Reasonable Woman by Sia
Sia’s return to the solo album spotlight with Reasonable Woman might feel a bit like running into an old friend at a party—you’re happy to see them, but you can’t quite shake the feeling that they’ve been recycling the same stories. It’s her first proper solo release since 2016, and while the album hits a few high notes, it’s often bogged down by an overstuffed, uneven approach. For an artist known for her big, anthemic pop, this album feels like it’s searching for a fresh identity but not quite finding it.
Musically, Reasonable Woman is an ambitious mix of pop, disco, and occasional detours into trap and R&B, but the production can feel overcooked. Tracks like “Immortal Queen,” featuring Chaka Khan, attempt a quirky mash-up of historical and futuristic imagery, yet come off as more head-scratchingly random than empowering. In contrast, “Dance Alone” (with Kylie Minogue) is a bright spot, delivering a glittery, retro-flavored bop that’ll find a comfy home on any Pride playlist, even if it does feel a little late to the disco revival.
Lyrically, Sia continues to mine personal themes of resilience and self-empowerment. The title track “Gimme Love” gives you exactly what you’d expect from Sia—big, bold, and repetitive. If you can tolerate hearing the phrase “gimme love” 12 times in a row, you might find yourself enjoying the chant-like feel, though it borders on tiresome. There are flashes of raw, emotional vulnerability, especially in songs like “I Forgive You,” where Sia’s voice shines through a simple piano backdrop, recalling the stripped-back intensity of her earlier work.
For longtime fans of Sia’s powerful vocal delivery, there’s enough here to remind you why she became such a force in pop music. However, the album lacks the sharp edge of her past efforts like 1000 Forms of Fear. Instead, it feels like a patchwork of ideas and collaborations that don’t quite coalesce into a strong narrative or sonic identity.
Ultimately, Reasonable Woman feels like a well-produced but scattershot attempt to reassert Sia’s pop dominance. While it’s not a total misfire, it never quite soars, leaving you to wonder if a more concise, self-edited version of the album would have made a bigger impact. Fans will find something to love, but casual listeners might just want to dance alone to the standouts.
