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Product Description
Product Description
Amy MacDonald is that proverbial old head on young shoulders, a Scottish singer-songwriter who writes songs with the grace and wisdom. Influenced by The Libertines and more traditional folk, the eleven songs on This is the Life combine a traditional, acoustic folk-rock sound with a youthful spirit and self-assured lyrics that veer between the observational and the confessional.
Review
Singer/ songwriter/ guitarist Amy Macdonald may still be a teenager but it’s hard to believe her music will ever appeal to her peers. Like Joss Stone, Macdonald has an old voice on her young shoulders. That’s not to say you should dismiss This Is The Life if you’re under 40, but you will need a more mature ear to relate to Amy’s folk-styled storytelling, grown-up vocal and country-influenced guitar.
The young Glaswegian may be currently heralded as 'the new Katie Melua' but there’s something more Cranberries-esque to her warbling. This is highlighted on her debut LP’s first track, “Mr Rock & Roll”- a radio-friendly, sing-a-long jig, full of Celtic campfire nostalgia. Moving on to the album title track, lyrically Macdonald comes across like a wise 39-year-old as opposed to a naïve 19-year-old, leading you to question the authenticity of her delivery. In other words, the words and tone feel somewhat forced.
Gripes aside, there are some gleaming gems to be discovered on this 11-tracker. “Let’s Start A Band” hears a Mexican cowboy intro makes way for Amy to unleash her emotive tones and brilliant lyrics: 'Give me a stage and I’ll be your rock ‘n roll Queen/ Your 20th Century cover of a magazine/ Rolling Stone, here I come/ Watch out everyone…'. Further notables include the upbeat, brass-heavy roller, “Barrowland Ballroom” and the melodic “A Wish For Something More”- which allows Macdonald to work her vocal to its full range while highlighting her razor-sharp guitar wizardry. The star of the show though has to be down-tempo number “Footballer’s Wife” on which Amy mocks today’s tabloid-fuelled society. --Elle J Small
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By P. Wyeth
Format:Audio CD
My CD collection is littered with albums that I buy on the strength of 1 track and never listen to again. And so one sunny day I purchased Amy McDonald's 'This is the Life' after hearing track 1 'Mr Rock & Roll' on the radio. Of course being the first track I assumed that I would listen to it over and over again thinking what utter tosh the rest was.... WRONG!
By the time you have listen to the first three tracks, `Mr Rock & Roll, the brilliant title track 'This is the Life' and 'Poison Prince' you are hooked. This album is like a drug you just can't get enough of. Every tune is simply brilliant and the production seems to be near perfect, if not perfect. The album works on so many different levels - if you want a good tune and nothing else it delivers, if you want excellent lyrics - it delivers and if you are looking for exquisite vocal then Amy delivers again.
I don't actually anything about Amy McDonald other than she is a master at her craft.
If ever there was just one album to own then this may well be it. 5 stars seems not enough.
By the time you have listen to the first three tracks, `Mr Rock & Roll, the brilliant title track 'This is the Life' and 'Poison Prince' you are hooked. This album is like a drug you just can't get enough of. Every tune is simply brilliant and the production seems to be near perfect, if not perfect. The album works on so many different levels - if you want a good tune and nothing else it delivers, if you want excellent lyrics - it delivers and if you are looking for exquisite vocal then Amy delivers again.
I don't actually anything about Amy McDonald other than she is a master at her craft.
If ever there was just one album to own then this may well be it. 5 stars seems not enough.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Andy
Format:Audio CD
Many of these songs have an excellent use of rhythm, beat and bass to create very catchy pop rock, yet retaining the simplicity of singer/songwriter style folk music. My roots are in 70s/80 rock music and yet I really love this.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Sally
Format:Audio CD
After discovering Amy on the social networking site myspace I have watched her grow and grow into the now famous solo artist she deserves to be. All the tracks are very good and are on a loop in my CD player. Highlights are the fantastic upbeat "Mr Rock and Roll" and "Poison Prince." There is a nice mix of different tunes from the jolly "A Wish For Something More" and it slows down for tracks such as "Footballer's Wife." Overall a great first album and a sign of many things to come, I would definetely recommend this.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
...and perhaps the most listened album in my collection. Over an over you'll read that there isn't a dud track on here. I'll echo that - I have my favourites and you'll have yours, but the standouts for me are Run, Mr Rock and Roll, This is the Life, L.A, Footballer's Wife. She should go far, and I eagerly await her second album. Almost with trepidation as it is hard to imagine a better album than this.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By H. Phillips
Format:Audio CD
Up until a week ago I hadn't even heard of Amy Macdonald my head had been buried for so long in the reggage genre that I had given up on finding any talent that would drag my attention back to any other scene and then someone mentioned Amy, I was almost a throw away comment one of those "Have you heard of this girl, you may like her,"
May like her has turned out to be one of the most underated statements I have ever heard.
