potentially great song seems to be trying to make itself felt, but none ever quite manages to bust through the beige arrangements.
  21. Uncut
    40
    Her lyrics lack both Wino's wit and realism, and her orchestral-pop backdrops are pallid. [Feb 2008, p.89]
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Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Shared Album of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 195 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 156 out of 195
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 195
  3. Negative: 34 out of 195
  1. raviopatra
    Nov 19, 2013
    10
    Sia has always been an amazing artist. She writes her own songs that are always accompanied by beautiful harmonies. What makes her even aSia has always been an amazing artist. She writes her own songs that are always accompanied by beautiful harmonies. What makes her even a better artist is the distinction she makes us hear from her efforts that make it impossible to call her either generic or typical. "The Girl You Lost to Cocaine", "Day Too Soon", "Soon We'll Be Found", and the cover of Kinks' "I Go to Sleep" stand out the most. This album is stunning!… Full Review »
  2. gagaforever
    Sep 22, 2010
    10
    Outstanding album! "The Girl You Lost To Cocaine" was the first song I had ever heard from Sia so I looked up more of her songs andOutstanding album! "The Girl You Lost To Cocaine" was the first song I had ever heard from Sia so I looked up more of her songs and eventually bought the album! The album has songs that are painfully honest, fun, catchy and everything in between...Such a good album..Check it out… Full Review »
  3. LegendaryMau
    Dec 22, 2014
    10
    Stunning work.Sia's SPHRP album comes with different genre slow-tempo(most of them) songs,they're quite inspiring and deep. The order of theStunning work.Sia's SPHRP album comes with different genre slow-tempo(most of them) songs,they're quite inspiring and deep. The order of the tracks is just what makes this masterpiece work.Highly recommended. My favorite is Electric Bird.… Full Review »
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