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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Amy MacDonald is that proverbial old head on young shoulders, a Scottish singer-songwriter who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as any venerable old folk hand, 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. "Poison Prince" is a jagged guitar strut dedicated to some Doherty-like bad boy, a song every bit as pathos-laden as The Libertines at their doomed, romantic best with a closing treatise to find "An upbeat song/So we can dance the night away", while "Mr Rock & Roll" begins as a wryly withering jibe at some perennial party animals, but by the chorus, has softened into a subtle, touching tale of human coupling. MacDonald’s age doesn’t seem to have been an impediment; "Youth of Today", reportedly written when she was 15, is one of the better tracks here, while "Footballer’s Wife" is a clear-headed attack on vapid Barbie Doll celebrity that suggests this girl is very much on the right track. "Rolling Stone, here I come, watch out everyone/I’m singing my song" she sings on "Let’s Start a Band". Let that be a warning to you. –-Louis Pattison
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
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.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Simply Amazing! Great Debut Album!!
This girl is amazing I can't tell you how good this album really is all the songs are superb from start to finish! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Craig G. Williams
Dissapointed with level of compression on recording
OK I am being mean to Amy Macdonald - I quite like the tracks Poison Ivy and the Youth of Today but if you read the sleeve notes you will see that they are recorded in a different... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bill
Great Album!
This is a great album, another great artist out of this country. The first three songs are the main one's and then the rest are just as good. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ben Jones
objective point of view
Either you like the content or you don't thats all subjective on your tastes....however my objective point of view on the quality of recording is well..... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Alan C. Pitchford
All because of an advert
I actually bought this for my parents after they heard the title track on an advert. I'd actually assumed it was the single version. They seem quite happy that it's an album.
Published 11 months ago by Nicki
'Brilliant'
Bought the album just for the track 'This is the Life', but there are so many other good tracks that I haven't stopped playing it....brilliant!
Published 12 months ago by Mrs. J. A. Harding
This is the Life - Amy Macdonald
This lived up to all expectations. I am enjoying listening to the cd repeatedly and enjoy every recording on this cd.
Published 12 months ago by Virginia
Amy Macdonald
Having just bought A Curious Thing for Pretty Face, I was amazed to discover that unlike most albums I buy, only a couple of tracks stand out and make it to a playlist, however I... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Heather Whiting
A bit of folk, a hint of Merchant, a good album
I'm generally not a lover of the solo singer-songwriter album. I often find the songs to be too low-key and melancholy for me. Read more
Published 13 months ago by haunted
Top class entertainment
This lady can sing. Amy is very tallented. Her songs are easy to get to grips with & very easy on the ears. After just 2 plays it felt as though you have known the songs for years. Read more
Published 14 months ago by paul saye
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