This Is Acting
by Sia
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Jan 29, 2016
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 522 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 410 out of 522
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 522
  3. Negative: 58 out of 522
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  1. patp
    Apr 16, 2023
    7
    Great album, incredibles vocals an is very cohesive overall. As we all know Sia has great songwritting skills and the album shows it.
  2. Sousaitallo
    Aug 20, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amo a sonoridade desse álbum e como as músicas me emocionam e fazem me sentir nas nuvens,melhor ainda é saber como ela reuniu todas essas músicas para o álbum!… Expand
  3. Milad_rzsh
    Jul 31, 2022
    10
    She is amazing. Sia is really the greatest songwriter of the world. Her voice is heavenly.
  4. All_ButTrU4
    Apr 15, 2022
    4
    Confessed to be a collection of rejected songs intended for other artists you cannot help but understand why those artists passed on these songs which at times compete for some of the worst in her catalog. But even so they are higlights that hint to a greater album and are in the best of ways reminiscent of her career best 1000 forms of fear. Songs like "the greatest" which have thisConfessed to be a collection of rejected songs intended for other artists you cannot help but understand why those artists passed on these songs which at times compete for some of the worst in her catalog. But even so they are higlights that hint to a greater album and are in the best of ways reminiscent of her career best 1000 forms of fear. Songs like "the greatest" which have this signature optimimism or "bird set free" which could fit easily on adele's 25. Her more off the wall experiments though challenging are a blast to get into such as "sweet design " or "Summer rain". Her vocals are a superpower that defends sometimes lyrically vacant songs.… Expand
  5. Furlericonic
    Dec 13, 2021
    10
    This is Sia's best album, going from emotional songs like space between and ending with move your body feels like a happily ever after
  6. iambrno
    Mar 20, 2021
    10
    This album is a MASTERPIECE. Thank you, Sia, for saving my life with your songs.
  7. Victor1269
    Mar 19, 2021
    10
    Um dos mais talentosos alguns da história. Sia não poderia vender essas músicas que tanto combinam com ela.
  8. andrewfelipe123
    Aug 31, 2020
    10
    Amazing!! Es un álbum lleno de ánimo, para bailar, disfrutar. Me encanta. Es genial
  9. Brayanfurler
    Sep 29, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Álbum artístico compuesto de hits para otros artistas, el oyente puede identificarse con todas las canciones y sentir diferentes emociones.… Expand
  10. Resenhane
    Aug 29, 2020
    10
    Uma boa amostra de potenciais hits e boas composições que Sia tem a oferecer
  11. Xbil2Hope
    Aug 29, 2020
    10
    An icon icon i can't say anything negative about this album All the tracks are masterpiece
  12. JCCD
    Jun 4, 2020
    10
    This album is literally action. We know that some songs were intended for other artists, but when listening to this album you realize that the best option was for Sia to save the songs for the creation of this gem. This makes you dance! and at the same time it gives you the empowerment you need in your life. this is definitely a great album.
  13. Axl454
    Jun 2, 2020
    10
    En lo personal el álbum está lleno de canciones que hacen que te sientas bien y mal , pero lleva consigo un mensaje positivo y alegre
  14. Italobato
    May 29, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Um dos melhores álbuns pop que já ouvi. Sia sabe como fazer tudo dar certo.… Expand
  15. JeremySpears
    Feb 25, 2020
    5
    I really like Sia. Her songwriting is so good and she has her own style. Her voice is so beautiful and unique. This album was...a choice. The concept is just lazy as hell and doesn’t work at all. She recorded all the songs she wrote for other artists and the result is a messy, generic and inconsistent mess. The album does have a few good moments but there are so many boring songs. It’s notI really like Sia. Her songwriting is so good and she has her own style. Her voice is so beautiful and unique. This album was...a choice. The concept is just lazy as hell and doesn’t work at all. She recorded all the songs she wrote for other artists and the result is a messy, generic and inconsistent mess. The album does have a few good moments but there are so many boring songs. It’s not a boring album but like more than half of the 16 songs sound like fillers that were recorded last minute. Try to sit through that for an hour. Favorites: The Greatest, Alive, Bird Set Free, Cheap Thrills, Unstoppable, Jesus Wept & Midnight Decisions… Expand
  16. Dsros96
    Oct 29, 2018
    8
    Better than the previous album, here we can listen to Sia takes some risks and experiment with different sounds than the ones she is used to.
