We Are Born, by Sia

Songstress of sulk Sia Furler gained prominence via Six Feet Under's use of her sublime "Breathe Me." Remember? "Help, I have done it again/I have been here many times before/Hurt myself again today/And the worst part is there's no one else to blame."

With her fourth studio album, the Australian vocalist reveals a sunnier disposition. Above quirky guitar lines that sound like Johnny Marr creations, Sia acknowledges the triumph over gloom as she sings on "The Fight." "We made it through the darkness to the light." Along with the brighter outlook come snappier beats. "Clap Your Hands" is homage to the buoyant bass lines and crisp, cutting guitars of Nile Rodgers's Chic, handclaps included! On the bouncy "Bring Night," a dirty electric guitar provides crunch, and "Whoa-ah-uh-uh-oh" never sounded so good.

The guitar parts keep the indie in Sia's pop. Her multifaceted vocals do the rest. Sia becomes a sassy schoolgirl gone Go-Go's on "Stop Trying," and her R&B chartreuse comes out on "Be Good to Me," which sounds like a leftover track from her songwriting sessions with Christina Aguilera.

Then "Cloud" rolls in and the mood shifts. The somber Sia resurfaces on "I'm in Here." "Can't you hear my call?/Are you coming to get me now?/I've been waiting for/You to come rescue me/I need you to hold/All of the sadness I cannot." Surely as we are born, Sia slides back into the songwriter with which fans supplant their sorrows.

• Album: We Are Born (2010)
• Artist: Sia
• Label: Jive/Monkey Puzzle
• Songs: (1) The Fight (2) Clap Your Hands (3) Stop Trying (4) You’ve Changed (5) Be Good to Me (6) Bring Night (7) Hurting Me Now (8) Never Gonna Leave Me (9) Cloud (10) I’m in Here (11) The Co-Dependent (12) Big Girl, Little Girl (13) Oh Father