7/10
The career of Australian songwriter Sia has been incredible. And while she is best known for her solo work, she has also been responsible for penning huge hits for other artists. Not one to waste good work, 'This Is Acting' is a collection of all the songs she wrote for others but were never actually used. Creating a unique studio album that has the pretence of rejection already imbedded in its condition.
But while these songs were intended for other singers, the fact that Sia is the woman behind helps to create a strong cohesive flow from track to track. When you listen to 'Alive', you may not even realise that this was supposed to be an Adele single as Sia makes it her own and gives the song the strong production and performance it deserves. It almost sounds like she is trying to prove a point, that although these weren't up to the grade of other artists, they are not bad songs and still deserved a proper rendition in the studio.
Whatever her reasons, 'This Is Acting' is a strong release from the now veteran frontwoman of the industry. Each song comes with its own backstory that not only gives you an insight into the record but also shows that being turned down doesn't mean you have to stop.