  17. Stefffan
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    Great vocals are there. Catchy and quality songs are there. This is her best album so far and THEEEEEEEEE best album of 2016. Glad she keeps these songs.
  18. phidelcedeno
    Jul 20, 2017
    10
    'This Is Acting' brings together what is necessary to make an album with a good quality, it is certainly an excellent example of making a letter go hand in hand with sound. The composition is the soul of this album and the production of its body, mixed with the strength of beautiful vowels. An ecstasy from the beginning to the end, congratulations to Sia.
  19. FrankDiaz
    Jul 2, 2017
    8
    Una de las mejores compositoras de la actualidad, el disco muestra la capacidad vocal de Sia. Es uno de los mejores discos pop en cuanto a desempeno vocal se refiere
  20. CatoEmma
    Jun 9, 2017
    10
    It's amazing what Sia can do with recycled artist songs that rejected them and make a worldwide hit!! And it is also very versatile, has cheerful songs and also deep cancones.
    I just love it!!!
  21. ultimatemusic
    Jun 6, 2017
    7
    For me, this doesn’t take reign from We Are Born or 1000 Forms of Fear whereas I thought it would have done; however I wouldn’t say it was a let down or left me disappointed in anyway because as a whole, it’s actually a good album. With this album it was very much “expect the unexpected.” There were a few songs that maybe I could have guessed were written by Sia if they ever did end up inFor me, this doesn’t take reign from We Are Born or 1000 Forms of Fear whereas I thought it would have done; however I wouldn’t say it was a let down or left me disappointed in anyway because as a whole, it’s actually a good album. With this album it was very much “expect the unexpected.” There were a few songs that maybe I could have guessed were written by Sia if they ever did end up in the hands of other artists but there were songs on there also that actually had me second guessing whether it was Sia I was listening to (just because of the style of song, not because of voice. Obviously I did know it was Sia singing, it was just a mere compliment if you didn’t get it).… Expand
  22. owenrw89
    Dec 18, 2016
    8
    Her voice is an all-commanding power. Not since the female vocalists of the 90's (Celine, Whitney, Mariah) have we heard such raw vocal intensities. With This Is Acting, Sia proves she can pretty much dominate any genre or style. OK, so 'Sweet Design' is a little on the odd side, but the rest are absolutely convincing.
    What's more, not only is the greatest vocalist around at the moment,    Her voice is an all-commanding power. Not since the female vocalists of the 90's (Celine, Whitney, Mariah) have we heard such raw vocal intensities. With This Is Acting, Sia proves she can pretty much dominate any genre or style. OK, so 'Sweet Design' is a little on the odd side, but the rest are absolutely convincing.
    What's more, not only is the greatest vocalist around at the moment, she's one of the great pop-writers too.
    A brilliantly enjoyable pop record.    … Expand
  23. barretox
    Oct 23, 2016
    7
    É um bom trabalho mas não tem tantas músicas memoráveis como o último, porém algumas se destacam de uma forma boa. Sia é incrível nos vocais, composição e a sonoridade é boa.
  24. Iconic_Needle
    Oct 23, 2016
    8
    Sia's This is Acting is a lyrical mess but it's heaven because of how good it sounds. The deluxe version of the song is very amazing because the 3 new tracks SOUNDS like Sia and FEELS like Sia but since we are talking about the whole album, it feels very weird for Sia to do this. Still, it was Sia's best album by far (according to some critics), for us Sia fans, we want another 1000FOF andSia's This is Acting is a lyrical mess but it's heaven because of how good it sounds. The deluxe version of the song is very amazing because the 3 new tracks SOUNDS like Sia and FEELS like Sia but since we are talking about the whole album, it feels very weird for Sia to do this. Still, it was Sia's best album by far (according to some critics), for us Sia fans, we want another 1000FOF and I hope This is Acting won't be everyone 's first thoughts when they hear Sia.… Expand
  25. diogosferreirav
    Oct 18, 2016
    10
    sia always amazing! the album is wonderful. more I feel a little lack of feeling in it. (Discarded songs of other artists). It's the album you listen to all the songs without stopping. What makes this work is so amazing is that the songs really says something, it's not like the album that many artists do.
