|
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Don't Tell Me That It's Over | |||
| 2. Spark | |||
| 3. I Got No Roots | |||
| 4. Love Love | |||
| 5. An Ordinary Life | |||
| 6. Give It All Up | |||
| 7. My Only One | |||
| 8. This Pretty Face | |||
| 9. Troubled Soul | |||
| 10. Next Big Thing | |||
See all 12 tracks on this disc
| |||
| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Live at Glasgow Barrowlands (14 track bonus disc) | |||
Product Description
Review
This is the year that a lot of female artists, from Laura Marling to Duffy and Adele, will be facing the eternal pop dilemma of what to do on that difficult second album. Few will have it as hard as Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald, whose 2007 debut This Is the Life sold over three million copies and went to number one in five countries.
A Curious Thing, recorded at Paul Weller’s home studio in Surrey and featuring guest spots from the Modfather, doesn’t sound as though Macdonald is feeling the pressure. It is a bold, grand statement of intent, full of songs of epic sweep that build to undeniable choruses, to be enjoyed by the largest possible audiences.
It sounds bigger and more ‘produced’ than This Is the Life – there is no sense of the girl from Bishopbriggs recoiling from the spotlight. That said, there are a number of tracks here about the perils of fame. Of the dozen songs on A Curious Thing, half concern our celebrity-obsessed culture and the cult of personality that Macdonald has witnessed first-hand since her arrival on the world’s stage. On No Roots she is positive about the rock star milieu: “This life I lead, it’s a curious thing, but I can’t deny the happiness it brings”; but on This Pretty Face she is less charitable: “I don’t care who does her hair / Or what clothes she wears.”
Next Big Thing takes a dim though sympathetic view of reality TV wannabes and An Ordinary Life is a dig at the Z-list celebs she saw flocking round actor Gerard Butler at a party last year. On My Only One she sings, with a weary sigh, “There was time when the whole world was looking at you... They changed their minds from day to night.” Finally, there’s first single Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over –about a pop star she recently saw in full pompous effect.
And yet for all that A Curious Thing doesn’t feel bitter or downbeat. If anything, MacDonald appears to have been energised by her colossal success. The music here is richer and fuller, the hooks more emphatic, and her voice meets it head-on, with a stridency and vigour reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan, even Sinead O’Connor. Even a title such as Give It All Up, which could have been drenched in defeat, is resilient, even defiant. A triumphant return. --Paul Lester
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
'A Curious Thing' is the second studio album from Scottish songstress Amy MacDonald, following the successful debut 'This Is The Life'. Here the Glaswegian's songs draw influence from personal experiences of celebrity culture and self indulgent award winners, while allowing raw emotions to prevail on tracks such as 'What Happiness Means To Me'. Throughout the album, a helping hand is provided by long-term fan and friend Paul Weller, whose studio and artistic expertise is showcased on 'Love, Love' and 'This Pretty Face'. The single 'Don't Tell Me That It's Over' is included.
Please note that a small number of customers have reported an issue with this CD whereby the wrong album and track titles are displayed when uploading or playing the songs on their PC. In most cases, the audio content on the CD is correct, but the software used displays the details of another CD. Please also note: this is an issue with the software used to play the CD, and not a manufacturing problem. Customers are encouraged to try playing the disc with a different software package, or on a conventional CD player/Hi-Fi before returning the item, or contacting customer service.
Please note that a small number of customers have reported an issue with this CD whereby the wrong album and track titles are displayed when uploading or playing the songs on their PC. In most cases, the audio content on the CD is correct, but the software used displays the details of another CD. Please also note: this is an issue with the software used to play the CD, and not a manufacturing problem. Customers are encouraged to try playing the disc with a different software package, or on a conventional CD player/Hi-Fi before returning the item, or contacting customer service.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What can be said about Amy MacDonald? Probably the most underrated singer/songwriter in the British Isles at the moment. Her first album "This is the life" is an absolutely fantastic record and I cannot recommend it highly enough, every song on that album showcases Amy's unique songwriting ability and when listening to it you forget that she was only 19 when it was released, and I believe that she wrote some songs when only 12 or 13.
She sings about issues and experiences you would expect from someone so much older and while it is easy to get lost in the upbeat melodies of some songs it is perhaps a credit to her writing ability that you can identify with so many of her lyrics. Waiting three years for another record from Amy was easy as This is the life was in my CD player every day and I never tire of listening to it.
So the new album showcases more of Amy's talent and has much the same mix of uptempo and downbeat tunes as was on This is the life. Having only listened to the album 3 times from start to finish I still haven't completely digested all of the lyrics buy already several tunes stand out including My Only One, What Happiness Means To Me, An Ordinary Life and of course Don't tell me That It's Over.