I don't remember the lsat time I heard an artist that has determined I instantly rush off in search of her albums and dash out for tickets, I live down in Wales and failed for the Bristol concert and so had to go to Wolverhampton, would I have gone to Portsmouth for one night, for yes a resounding yes, in fact I was considering travelling to Europe if all the Uk tickets had been sold.
Such energy and insight from someone so seemingly down to earth and every song guaranteed to the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.
Other reviews have concentrated on the tracks and so I won't, all I will say is this stunning album shows the mark of a woman who is destined for international acclaim.
Lets hope she avoids the downfalls of other stars like Winehouse and Dougherty because the dimming of this star would be a huge loss for everyone.
Long may she contiune to shine
May like her has turned out to be one of the most underated statements I have ever heard.
I don't remember the lsat time I heard an artist that has determined I instantly rush off in search of her albums and dash out for tickets, I live down in Wales and failed for the Bristol concert and so had to go to Wolverhampton, would I have gone to Portsmouth for one night, for yes a resounding yes, in fact I was considering travelling to Europe if all the Uk tickets had been sold.
Such energy and insight from someone so seemingly down to earth and every song guaranteed to the hairs on the back of your neck standing up.
Other reviews have concentrated on the tracks and so I won't, all I will say is this stunning album shows the mark of a woman who is destined for international acclaim.
Lets hope she avoids the downfalls of other stars like Winehouse and Dougherty because the dimming of this star would be a huge loss for everyone.
Long may she contiune to shine
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Amy MacDonald is a Scottish singer/songwriter who is currently very successful - and with good reason. She has a gorgeous voice, which she doesn't strive to mask with a faux-American accent as many British acts have done. Her voice has a real depth and timbre to it that many older singers would struggle to match. However, her songwriting is where many people will focus. She has a very mature writing style, with lyrics that are perceptive and thoughtful. The arrangements of all of her songs are a joy to listen to. This is the kind of female artist we need more of - her catchy, eloquent songs could teach her unreasonably popular, mockney-accented peers a thing or several about how to create wonderful music that can be appreciated by audiences of all ages.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I desperately wanted to love this album. I was all ready to give it five stars before I'd even listened to it. And then...
...and then I listened to it. The first few tracks are brilliant. Such a unique voice and style and obviously a gifted song writer. And then...they all started to sound the same. The problem is that she HAS such a unique voice, and everything starts to sound very samey after a while. I notice this in art galleries when you see lots of works of art together in one place - individually they are fantastic; pulled all together into one place, they all start to look the same.
I am gutted by this. I'll be checking out later albums to see if she's expanded her range at all. I think she has terrific talent and - on the basis of this - is so close to deserving all the plaudits she gets.
...and then I listened to it. The first few tracks are brilliant. Such a unique voice and style and obviously a gifted song writer. And then...they all started to sound the same. The problem is that she HAS such a unique voice, and everything starts to sound very samey after a while. I notice this in art galleries when you see lots of works of art together in one place - individually they are fantastic; pulled all together into one place, they all start to look the same.
I am gutted by this. I'll be checking out later albums to see if she's expanded her range at all. I think she has terrific talent and - on the basis of this - is so close to deserving all the plaudits she gets.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who said music was dead?
For all of you who are tired of the insipid manufactured over produced "same old" churned out for the young teenage market this proves that real songwriting talent is still... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Yorkie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Great album, really love it. She is a talented singer songwriter and I listen to this a lot in the car and at home.
Published 18 days ago by Daisy
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it
I thought it was a great first album. We perform Mr Rock and roll and this is the life at every gig we do and it is always a winner. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ivan Pennell
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is the life.... Amy MacDonald
Good album by an accomplished female artist. I like the style of the lyrics, Ishould have bought the album ages ago.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. A. P. Stott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely album
One of her best albums, I have bought it for a number of people who have all enjoyed it too.
Published 2 months ago by mcah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cool
Ive always liked amy macdonald and her cool style of music. Now I have the CD im even more thrilled that I can listen to her whenever I want
Published 2 months ago by mel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
She's got a wonderful voice and this is a brilliant album, one of my favourites I bought last year. Excellent
Published 2 months ago by Cattsuk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy
This really is a brilliant album... loved every track ... will be buying more by this artist in the near future
Published 3 months ago by Mrs Theresa M Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
she,s lovely
We love Amy, lovely talented girl bought this for my sister in law for her bithdayshe loves it! i already have it,
Published 3 months ago by yorkiegirl
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
The amazing Ms Macdonald has produced a great album but the download sound quality is very poor. I think I need to buy the CD.
Published 3 months ago by Robin Hooper
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