  26. Rz23
    Oct 5, 2016
    9
    All though This is Acting is not Sia's strongest album she is able to express the album's concept loud and clear. The album is purely pop through and through and it is clear that the album highlight Sia as a songwriter. Some highlight tracks are Move your body, Bird Set Free, and Space Between.
  27. Hinaria
    Oct 5, 2016
    7
    Credit where credit is due. This album is primarily made up of songs Sia has written herself for other artists, who ultimately rejected them. First, brownie points for writing your own material, unlike some performers (I'm looking at you Beyonce). Second, more points for having the vocal talent to perform them on your own without computer assistance (I spotted a few pitchy moments).Credit where credit is due. This album is primarily made up of songs Sia has written herself for other artists, who ultimately rejected them. First, brownie points for writing your own material, unlike some performers (I'm looking at you Beyonce). Second, more points for having the vocal talent to perform them on your own without computer assistance (I spotted a few pitchy moments). Finally, points for giving consideration and care to your non-anthemic pieces. Everyone loved Chandelier and Elastic Heart, myself included, but the real strength of this album isn't in the bangers that will most likely get the air time (Alive), but rather the more nuanced spots like "Reaper," which is my favorite track on this album.… Expand
  28. WhyNotASinger
    Sep 9, 2016
    8
    Sia proves once again what an amazing songwriter she is! This songs were rejected by other artists she wrote them for but they still sound great. "Alive" is a masterpiece (you can really feel the Adele vibe here), "Cheap thrills" is catchy as hell (better without Sean Paul in my opinion), "Move your body" is a banger, "Bird set free" is empowering...in other words the album really standsSia proves once again what an amazing songwriter she is! This songs were rejected by other artists she wrote them for but they still sound great. "Alive" is a masterpiece (you can really feel the Adele vibe here), "Cheap thrills" is catchy as hell (better without Sean Paul in my opinion), "Move your body" is a banger, "Bird set free" is empowering...in other words the album really stands out! Great job, Sia!… Expand
  29. Juan12353
    Jul 12, 2016
    9
    1. Bird Set Free 9.8/10
    2. Alive 10/10
    3. One Million Bullets 8.6/10
    4. Move Your Body 10/10
    5. Unstoppable 9.7/10
    6. Cheap Thrills 10/10
    7. Reaper 8.1/10
    8. House On Fire 8.8
    9. Footprints 8.1
    10. Sweet Design 9/10
    11. Broken Glass 9.6/10
    12. Space Between 10/10
    13. Fist Fighting A Sandstorm 9.9/10
    14. Summer Rain 10/10
  30. leocarli
    Jun 30, 2016
    7
    É um bom álbum. Não mais que isso. Obviamente não se compara com o que foi o anterior, até porque esse é um álbum com músicas descartadas, mas ainda assim é bom.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2016
59
#59 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. No Ripcord
    Feb 16, 2016
    70
    Every track is a potential hit, and Sia’s use of pure pop hooks, coupled with an astounding control over her rampant voice, makes this a very good record.
    Read full review
  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Feb 8, 2016
    50
    There are only so many times you can key into someone’s heart before they change the code, and after about 20 listens, the veneer crumbles a bit, and it’s a little too easy to see the gears turning underneath. But that’s not the most frustrating thing about the record; the most frustrating thing is that Sia has so much access to us and just doesn’t do much with it.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 4, 2016
    60
    One can't shake the feeling that This Is Acting was compromised from the start. [Mar 2016, p.114]
See all critic reviews »