One track that totally blew me away is the bonus track, I won't say what it is just to say that it is without doubt one of the best cover version I've ever heard. It is simply stunning and if proof was ever needed of Amy's beautiful voice and amazing talent then here it is, I think I now prefer this version over the original, it really is that good.
Check out this album, you won't be disappointed 5 stars from me. Well done Amy
She sings about issues and experiences you would expect from someone so much older and while it is easy to get lost in the upbeat melodies of some songs it is perhaps a credit to her writing ability that you can identify with so many of her lyrics. Waiting three years for another record from Amy was easy as This is the life was in my CD player every day and I never tire of listening to it.
So the new album showcases more of Amy's talent and has much the same mix of uptempo and downbeat tunes as was on This is the life. Having only listened to the album 3 times from start to finish I still haven't completely digested all of the lyrics buy already several tunes stand out including My Only One, What Happiness Means To Me, An Ordinary Life and of course Don't tell me That It's Over.
One track that totally blew me away is the bonus track, I won't say what it is just to say that it is without doubt one of the best cover version I've ever heard. It is simply stunning and if proof was ever needed of Amy's beautiful voice and amazing talent then here it is, I think I now prefer this version over the original, it really is that good.
Check out this album, you won't be disappointed 5 stars from me. Well done Amy
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A Curious Thing (Deluxe Edition)
Absolutely outstanding new album by Amy McDonald. It's often hard to follow a superb first album & I've been disappointed in the past by some artists second albums but not this one!! If you liked the first album you will love this one. The second disc is a live recording of her first concert at barrowlands This is a must for all music lovers, the live second disc is just the icing on the cake. Not to be missed!!!
Absolutely outstanding new album by Amy McDonald. It's often hard to follow a superb first album & I've been disappointed in the past by some artists second albums but not this one!! If you liked the first album you will love this one. The second disc is a live recording of her first concert at barrowlands This is a must for all music lovers, the live second disc is just the icing on the cake. Not to be missed!!!
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album does not grab you like 'This is The Life'. Well it wouldn't would it. The first album was a superb first album from someone we had never heard of before. A new sound a new talent. This album is not just more of the same, it is a progression. It takes longer to get into the tracks but when you get there...ohhh bliss. Every track is great. No weak tracks. I even love the LIVE cover of Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark hidden away at the end (I am also a Springsteen fan). I am so pleased Amy has managed to follow up her brilliant first album with a more mature brilliant second album. What a talent!!!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
brilliant follow up album
a brilliant follow up album, no fillers just class tracks
she has a fabulous talent. As good as her first album.
well worth it
she has a fabulous talent. As good as her first album.
well worth it
Published 20 days ago by Debbie
She Just Gets Better and Better!!
Now I loved "This Is The Life" was a great debut album but with this one she gets better and seems to go up to another level! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Craig G. Williams
Excellent Bargain!
Brilliant album at a knock down price! Wouldn't have believed that a "used" item could be in such perfect quality - the original owner must have been insane to let this go! Read more
Published 3 months ago by B. Adams
A Curious Thing
Amy Macdonald has a wonderful voice, very distinctive, but there were too few really 'great' songs on here to really hook me.
Published 11 months ago by J. M. Reilly
over produced
Discovered Amy by watching a old Neil Diamond TV Special-she came on and sang one of his songs brilliantly-she has a unique voice which is just swamped by the schmaltzy over... Read more
Published 12 months ago by S. E. Taylor
Fantastic CD
Loved Amy Macdonald's CD 'This is the Life' and this CD is just as good. All tunes on both CDs are great and I play them constantly. Read more
Published 12 months ago by V. Killick
A Curious Thing
I "found" the track "This is the Life" in a friend's collection and enjoyed it very much, so when Amazon were selling the CD at a very good price decided to buy the album. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mike Scott
Hey there, moodychops
You'd have thought that having a gazillion-selling debut album would be a cause for celebration, but like Tanita Tikaram before her Amy MacDonald finds success a bitter pill. Read more
Published 14 months ago by M. G. James
Amy MacDonald - A Curious Thing
I distinctly remember the first time I ever heard Amy MacDonald's music. I was driving along, happy as Larry one crisp afternoon, listening to `Steve Wright in the Afternoon' on... Read more
Published 14 months ago by N. Wilson
EXCEPTIONAL
Full of life
Lyrics wonderfull
Brilliant album
Pity, you can't get it on vinyl.
10/10
Lyrics wonderfull
Brilliant album
Pity, you can't get it on vinyl.
10/10
Published 15 months ago by Norrie
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
