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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
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Product Description
titolo-a curious thingartista-amy macdonald etichetta-universaln. dischi1data5 marzo 2010supportocd audiogenerepop e rock internazionale----1. don't tell me that it's over2. spark3. i got no roots4. love love5. an ordinary life6. give it all up7. my only
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Someone special,
By Mr Simon Spinks (Bristol England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Curious Thing (Deluxe Edition) (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
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Curious Thing,
By Phagan (Scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Curious Thing (Deluxe Edition) (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!!!
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even better than her last,
By
This review is from: A Curious Thing (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!!!
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